Which place is cheaper, Arica or Mendoza?
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 Mendoza or Arica?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Mendoza and Arica. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Mendoza or Arica?
Mendoza
Mendoza is a city in western Argentina and more precisely in the desertic Cuyo region. Mendoza is the center of the Argentinian wine industry and is famed around the world for its vineyards and wine production. Spread across the valley of the Rio Mendoza and in the foothills of the Andean mountain range, Mendoza is also near the Aconcagua, the highest mountain outside of the Himalayas. The bustling and scenic city of wide, leafy avenues, atmospheric plazas and cosmopolitan cafes spoils visitors with unique natural attractions and historical landmarks. If you can, visit Mendoza during the harvest festival at the end of February. There are many events and festivals in Mendoza and they are usually free. Each has a different theme, and they usually have a stage with singing and dancing and booths that sell food around a plaza. Seventy percent of Argentina's wines are produced here, and Mendoza is especially known for its world-famous malbecs.
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 2-Week Tours from Buenos Aires, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina, The Best 10-Day Tours in Chile, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile.
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Mendoza Prices
Argentina PricesArica Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMendoza $57Arica $106
The average daily cost (per person) in Mendoza is $57, while the average daily cost in Arica is $106. 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 Mendoza and Arica in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMendoza $43Arica $37
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMendoza $86Arica $74
Compare Hotels in Mendoza and Arica
Looking for a hotel in Mendoza 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: Mendoza Hotel Prices and Arica Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mendoza $4.21Arica $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mendoza
Also for Mendoza, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Ushuaia: Transfer Ida & Volta para Cerro Castor desde hotel: $25
- Private Transfers in Mendoza and Lujan de Cuyo: $45
- Private Transfers Airport Hotel in Mendoza: $11
- Premium Spa Day at Cacheuta Hot Springs with Transfers: $166
- Viña Cobos Lunch, Wine & Private Transfer: $520
- Shared 1-Way or Round Trip MDZ Airport Transfer: $9.00
- Round Trip Private Transfer to the Uco Valley: $393
- Private Helicopter Flight with Lunch and Transfer: $560
- Private 1-Way or Round-Trip MDZ Airport Transfer: $38
- MDZ Airport Private Transfer to/from City Center: $13
- Los Toneles Winery Lunch with Private Transfer: $220
- Cerro Bayo Guided Trek with Hotel Transfers: $220
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Arica
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Arica are as follows:
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Short Taxi Ride$2.22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arica
Also for Arica, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Arica Hotels to Arica Cruise Port: $68
- Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica city hotels: $62
- Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Hotels: $68
- Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Airport (ARI): $73
- Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Airport (ARI): $80
- Private Transfer from Arica City hotels to Arica Cruise Port: $62
- Private Transfer from Arica Airport (ARI) to Arica Cruise Port: $73
- Private Transfer from Arica Airport (ARI) to Arica Cruise Port: $80
- Arica Airport Private Transfer: $109
Is it cheaper to fly into Mendoza or Arica?
Prices for flights to both Arica and Mendoza 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 dayMendoza $5.89Arica $52
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mendoza
For Mendoza, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Mendoza Meals Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $95
- Original Asado Cooking Class at a Local's Home: $114
- 4-Hour Argentine Cooking Class at Grazie Mille Winery: $125
- Cooking Class with 7 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $150
- City Tour with Dinner at a Local Restaurant: $164
- Horseback Riding at Sunset and Dinner in Mendoza: $205
- Tango Show with Dinner at Hualta Winery Hotel: $220
- Francis Mallmann Gourmet Wine Paired Dinner: $265
- Casa Vigil Winery Dinner with Transfer: $360
- Lunch or dinner at Catena Zapata Winery: $460
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mendoza $24Arica $21
Tours and Activities in Mendoza
For Mendoza, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 3 Winery Tour with Lunch and Blend Set: $150
- 3-hour Mendoza Tasting Tour with 34 Traditional Argentine Flavors: $95
- 3-hour Mendoza Tasting Tour: 34 Authentic Argentine Flavors: $86
- Aconcagua Classic Tour 1 Day - Shared: $137
- Adrenaline Canopy Tour on the Mendoza River: $173
- Adventure & Flavor: Breakfast, Rafting & Asado in Mendoza: $220
- Adventure Park - Unforgettable Challenge!: $39
- Andes Hiking Experience Full Day: $240
- Asado Argentino and Wineries Experience: $190
- Asado em Casa Mendocina Experience with Friends: $200
- Atuel Canyon Tour: Discover San Rafael – Mendoza in One Day: $75
- Atuel Canyon: Full Day Tour: $125
Tours and Activities in Arica
For Arica, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Archeological Sightseeing tour in Arica: $174
- Arica Private Sightseeing Tour: $171
- City Tour with Chinchorro Beach Visit: $82
- Half day Panoramic City Tour: $49
- Chungará Lake & Lauca Park Tour from Arica with Lunch: $260
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMendoza $5.98Arica $21
Sample the Local Flavors in Mendoza
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Mendoza:
- Walking & Wine Tasting Tour & San Martin Park Gate: $17
- Burlesque Cabaret Show with Wine: $20
- Mendoza Wine Tasting at Bodega Ciclo Andino with Snacks: $39
- Wine, Distillery & Chocolate Tour with Tastings: $39
- Half-Day Wine Tour with Tastings: $41
- Classic Wine Tasting: $44
- La Histórica Winery Tour and Wine Tasting: $48
- Premium Wine Tasting: $66
- Winery tours in Mendoza, wine tasting and lunches: $90
- El Enemigo and Casa Vigil Wine Tour: $93
- Classic Wine Tour on a Budget. Lunch. Private Driver: $120
- Private Bike and Wine Tour at Chacras de Coria: $130
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mendoza and Arica, we can see that Arica is more expensive. And not only is Mendoza much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Mendoza would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mendoza 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 Mendoza.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mendoza Expensive? and Is Arica Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mendoza or Arica?
Mendoza has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Arica. When comparing the sizes of Mendoza 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.