Which place is cheaper, Arequipa or Mexico City?
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 Mexico City or Arequipa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Mexico City or Arequipa? 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: Mexico City or Arequipa?
Mexico City
Mexico City is one of the largest and most populated cities in the world. There are an estimated 26 million people living in the greater Mexico City metropolitan area. The area is about 60 kilometers by 40 kilometers and is surrounded by tall mountains and volcanoes on three sides. Mexico City proper has about 8.8 million people and is the capital of the country. More than a third of the country's economy is based here, making it the wealthiest city in all of Latin America.
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 2-Week Tours in Mexico, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru, and The Best Cultural Tours in Peru.
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Mexico City Prices
Mexico PricesArequipa Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMexico City $225Arequipa $62
The average daily cost (per person) in Mexico City is $225, while the average daily cost in Arequipa is $62. 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 Mexico City and Arequipa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMexico City $41Arequipa $25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMexico City $82Arequipa $50
Compare Hotels in Mexico City and Arequipa
Looking for a hotel in Mexico City 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: Mexico City Hotel Prices and Arequipa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mexico City $13Arequipa $6.53
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Mexico City
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Mexico City:
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Metro$1.15
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Uber Ride$4.03
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mexico City
Also for Mexico City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Aguascalientes Airport (AGU) Aguascalientes - RoundTrip Transfer: $83
- Aguascalientes to Guanajuato Airport (BJX) - Departure Transfer: $99
- Airport Transfer to Hotel in Mexico City: $74
- Airport Transfer: Mexico Airport MEX to Mexico by Luxury SUV: $105
- Airport Transfer: Mexico Airport NLU to Mexico by Luxury SUV: $210
- Airport Transfer: Mexico to Mexico Airport MEX by Business Car: $93
- Airport Transfer: Mexico to Mexico Airport MEX by Luxury SUV: $105
- Airport Transfer: Mexico to Mexico Airport NLU by Luxury SUV: $210
- Arrival Private Transfer Mexico City Airport MEX to Mexico by Car: $93
- Arrival Transfer: Mexico Airport MEX to Mexico by Luxury SUV: $105
- Arrival Transfer: Mexico Airport NLU to Mexico by Luxury SUV: $210
- Balloon Flight in Teotihuacan Transfers and Breakfast Included: $236
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Arequipa
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Arequipa are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$1.47
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Bus Ride$0.47
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Taxi Ride$1.03
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arequipa
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Arequipa:
- Private Transfer from Arequipa to Alfredo Rodríguez Ballón (AQP) Airport: $38
- Private Transfer from Arequipa Airport to hotels: $30
- Private Transfer from Alfredo Rodríguez Ballón Airport to Hotel: $20
- Private Transfer From Arequipa to Puno, English Speaking Driver: $283
- Private Transfer From Arequipa To Puno With a 2 Hour Stop: $261
- Koh Lanta any hotel to Krabi airport Private transfer: $80
- Full Day Tour to Colca including Transfer to Puno: $60
- Colca Canyon full day tour with transfer to Puno: $80
- Colca Canyon Day Trip with Transfer to Puno: $65
- Colca Canyon 2-Day Tour with Lodge Stay and Transfer to Puno: $267
- Colca Canyon + Transfer To Puno: $103
- Arequipa Airport Private Transfer: $38
Is it cheaper to fly into Mexico City or Arequipa?
Prices for flights to both Arequipa and Mexico City 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 dayMexico City $46Arequipa $26
Typical Food Prices in Mexico City
For Mexico City, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two$13
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Coffee and Snacks$4.49
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Dinner for 2$26
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mexico City
For Mexico City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Art and Food Tour with Lunch: $54
- San Juan Market Food Tour Exotic Bites & Flavors: $55
- Coyoacan Market Food Tour Urban Eats & Local Legends: $55
- Tortilla Crawl: Food Tour in Mexico City: $55
- CDMX Historic Center Food Tour: $59
- Local Markets & Food Tour in Mexico City: $63
- 3 Hours Food Tour Best Vegan Tacos in Mexico City: $65
- Old Town Food Tour of 7 Tastings & Secret Dish: $66
- Frida Kahlo Museum & Coyoacan Tacos & Food Tour: $69
- Mexico City Food Tour: Historic Center, Heritage on a Plate: $70
- Vegan & Veggie Market Tour with Cooking Lesson: $71
- 4h Cooking Class in 8 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $75
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$0.44
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Lunch$3.09
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Ice Cream$1.18
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Fruit$0.88
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Ice Cream$1.03
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: $36
- Peruvian Cooking Class in arequipa: $50
- Peruvian Cooking Class: $63
- Arequipa : Food Tour and History (3 Restaurants and Market): $69
- Arequipa Food Tour: Ancestral Cuisine & City Tour: $79
- A 3-hour Guided Food Tour with 4 Iconic Restaurants of Arequipa: $79
- Arequipa Food Tour Experience: $115
- Food Tour Gastronomic Guided: $119
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mexico City $15Arequipa $20
Tours and Activities in Mexico City
For Mexico City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- CDMX: Museum of Memory and Tolerance - Children in Silence (Admission ticket): $1.36
- MUCHO Museum of Chocolate Entrance Ticket: $4.36
- Mexico City Coyoacán, Frida Kahlo Exploration Game and Tour: $5.02
- Mexico City (Coyoacan) Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $5.12
- Flavors of the past: A Pre-Hispanic drink tour in Mexico city.: $5.91
- Mexico City Self-Guided Audio Experience: $6.00
- Hidden Gems of Exploration Game and Tour: $6.63
- CDMX: Museum of Memory and Tolerance - Anne Frank (Entrance ticket): $6.81
- Puebla Audio Guided Walking Tour 3h and 26 Audio Comments: $6.96
- Mexico City Walking Tour 2h40 and 24 audio reviews: $7.15
- Mexico City Jewish History Smartphone Guided Audio Walking Tour: $7.75
- Double Decker Bus Night Tour: $8.17
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$2.94
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Salsa Class$2.94
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Movie Ticket$3.21
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Hot Springs$2.94
Tours and Activities in Arequipa
Here are a few actual costs in Arequipa for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2 Day - Colca Canyon and Condor Tour from Arequipa, Peru - Group Service: $288
- 2 Day Tour to Colca Canyon: $43
- 2 Days Colca Living Experience Nature Culture and Tradition: $173
- 2 Days of Natural Experience in the Colca Canyon: $150
- 2 days 1 night Colca Canyon tour ending in Puno: $145
- 2 days and 1 night tour in the Colca Canyon: $205
- 2-Day Hiking Tour to the Colca Canyon: $120
- 2-Day Tour to the Magical Colca Canyon: $68
- 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: $30
- Añashuayco Quarries and Sillar Route Tour from Arequipa: $25
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMexico City $20Arequipa $17
Sample the Local Flavors in Mexico City
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Mexico City:
- Guided Pub Crawl with Party Games: $23
- Mexico City Pub Crawl: $26
- Zona Rosa Pub Crawl Experience: $94
- The Mexican Wine Tasting and Pairing: $127
- Distillery Tour and Lucha Libre Spirits and Showdown: $127
- Private Cheese and Wine Tour to Queretaro: $479
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$2.65
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mexico City and Arequipa, we can see that Mexico City is more expensive. And not only is Arequipa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Mexico City is in North America and Arequipa 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 Arequipa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Arequipa 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 Mexico City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Mexico City than you might in Arequipa.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mexico City Expensive? and Is Arequipa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mexico City or Arequipa?
Mexico City has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Arequipa. When comparing the sizes of Mexico City 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.