Which place is cheaper, Arica or Medellin?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Medellin or Arica?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Medellin or Arica? 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: Medellin or Arica?
Medellin
In addition to big improvements in public safety, Medellin has witnessed a huge surge in urban development projects, including Colombia's first metro system and cable cars to service poorer neighborhoods located high on the mountain sides. There is an abundance of parks, libraries, museums and public spaces with many cultural events taking place. Many travelers also enjoy visiting the surrounding villages, where life is simple and landscapes and nature reserves are wonderful. Medellin has now become one of the "it" cities in the world, with tons of tourists visiting and foreigners settling and retiring here. Beautiful mountains, warm weather, friendly locals, and a vibrant culture are just a few of the reasons why you should visit Medellin.
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 Colombia, The Best Eco Tours in Colombia, The Best 10-Day Tours in Chile, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMedellin $23Arica $79
The average daily cost (per person) in Medellin is $23, 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 Medellin and Arica in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMedellin $4.75Arica $35
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMedellin $9.50Arica $70
Compare Hotels in Medellin and Arica
Looking for a hotel in Medellin 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: Medellin Hotel Prices and Arica Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Medellin $4.14Arica $18
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Medellin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Medellin:
-
Taxi$1.65
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Medellin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Medellin:
- Transfer in Private Car from Guatape- Medellin airport (MDE): $34
- Transfer from or to Medellin's airport: $55
- Transfer Private Car from Medellin city - Medellin Airport (MDE): $23
- Transfer Jose Maria Cordoba Airport -Hotel or Accommodation: $79
- Transfer JMC airport - Medellin or Medellin - JMC airport - Private!!: $39
- Santa Marta Airport to Santa Marta (or vice versa) Private Transfer : $16
- Private transfer service from or to Medellín Airport: $43
- Private Transfer Jose Marie Cordova Airport to Medellin Bello: $100
- Private Transfer Aerop Jose Maria Cordova - Up to 3 people: $33
- Private Medellin Airport Transfer with English-Speaking Driver: $50
- Private Medellín Hotel to Airport transfer service: $35
- Private Arrival Transfer : From Airport to Medellín Hotels : $54
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: $30
- Private Transfer from Arica Airport (ARI) to Arica Cruise Port : $27
- Private Transfer from Arica City hotels to Arica Cruise Port: $22
- Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Airport (ARI): $27
- Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Airport (ARI): $30
- Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Hotels: $24
- Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica city hotels: $22
- Private Transfer from Arica Hotels to Arica Cruise Port: $24
Is it cheaper to fly into Medellin or Arica?
Prices for flights to both Arica and Medellin 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 dayMedellin $9.61Arica $28
Typical Food Prices in Medellin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Medellin:
-
Lunch$2.10
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Medellin
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Medellin.
- Street Food Tour in Medellín: $45
- Private tour: Street food tour, Eat like a Local in Medellin!: $85
- Authentic Colombian Cooking Class in Medellin with a Local Family: $99
- Medellin Historical and Food Tour with Fernando Botero´s Plaza: $140
- Full Day Private Medellin City, Street Art and Food Tour: $145
- Best Food Tour and Horseback Adventure in Medellin: $163
- Private tour: Medellin City – Pablo Escobar and Food Tour: $166
- A Night Out in Medellin with Dinner and Drinks Included: $175
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Medellin $13Arica $20
Tours and Activities in Medellin
Here are a few actual costs in Medellin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Comuna 13 + Medellin City Tour: $230
- Medellin City Private Tour: $83
- Medellin City Walking Tour plus Metro Cable Cars: $83
- Private tour Guatapé Peñol stone and coffee farm: $139
- 2 Hour Medellin Off Road ATV Experiences: $160
- 3 Hours City Tour in Medellin Colombia: $27
- 3 Towns Colonial Private Tour Leaving from Medellin: $130
- 4 Hours Private Comuna 13 Graffiti Tour: $60
- 5-Hour Coffee and Pablo Express Mix Tour in Medellín: $110
- 90 Minute Walking Tour of Guatapé: $16
- ATV Quad Tour from Medellin with Transportation : $132
- ATV Tour 3 Mountains Medellin: $170
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
- Half day Panoramic City Tour: $49
- Archeological Sightseeing tour in Arica: $103
- Arica Private Sightseeing Tour : $134
- Private Tour to Tacna from Arica: $256
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayMedellin $7.21Arica $19
Sample the Local Flavors in Medellin
Also in Medellin, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Live the Nightlife Rooftop Pub Crawl : $49
- All-Inclusive Comuna 13 Nightlife Bar Crawl with Locals: $130
- Medellin Pub Crawl Including Food and City Tour: $139
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Medellin and Arica, we can see that Arica is more expensive. And not only is Medellin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Medellin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Medellin 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 Medellin.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Medellin Expensive? and Is Arica Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Medellin or Arica?
Medellin has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Arica. When comparing the sizes of Medellin 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.