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

Should you visit Ocho Rios or Arica?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Ocho Rios or Arica, 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: Ocho Rios or Arica?

Ocho Rios

Ocho Rios, or "Ochi" is a town located on the northeastern shore of Jamaica and is a popular hub for cruise ships. It is a great destination for tourists as it has many resorts and beautiful beaches.

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


Which place is cheaper, Arica or Ocho Rios?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Ocho Rios is $77, 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 Ocho Rios and Arica in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Ocho Rios $52
    Arica $35
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Ocho Rios $104
    Arica $70
Compare Hotels in Ocho Rios and Arica

Looking for a hotel in Ocho Rios 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 Ocho Rios


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: Ocho Rios Hotel Prices and Arica Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Ocho Rios $7.60
    Arica $18

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ocho Rios

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

  • Shuttle Transfer From Montego Bay Airport - Runaway Bay: $24
  • Runaway Bay Hotels Private Round Trip Transfers from MBJ: $125
  • Roundtrip Airport Transfer from Montego Bay to Ocho Rios and Runaway Bay Hotels: $228
  • Round-Trip or Direct Private Airport Transfers to Runaway Bay: $50
  • Riu Ocho Rios Private Airport Transfer: $80
  • Relaxing Montego Bay To Ducanon and Juwel Runaway Bay Transfer: $27
  • Private Transfer to Yaaman Adventure Park from Ocho Rios: $60
  • Private Transfer to White River Tubing Ocho Rios: $40
  • Private Transfer to Mystic Mountain from Ocho Rios: $20
  • Private Transfer to Konoko Falls Botanical Gardens: $27
  • Private Transfer to Beach Horse Back Ride and Swim: $40
  • Private Transfer from Ocho Rios to Sangster Airport MBJ: $60

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: $31
  • Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Airport (ARI): $31
  • Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Airport (ARI): $27
  • Private Transfer from Arica Airport (ARI) to Arica Cruise Port : $27
  • Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Hotels: $24
  • Private Transfer from Arica Hotels to Arica Cruise Port: $24
  • Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica city hotels: $22
  • Private Transfer from Arica City hotels to Arica Cruise Port: $22

Is it cheaper to fly into Ocho Rios or Arica?

Prices for flights to both Arica and Ocho Rios 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
    Ocho Rios $17
    Arica $28

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ocho Rios

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

  • From Flavors of Jamaica Guided Food Tour: $89
  • Taste of Jamaica Farm & Food Tour: $98
  • Private Hillside Cooking Class Jamaican Style with Pickup : $104
  • Ocho Ros: Hillside Cooking Class, Jamaican Style: $130
  • Taste of Jamaica Food Tour: $140
  • The Jamaica School of Cooking and Ocho Rios Highlights Tour: $141
  • Ocho Rios Sunset Catamaran Cruise with Dinner: $218

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Ocho Rios $15
    Arica $20
Typical Entertainment Prices in Ocho Rios

For Ocho Rios, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Tour of Brimmer Hall Estate
    $11
  • Admission to Coyaba Gardens
    $5.47
  • Tour of Prospect Plantation
    $18

Tours and Activities in Ocho Rios

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

  • Authentic Jamaican Bamboo Rafting Tour from Runaway Bay: $194
  • Black River Safari & YS Falls Tour from Runaway Bay: $285
  • Bob Marley Nine Mile Tour from Ocho Rios: $77
  • Full-Day Tour to Blue Hole Falls with Horseback Ride from Montego Bay: $220
  • Private Sightseeing Tour in Ocho Rios : $30
  • Shopping Tour From Runaway Bay Hotels : $65
  • ATV AdVENTURE FROM OCHO RIOS : $190
  • ATV, Bamboo Rafting and Horseback Riding Experience in Ocho Rios: $275
  • ATV, Bamboo Rafting, Horseback Ride Guided Tour from Montego Bay: $135
  • All day Tour of Ocho Rios : $200
  • Bamboo Rafting in Ocho Rios Private Experience: $207
  • Bamboo Rafting on the Lethe great/river(:),tour: $120

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
  • Archeological Sightseeing tour in Arica: $103
  • Arica Private Sightseeing Tour : $134
  • Half day Panoramic City Tour: $49
  • Private Tour to Tacna from Arica: $256

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Ocho Rios $7.71
    Arica $19


When comparing the travel costs between Ocho Rios and Arica, we can see that Arica is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Ocho Rios is in Caribbean Islands and Arica is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

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


Which is Bigger, Ocho Rios or Arica?

Arica has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Ocho Rios. When comparing the sizes of Ocho Rios 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.