A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Moshi vs. Arequipa for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Moshi or Arequipa?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Moshi or Arequipa, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Moshi or Arequipa?

Moshi

Moshi is a town in northern Tanzania, near the Kenyan border. It’s known as a gateway to Kilimanjaro National Park, home to Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro. Trails run up the mountain's cloud-ringed, snow-capped dome, through alpine forests and meadows home to elephants and leopards. The noticeably clean capital of the densely populated Kilimanjaro region sits at the foot of Mt Kilimanjaro and makes a good introduction to the splendors of the north. It's a low-key place with an appealing blend of African and Asian influences and a self-sufficient, prosperous feel, due in large part to its being the center of one of Tanzania's major coffee-growing regions. Virtually all visitors are here to climb Mt Kilimanjaro or to recover after having done so. Yet there’s much more to do, including cultural tours and hikes on the mountain’s lower slopes.

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 Wildlife Tours to Tanzania, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Tanzania, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru, and The Best Cultural Tours in Peru.


Which place is cheaper, Arequipa or Moshi?

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 Moshi is $83, 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 Moshi and Arequipa in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Moshi $36
    Arequipa $25
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Moshi $72
    Arequipa $50
Compare Hotels in Moshi and Arequipa

Looking for a hotel in Moshi 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.

Hotels in Moshi


Hotels in Arequipa


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: Moshi Hotel Prices and Arequipa Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Moshi $17
    Arequipa $6.57

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Moshi

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

  • Airport Transfer between Moshi and Kilimanjaro International Airport: $82
  • Kilimanjaro Airport Private Transfer: $60
  • Kilimanjaro Airport Private Transfer from/to Moshi: $49
  • Kilimanjaro Airport Transfer: $60
  • Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) Transfer/Taxi Services: $53
  • Moshi to Arusha or Arusha to Moshi Transfer (Intercity transfer): $93
  • Private Airport transfers from any hotel in Zanzibar (Departures): $30
  • Private Kilimanjaro Airport Transfer to or from Tanzania: $55
  • Private Transfer from Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) Moshi or Arusha: $55
  • Private Transfer from Kilimanjaro Airport to Moshi: $47
  • Tanzania Private Airport Transfer: $67

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Arequipa

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


  • Taxi Ride
    $1.48
  • Bus Ride
    $0.47
  • Taxi Ride
    $1.04

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arequipa

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Arequipa:

  • Transfer Between Arequipa's Airport and Hotels: $35
  • Private Transfer from Alfredo Rodríguez Ballón Airport to Hotel: $20
  • Private Transfer between Arequipa and Puno: $300
  • Koh Lanta any hotel to Krabi airport Private transfer: $79
  • Colca Canyon full day tour with transfer to Puno: $80
  • Colca Canyon Day Trip with Transfer to Puno: $65
  • Colca Canyon 2 days from Arequipa with final transfer to Puno: $85
  • Colca Canyon + Transfer To Puno: $103
  • Arequipa Bus Station Departure Transfer: $37
  • Arequipa Airport Departure Transfer: $22
  • 2-Day Colca Canyon Tour with optional transfer to Puno: $135
  • 2 Days Colca Canyon Tour with Transfer to Puno: $115

Is it cheaper to fly into Moshi or Arequipa?

Prices for flights to both Arequipa and Moshi 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
    Moshi $34
    Arequipa $26

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Moshi

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

  • Kili View Tanzanian Cooking Class: $26
  • Dee's Private Cooking Class in Tanzania: $50
  • Traditional Tanzanian Cooking Class in Moshi with a Local Family: $79
  • Private Market Tour and Tanzanian Cooking Class in Moshi: $109
  • Spice Picking with Zanzibar Cooking Class: $193
  • 3 Days Chaga Culture: Cooking, NGO Projects, Banana Beer, Hiking: $204

Typical Food Prices in Arequipa

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Arequipa:


  • Coke
    $0.44
  • Lunch
    $3.11
  • Ice Cream
    $1.18
  • Fruit
    $0.89
  • Ice Cream
    $1.04

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Arequipa

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Arequipa.

  • Peruvian Cooking Experience in Arequipa: $35
  • Cooking Class at La Plantation: $36
  • Almuerzo Arequipa Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $47
  • Arequipa Nights Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $47
  • Peruvian Cooking Class in arequipa: $50
  • Peruvian Cooking Class: $63
  • Arequipa Food Tour: Ancestral Cuisine & City Tour: $79
  • Arequipa : Food Tour and History (3 Restaurants and Market): $80
  • Arequipa Food Tour Experience: $115
  • Food Tour Gastronomic Guided: $119

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Moshi $18
    Arequipa $20

Tours and Activities in Moshi

For Moshi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Moshi sunset experience: $12
  • Roast coffee and tour a chagga owned coffee farm: $25
  • Materuni Waterfalls Hiking & Coffee Farms - Tuk Tuk Experiences: $30
  • Materuni Waterfall and Coffee Plantation Half Day Tour: $30
  • Private guided tour to the night lifestyle of Moshi town: $30
  • City tour and local food: $30
  • Materuni Waterfall, Coffee & Chagga Culture Tour from Moshi: $35
  • Materuni Waterfall & Chemka Hot Springs Day Tour: $35
  • Visit Materuni Waterfall with Chimbo (origin) Point & Coffee Tour: $35
  • Moshi City Tour: Explore Local Markets, Culture & Hidden Gems: $36
  • Moshi - Arusha: Materuni Waterfalls Hike and Organic Coffee Tour: $40
  • 1-Day Moshi Villages bike tour: $50

Typical Entertainment Prices in Arequipa

Here are a few typical costs in Arequipa for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Monastery Entry
    $2.96
  • Salsa Class
    $2.96
  • Movie Ticket
    $3.23
  • Hot Springs
    $2.96

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 Climbing Volcano Chachani Tour, Conquer Your First 6,070m: $200
  • 2 Days Colca Living Experience Nature Culture and Tradition: $173
  • 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
  • 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
  • Afternoon : Arequipa Walking tour: $55
  • Afternoon : Arequipa city tour with Santa Catalina Monastery: $75

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Moshi $3.35
    Arequipa $17

Typical Alcohol Prices in Arequipa

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Arequipa are as follows:


  • Beer
    $2.66


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Moshi and Arequipa, we can see that Moshi is more expensive. And not only is Arequipa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Moshi is in Africa 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 Moshi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Moshi 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 Moshi Expensive? and Is Arequipa Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Moshi or Arequipa?

Arequipa has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Moshi. When comparing the sizes of Moshi 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.