Which place is cheaper, Arequipa or Managua?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Managua or Arequipa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Managua and Arequipa can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Managua or Arequipa?
Managua
Managua is the capital, and largest city in Nicaragua. The economy is generally centered around the trade of coffee, cotton, and other types of agriculture. It also is a textile capital for the area. Managua is also a very reasonably priced destination in Central America. Restaurants and hotels are quite affordable and you'll find all kinds of international cuisine around the city. Transportation is also incredibly affordable and you'll find yourself pleasantly surprised at the cost of intercity bus rides.
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 Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru, and The Best Cultural Tours in Peru.
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Managua Prices
Nicaragua PricesArequipa Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayManagua $67Arequipa $60
The average daily cost (per person) in Managua is $67, while the average daily cost in Arequipa is $60. 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 Managua and Arequipa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personManagua $23Arequipa $24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomManagua $46Arequipa $48
Compare Hotels in Managua and Arequipa
Looking for a hotel in Managua 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.
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: Managua Hotel Prices and Arequipa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Managua $20Arequipa $6.36
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Managua
Also for Managua, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport transfer or hotels in managua Nicaragua: $35
- From Leon: One way shared transfer to Managua: $39
- From One way shared transfer to Granada: $39
- From One way shared transfer to San Jorge: $59
- Granada: One way shared transfer to Managua: $39
- Managua Augusto Airport (MGA) to Managua-Round-Trip Transfer: $127
- Managua Augusto Sandino Airport(MGA) to Managua- Arrival Transfer: $63
- Managua-San juan del sur: Airport private transfer: $125
- One way shared transfer to Leon: $39
- One way shared transfer to San Juan del Sur: $57
- Nicaragua Private Transfer Service Managua and San Juan del Sur: $100
- PRIVATE San Juan Del Sur Transfer: $56
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Arequipa
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Arequipa are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$1.43
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Bus Ride$0.46
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Taxi Ride$1.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arequipa
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Arequipa:
- Colca Canyon 2-Day Tour with Lodge Stay and Transfer to Puno: $283
- 2 Day Trek Including Transfer to Puno / Colca Canyon: $179
- Koh lanta any hotel to Phuket airport Private transfer: $172
- Colca Canyon Sightseeing Tour 2D1N and Transfer to Puno: $147
- 2-Day Colca Canyon Tour with optional transfer to Puno: $132
- Full Day Tour Including Transfer to Puno / Colca Canyon: $112
- Colca Canyon + Transfer To Puno: $103
- Koh Lanta any hotel to Krabi airport Private transfer: $81
- Colca Canyon Day Trip with Transfer to Puno: $65
- Full Day Tour to Colca including Transfer to Puno: $60
- Private Transfer from Arequipa to Alfredo Rodríguez Ballón (AQP) Airport : $38
- Transfer Between Arequipa's Airport and Hotels: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Managua or Arequipa?
Prices for flights to both Arequipa and Managua 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
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Food Meals for one dayManagua $30Arequipa $25
Typical Food Prices in Arequipa
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Arequipa:
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Coke$0.43
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Lunch$3.01
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Ice Cream$1.15
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Fruit$0.86
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Ice Cream$1.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Arequipa
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Arequipa.
- Cooking Class at La Plantation: $35
- Peruvian Cooking Experience in Arequipa: $35
- Peruvian Cooking Class in arequipa: $50
- Peruvian Cooking Class: $53
- Private Cooking Class in Arequipa: $57
- Food Tour Gastronomic Guided : $113
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Managua $16Arequipa $19
Tours and Activities in Managua
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Managua.
- Masaya volcano tour: $38
- Apoyo Lagoon + Lava tour: $48
- Discover the Best of Managua on a Private City Tour: $60
- Granada lake +Colonial City + Lava tour Masaya volcano: $60
- Private Capital City Tour Managua: $60
- Granada Isletas and City tour: $68
- PRIVATE Boat ride + Colonial city tour at Granada+Catarina lookout: $68
- Masaya Volcano Night Tour The Impressive Power of Nature: $80
- Managua City Tour: $84
- PRIVATE Boat tour + Granada City + Catarina lookout: $85
- full tour Somoto Canyon Nicaragua: $86
- Amazing Masaya Volcano at Night "Private Tour" : $88
Typical Entertainment Prices in Arequipa
Here are a few typical costs in Arequipa for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Monastery Entry$2.87
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Salsa Class$2.87
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Movie Ticket$3.13
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Hot Springs$2.87
Tours and Activities in Arequipa
Here are a few actual costs in Arequipa for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Colca Full Day Tour: $51
- Walking tour history, legends & mysteries : $28
- 2 Day - Colca Canyon and Condor Tour from Arequipa, Peru - Group Service : $295
- 2 Days of Natural Experience in the Colca Canyon: $140
- 2 days 1 night Colca Canyon tour from Arequipa: $110
- 2-Day Group Tour to Colca Canyon from Arequipa: $230
- 2-Day Hiking Tour to the Colca Canyon: $90
- 2-Day Tour to the Magical Colca Canyon: $68
- 2-Day tour Colca Canyon ending in Puno: $95
- 3 Hour Congata Rover Biking Ride Tour in Arequipa: $45
- 3-hour guided tour in Arequipa: $65
- 8-Hours Tour in Arequipa Laguna de Salinas with Pick-up: $20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayManagua $11Arequipa $17
Typical Alcohol Prices in Arequipa
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Arequipa are as follows:
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Beer$2.58
When comparing the travel costs between Managua and Arequipa, we can see that Managua is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Managua is in Central America and Arequipa is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Managua Expensive? and Is Arequipa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Managua or Arequipa?
Managua has a larger population, and is about 16% larger than the population of Arequipa. When comparing the sizes of Managua 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.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.