Which place is cheaper, Arica or Managua?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Managua or Arica?
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 Arica can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Managua or Arica?
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.
Arica
A mixture of coastline, desert and high Andean plateau, Arica is a seaside resort town, known for its surfing beaches located at the tip of Northern Chile. Arica boasts that it is "the land of the eternal spring," but its temperate climate and beaches are not the only reason to visit this small city. Arica's tourism is still principally geared toward domestic visitors and those from southern Peru and La Paz, who flock to its beaches mid-December through February. It is very easy to spend a few days in Arica in the sand, or seeing the sights in town, at a slow pace but the city also offers plenty of fun activities and exciting day trips.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, The Best 10-Day Tours in Chile, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayManagua $55Arica $79
The average daily cost (per person) in Managua is $55, while the average daily cost in Arica is $79. 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 Arica in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personManagua $23Arica $35
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomManagua $46Arica $70
Compare Hotels in Managua and Arica
Looking for a hotel in Managua or Arica? 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 Arica Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Managua $20Arica $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Managua
Also for Managua, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer From Managua International Airport: $90
- San Jorge Rivas Transfer: $47
- Rivas: Managua to Rivas Airport private transfer: $75
- Private Transfer in Nicaragua: $110
- Popoyo Beach Transfer: $90
- PRIVATE San Juan Del Sur Transfer: $56
- Airport private transfer from Managua.: $25
- Managua-San juan del sur: Airport private transfer: $125
- Managua-Leon: Airport private transfer from to Managua /Leon: $85
- Managua to Managua Augusto Airport (MGA) - Departure Transfer: $33
- Managua Augusto Sandino Airport(MGA) to Managua- Arrival Transfer: $33
- Managua Augusto Airport (MGA) to Managua-Round-Trip Transfer: $66
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Arica
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Arica are as follows:
-
Short Taxi Ride$2.10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arica
Also for Arica, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arica Airport Private Transfer: $85
- Private Transfer from Arica Airport (ARI) to Arica Cruise Port: $31
- Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Airport (ARI): $31
- Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Airport (ARI): $27
- Private Transfer from Arica Airport (ARI) to Arica Cruise Port : $27
- Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Hotels: $24
- Private Transfer from Arica Hotels to Arica Cruise Port: $24
- Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica city hotels: $22
- Private Transfer from Arica City hotels to Arica Cruise Port: $22
Is it cheaper to fly into Managua or Arica?
Prices for flights to both Arica 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
-
Food Meals for one dayManagua $17Arica $28
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Managua $16Arica $20
Tours and Activities in Managua
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Managua.
- 3 full days PRIVATE tour at Granada, Masaya and Leon area from Managua: $210
- Amazing Masaya Volcano at Night "Private Tour" : $88
- Between Volcanoes Tours; Granada-Masaya.: $155
- Granada Isletas and City tour: $68
- Laguna de Apoyo Day pass plus Masaya Volcano Night Tour: $60
- Leon City and Rum Tasting Tour from Managua: $215
- Managua City Tour: $88
- Managua City Tour: $84
- Managua Love Stories: A Romantic Tour: $189
- Managua Love Stories: A Walking Tour: $97
- Managua’s Historic Gems: A Cultural Walking Tour: $164
- Managua’s Historic Gems: A Cultural Walking Tour: $321
Tours and Activities in Arica
For Arica, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Archaeological Tour: $32
- Archeological Sightseeing tour in Arica: $103
- Arica Private Sightseeing Tour : $134
- Half day Panoramic City Tour: $49
- Private Tour to Tacna from Arica: $256
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayManagua $11Arica $19
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Managua and Arica, we can see that Arica is more expensive. And not only is Managua much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Managua is in Central America and Arica 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 Managua would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Managua 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 Arica would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Arica than you might in Managua.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Managua Expensive? and Is Arica Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Managua or Arica?
Managua has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Arica. When comparing the sizes of Managua and Arica, 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.