A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Montevideo vs. Arica for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Montevideo or Arica?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Montevideo and Arica can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Montevideo or Arica?

Montevideo

As the morning sun tinges the calm waters of the Rio de la Plata with a golden hue, the Rambla and its city awakens to life with new adventures for those near and far. From tanning on the luxurious beaches to peering into Uruguayan history at local museums, one can be far from bored while staying in Montevideo. Combining the quaintness of the countryside with the excitement of urban life, this city holds a unique trait that cannot easily be replicated.

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 Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best 10-Day Tours in Chile, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile.


Which place is cheaper, Arica or Montevideo?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Montevideo is $70, while the average daily cost in Arica is $100. 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 Montevideo and Arica in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Montevideo $38
    Arica $35
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Montevideo $76
    Arica $70
Compare Hotels in Montevideo and Arica

Looking for a hotel in Montevideo 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.

Hotels in Montevideo


Hotels in Arica


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: Montevideo Hotel Prices and Arica Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Montevideo $7.06
    Arica $18

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montevideo

Also for Montevideo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer to Punta del Este from Montevideo / Punta to Montevideo: $112
  • Transfer from the Hotel in Montevideo to Montevideo airport: $60
  • Transfer from Montevideo to Punta del Este: $328
  • Transfer from Montevideo to Colonia del Sacramento: $438
  • Transfer from Montevideo to Carrasco Airport: $45
  • TRANSFER FROM OR TO THE AIRPORT (4 to 12 paxs): $90
  • Roundtrip Transfer Montevideo Airport (MVD) - Punta del Este: $210
  • Roundtrip Private Transfer from Montevideo Airport (MVD): $42
  • Private Transfer from or to Carrasco Airport in Montevideo: $120
  • Private Transfer from Montevideo hotels to Punta Del Este Port: $275
  • Private Transfer from Montevideo city to Montevideo Cruise Port: $42
  • Private Transfer from Montevideo Port to Carrasco Airport (MVD): $42

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Arica

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Arica are as follows:


  • Short Taxi Ride
    $2.09

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arica

Also for Arica, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Arica Airport Private Transfer: $95
  • Private Transfer from Arica Airport (ARI) to Arica Cruise Port: $83
  • Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Airport (ARI): $83
  • Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Airport (ARI): $75
  • Private Transfer from Arica Airport (ARI) to Arica Cruise Port : $75
  • Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Hotels: $69
  • Private Transfer from Arica Hotels to Arica Cruise Port: $69
  • Private Transfer from Arica City hotels to Arica Cruise Port: $63
  • Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica city hotels: $63

Is it cheaper to fly into Montevideo or Arica?

Prices for flights to both Arica and Montevideo 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 day
    Montevideo $22
    Arica $49

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montevideo

For Montevideo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Show + Dinner - El Milongon (No Transport): $93
  • The best Montevideo Dinner Show. Tango and Candombe. El Milongon.: $98
  • Montevideo Private Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $107
  • El Milongon Dinner & Show: Candombe, Tango and Folklore: $108

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Montevideo $20
    Arica $20

Tours and Activities in Montevideo

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Montevideo.

  • Colonia del Sacramento - Regular Tour: $60
  • Punta del Este, City Tour from Montevideo: $140
  • Afternoon Tea Experience at Sofitel Montevideo Carrasco & Spa: $29
  • Audio Guided Tour in Montevideo City for Cruisers: $26
  • Best City Shared Tour for Cruisers: $65
  • Best Private Tour of Montevideo for cruise-ship passengers: $450
  • Bodega Santa Rosa: Famiglia Passadore Tour Tasting with Lunch: $86
  • Bouza Winery Full Experience (Tasting and Lunch): $180
  • City Tour of Montevideo: $40
  • City Tour, the best option for small groups: $120
  • City tour Montevideo: $27
  • Colonia & Montevideo from Buenos Aires - Private 2 Day Tour: $1,560

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: $152
  • Arica Private Sightseeing Tour : $148
  • City Tour with Chinchorro Beach Visit: $82
  • Half day Panoramic City Tour: $49
  • Chungará Lake & Lauca Park Tour from Arica with Lunch: $197
  • Private Tour to Tacna from Arica: $285

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Montevideo -
    Arica $19

Sample the Local Flavors in Montevideo

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Montevideo:

  • Pizzorno Winery with Lunch and Wine Tasting: $116
  • The best wine tour: $140
  • Wine tour - Lunch & Tasting with Wine Explorers: $198
  • Wine Tasting & Countryside Lunch Experience: $225
  • Montevideo Wine Tour with Tasting and Lunch: $226
  • Wine Tasting Tour for Cruise Passengers: $450


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montevideo and Arica, we can see that Arica is more expensive. And not only is Montevideo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Montevideo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Montevideo 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 Montevideo.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Montevideo Expensive? and Is Arica Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Montevideo or Arica?

Montevideo has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Arica. When comparing the sizes of Montevideo 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.