Which place is cheaper, Arica or Mar del Plata?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Mar del Plata 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 Mar del Plata and Arica can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Mar del Plata or Arica?
Mar del Plata
Mar del Plata is found only 404 km southeast of the city of Buenos Aires, on the Atlantic coast. Today Mar Del Plata is Argentina‘s most well known beach resort. It has successfully married the two worlds of beach and city into a fun, cosmopolitan urban center with the presence of highly developed tourist infrastructure. Founded in 1874, Mar del Plata was at first mainly an industrial and commercial center before becoming a vacation destination for Argentinians. For a peaceful trip and intimate oceanfront promenades, avoid visiting Mar del Plata during summer time, as the gorgeous arced coastline will be crawling with visitors. But the city is more than just beaches. It also offers some culture, lively nightlife, and great food.
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 Luxury Tours to Argentina, The Best Budget Tours to Argentina, The Best 10-Day Tours in Chile, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMar del Plata $8.63Arica $80
The average daily cost (per person) in Mar del Plata is $8.63, while the average daily cost in Arica is $80. 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 Mar del Plata and Arica in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMar del Plata $3.10Arica $36
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMar del Plata $6.20Arica $72
Compare Hotels in Mar del Plata and Arica
Looking for a hotel in Mar del Plata 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: Mar del Plata Hotel Prices and Arica Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mar del Plata $2.46Arica $18
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Arica
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Arica are as follows:
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Short Taxi Ride$2.12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arica
Also for Arica, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arica Airport Private Transfer: $96
- 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 Mar del Plata or Arica?
Prices for flights to both Arica and Mar del Plata 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 dayMar del Plata $3.75Arica $29
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mar del Plata $2.23Arica $20
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: $153
- Arica Private Sightseeing Tour : $150
- Half day Panoramic City Tour: $49
- Private Tour to Tacna from Arica: $287
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMar del Plata $1.75Arica $20
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mar del Plata and Arica, we can see that Arica is more expensive. And not only is Mar del Plata much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Mar del Plata would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mar del Plata 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 Mar del Plata.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mar del Plata Expensive? and Is Arica Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mar del Plata or Arica?
Mar del Plata has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Arica. When comparing the sizes of Mar del Plata 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.