Which place is cheaper, San Pedro de Atacama or Pereira?
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 Pereira or San Pedro de Atacama?
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 Pereira and San Pedro de Atacama. 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: Pereira or San Pedro de Atacama?
Pereira
Situated in a small valley in the western Andes, Pereira is the capital city of Risaralda, Colombia. The city is surrounded by coffee producing agriculture and sits in the middle of a triangle of cities including Bogota, Medillin and Cali, each of which is about a three to five hour drive away.
The city itself is very much student oriented, as there are many universities around town and at least one quarter of the population is made up of students. There is also a very European vibe to the city and you will find the area beautiful with many parks and museums.
Pereira's economy is based on government, agriculture, manufacturing, logistics, trade, commerce, and tourism. Agricultural products include sugarcane, cacao, rubber, cereals, coffee, and livestock. Apparel is the main manufacturing product, along with aluminium goods, motorcycles and telecommunications technology.
Pereira is found in a warm moorland area with an average temperature of around 72 degrees. The temperatures remain relatively consistent throughout the year with highs in the high 70s Fahrenheit to low 80s Fahrenheit. Low temperatures are usually in the low 60s Fahrenheit. Rain is heaviest during the months of April and May as well as October and November.
San Pedro de Atacama
San Pedro de Atacama is a gateway to northern Chile. It is a good jumping off point for exploring the area's impressive landscape, most of which is included in the Los Flamencos National Reserve. It is popular with both Chilean and international tourists, and because of its popularity, it is a relatively expensive destination, with many prices comparable to what you might pay in Santiago.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Colombia, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Chile, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Chile.
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Pereira Prices
Colombia PricesSan Pedro de Atacama Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPereira $81San Pedro de Atacama $69
The average daily cost (per person) in Pereira is $81, while the average daily cost in San Pedro de Atacama is $69. 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 Pereira and San Pedro de Atacama in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPereira $26San Pedro de Atacama $32
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPereira $52San Pedro de Atacama $64
Compare Hotels in Pereira and San Pedro de Atacama
Looking for a hotel in Pereira or San Pedro de Atacama? 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: Pereira Hotel Prices and San Pedro de Atacama Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pereira $20San Pedro de Atacama $9.14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Pereira
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Pereira are as follows:
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Short Taxi Ride$1.18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pereira
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pereira:
- PEREIRA/ARMENIA: FULLDAY TRANSFER SALENTO+ FILANDIA + COCORA VALLEY: $144
- One way transfer Pereira to Santa Rosa Hot Springs: $88
- Manizales Arrival or Departure Transfer: Matecaña Intl Airport: $41
- Manizales Arrival or Departure Transfer La Nubia Airport: $20
- Arrival or Departure Transfer Matecaña International Airport: $11
- Arrival or Departure Transfer El Éden International Airport: $42
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Pedro de Atacama
Also for San Pedro de Atacama, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 3 Perfect Days in Atacama + Airport Transfer: $224
- Astronomical Tour in San Pedro de Atacama includes transfer, photo, and cocktail.: $53
- Atacama Airport Private Transfer: $88
- Atacama Airport Shuttle Transfer: $38
- Calama Airport Transfer to Atacama / Airport Lodging: $60
- Calama Airport: Transfer to/from San Pedro de Atacama: $30
- Private transfer from San Pedro de Atacama to Calama City: $190
- Puritama Hot Springs Experience with Transfer and Entrance: $90
- Etno-Stargazing Tour with Transfer: $40
- Etno-Stargazing Tour with Transfer: $40
- Puritama Hot Springs Transfer Tour: $45
- Stargazing Experience with Transfer: $44
Is it cheaper to fly into Pereira or San Pedro de Atacama?
Prices for flights to both San Pedro de Atacama and Pereira 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 dayPereira $40San Pedro de Atacama $25
Typical Food Prices in Pereira
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Pereira:
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Hamburger$1.66
Typical Food Prices in San Pedro de Atacama
For San Pedro de Atacama, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Empanadas$1.26
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Lunch$10
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Dinner$11
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Drink$0.94
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Empanada$5.24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Pedro de Atacama
For San Pedro de Atacama, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Local haute cuisine tasting menu dinner: $135
- Private Dinner Under the Stars: $300
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pereira $18San Pedro de Atacama $21
Tours and Activities in Pereira
Here are a few actual costs in Pereira for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Cocora Valley: Salento & Private Horseback Riding Tour: $162
- Coffee Farm and Salento Walking Tour: $89
- Coffee Farm and Santa Rosa Hot Springs Tour from Pereira or Armenia: $149
- Eco-Park Recinto del Pensamiento Tour: $84
- Explore Colombia’s Magic Destination on this 10-Day Tour: $2,700
- Full-Day Private Coffee Tour in Cocora Valley and Salento: $219
- Manizales City Tour with Cable Car and Chipre Viewpoint : $87
- PRIVATE TOUR OF MAIN SQUARES, HISTORICAL SITES + LOOKOUT POINT: $56
- Private Tour to Salento and Cocora Valley from Pereira or Armenia: $131
- Private Tour to the Coffee Park from Pereira or Armenia: $115
- Salento and Cócora Tour plus Coffee Farm from Pereira or Armenia: $158
- Salento, Cócora and Hot Springs Tour from Pereira or Armenia: $202
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Pedro de Atacama
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for San Pedro de Atacama's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Sand Boarding$56
Tours and Activities in San Pedro de Atacama
For San Pedro de Atacama, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Astronomical Tour with Guide and Pick Up San Pedro de Atacama: $30
- Shared Moon Valley Tour: $32
- Tour to the Valley of the Moon San Pedro de Atacama: $35
- Astronomical Guided Tour in San Pedro: $35
- Half-Day Tour to Laguna Cejar: $35
- Stargazing Experience: $35
- Stargazing Tour in San Pedro de Atacama: $36
- Stargazing Tour in the Atacama Desert: $36
- Cejar Lagoon Tour: San Pedro de Atacama: $37
- Rainbow Valley Tour + Petroglyphs (Yerbas Buenas): $37
- Shared Archaeological Tour in San Pedro de Atacama: $38
- Moon Valley Tour: $39
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPereira $14San Pedro de Atacama $4.93
Typical Alcohol Prices in San Pedro de Atacama
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in San Pedro de Atacama:
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Alcohol$25
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pereira and San Pedro de Atacama, we can see that Pereira is more expensive. And not only is San Pedro de Atacama much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to San Pedro de Atacama would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Pedro de Atacama 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 Pereira would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pereira than you might in San Pedro de Atacama.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pereira Expensive? and Is San Pedro de Atacama Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Pereira or San Pedro de Atacama?
Pereira has a larger population, and is about 220 times larger than the population of San Pedro de Atacama. When comparing the sizes of Pereira and San Pedro de Atacama, 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.