A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Luxor vs. Arequipa for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Luxor or Arequipa?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Luxor or Arequipa? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Luxor or Arequipa?

Luxor

Egypt is surely on the top of every history lover's bucket list. Nowhere is the history more engrossing than in Luxor. From amazing monuments dating back to ancient Thebes to rows of temples up the Nile, this remarkable city is full the stories of past greatness.

The East Bank – or the central part of Luxor Township – is the hotbed for tourism. This is where most of the hotels and resorts are, while the West Bank is home to the ancient ruins and archaeological wonders you'll want to explore.

Before traveling to Egypt, be sure to check on the current affairs and political climate. It could have a major effect on the amount of tourists visiting, and, if conditions are too dangerous, you may want to reschedule. Also note, ladies, to avoid any issues, dress modestly. This is a very conservative region of the world. The less skin showing, the better.

Arequipa

Sitting in the middle of the Misti, Chachani and PichuPichu volcanoes of Peru is the enchanting city of Arequipa. With 468 years of history, the city is full of Spanish colonial architecture. Known to locals as the "white city," the city center, Plaza de Armas, is quite the sight with buildings of sillar white stone made from the rocks of the surrounding volcanoes.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Egypt, The Best Luxury Tours to Egypt, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru, and The Best Cultural Tours in Peru.


Which place is cheaper, Arequipa or Luxor?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Luxor Prices
    Egypt Prices
    Arequipa Prices
    Peru Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Luxor $30
    Arequipa $61

The average daily cost (per person) in Luxor is $30, while the average daily cost in Arequipa is $61. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Luxor and Arequipa in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Luxor $10
    Arequipa $25
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Luxor $20
    Arequipa $50
Compare Hotels in Luxor and Arequipa

Looking for a hotel in Luxor or Arequipa? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Luxor


Hotels in Arequipa


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Luxor Hotel Prices and Arequipa Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Luxor $5.14
    Arequipa $6.42
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Luxor

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Luxor:


  • Taxi Ride
    $0.38

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Luxor

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Luxor:

  • 4- Hours Private Transfer With Driver In Luxor: $20
  • Airport private transfer Luxor airport: $20
  • Airport private transfer Luxor airport: $27
  • Cairo Airport Private Transfer: $31
  • Day Tour to East and West Bank with Transfer to Aswan or Hurghada: $105
  • Dendara & Abydos with return - Private transfer from Luxor: $50
  • Dendera & Karnak VIP Tour with Transfer, Guide & Ticket Options: $250
  • Exclusive Luxor To Cairo or Cairo 2 luxor Transfer Relax In Style: $120
  • From Luxor To Hurghada Private Transfer One Way Transport: $145
  • Full day transfer Luxor-Aswan over Esna, Edfu and Kom Ombo: $110
  • Guided tour-transfer Luxor to Aswan over Esna, Edfu and Kom Ombo: $155
  • Hassle-free Private Transfers from Luxor to Hurghada: $60

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Arequipa

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Arequipa are as follows:


  • Taxi Ride
    $1.45
  • Bus Ride
    $0.46
  • Taxi Ride
    $1.01

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arequipa

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Arequipa:

  • 2 Days Colca Canyon Tour with Transfer to Puno: $138
  • 3 Day Trek Including Transfer to Puno / Colca Canyon: $214
  • Arequipa Airport Arrival Transfer: $13
  • Arequipa Airport Departure Transfer: $19
  • Arequipa Airport Private Transfer: $38
  • Arequipa Bus Station Arrival Transfer: $37
  • Arequipa Bus Station Departure Transfer: $37
  • Colca Canyon + Transfer To Puno: $103
  • Colca Canyon 2 days from Arequipa with final transfer to Puno: $85
  • Colca Canyon Day Trip with Transfer to Puno: $65
  • Koh Lanta any hotel to Krabi airport Private transfer: $78
  • Private Transfer From Arequipa To Puno With a 2 Hour Stop: $253

Is it cheaper to fly into Luxor or Arequipa?

Prices for flights to both Arequipa and Luxor change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Luxor $15
    Arequipa $25

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Luxor

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Luxor.

  • Luxury Nile Sunset Felucca Sail | Private Dinner - Hotel Transfer: $20
  • Luxor West Bank By Night and Alabaster Museum Tour with Dinner: $30
  • Riding a felucca at Sunset and Dinner an Egyptian House in Luxor: $40
  • 3 Hours Culinary Journey with Family Food Tour in Luxor: $40
  • Nile River Lunch or Dinner Cruise in Luxor (private Tour): $44
  • Sunset Felucca Ride and Banana Island with Lunch or Dinner Luxor: $45
  • Experience Egyptian cooking at Luxor Farm: $48
  • Private Luxor Temple Night Tour with Sunset Felucca & Dinner: $55
  • 3-Hour Culinary Journey with Family Food Tour in Luxor: $65
  • Felucca at Sunset and Dinner at an Egyptian House in Luxor: $75
  • Luxor East Bank Private Experience with Authentic Cooking Class: $80
  • Romantic Nile Felucca Dinner Experience in Luxor: $86

Typical Food Prices in Arequipa

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Arequipa:


  • Coke
    $0.43
  • Lunch
    $3.04
  • Ice Cream
    $1.16
  • Fruit
    $0.87
  • Ice Cream
    $1.01

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Arequipa

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Arequipa.

  • Peruvian Cooking Experience in Arequipa: $35
  • Cooking Class at La Plantation: $36
  • Peruvian Cooking Class in arequipa: $50
  • Arequipa Nights Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $59
  • Peruvian Cooking Class: $63
  • Arequipa Food Tour: Ancestral Cuisine & City Tour: $63
  • Arequipa : Food Tour and History (3 Restaurants and Market): $80
  • Arequipa Food Tour Experience: $115

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Luxor $9.47
    Arequipa $19
Typical Entertainment Prices in Luxor

Here are a few typical costs in Luxor for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Boat Ride (for 2)
    $0.52
  • Temple Karnak for Two
    $2.49
  • Camel Ride for Two
    $1.15

Tours and Activities in Luxor

Here are a few actual costs in Luxor for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Dahabiya Nile Cruise between Luxor and Aswan: $5.00
  • Medinet Habu Temple QR Code Entry Ticket: $6.50
  • Private Luxor Tour: Queens Valley, Medinet Habu & Deir el-Medina: $8.40
  • Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut Temple Private Day Tour: $9.00
  • VIP Private Nile Motorboat Experience in Luxor: $9.00
  • Karnak Temple Sound and Light Show Experience in Luxor: $9.00
  • Tour in the East Bank of Luxor: $9.00
  • Half Day Tour: Valley of the kings & Hatshepsut Temple and Memnon: $9.00
  • Half Day Tour:Valley of Kings, Hatshepsut TempIe, VaIIey Queens: $9.90
  • Half-Day Luxor Tour: Valley of Kings, Hatshepsut & Memnon: $9.90
  • Private Half Day Luxor Tour Valley of Kings & Queens, Hatshepsut: $9.96
  • Half Day Tour : Luxor Temple and Karnak Temples ( private): $10

Typical Entertainment Prices in Arequipa

Here are a few typical costs in Arequipa for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Monastery Entry
    $2.89
  • Salsa Class
    $2.89
  • Movie Ticket
    $3.15
  • Hot Springs
    $2.89

Tours and Activities in Arequipa

Here are a few actual costs in Arequipa for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Route of the Sillar 4-Hour Tour: $10
  • Walking Tour through the Historic Center of Arequipa: $10
  • City tour Arequipa by foot: $10
  • Arequipa Tasting Tour: $13
  • Tour to La Ruta del Sillar and Culesbrillas in Arequipa: $15
  • Chili River White Water Rafting Adventure with Pickup: $16
  • Sillar Route and Culebrillas Canyon Full-Day Tour from Arequipa: $18
  • Countryside Tour Arequipa: $18
  • Rafting in All-Inclusive Adventure Tour: $18
  • City Tour Arequipa: $20
  • Koh Rong Tour: A Snorkeling, Fishing, Sunset, Plankton: $20
  • Full Day Tour to the Salinas de Arequipa lagoon: $21

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Luxor $2.83
    Arequipa $17

Typical Alcohol Prices in Arequipa

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Arequipa are as follows:


  • Beer
    $2.60


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Luxor and Arequipa, we can see that Arequipa is more expensive. And not only is Luxor much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Luxor is in Africa and Arequipa is in South America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Luxor would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Luxor and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Arequipa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Arequipa than you might in Luxor.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Luxor Expensive? and Is Arequipa Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Luxor or Arequipa?

Arequipa has a larger population, and is about 99% larger than the population of Luxor. When comparing the sizes of Luxor and Arequipa, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.