Which place is cheaper, Arequipa or Pucon?
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 Pucon or Arequipa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Pucon and Arequipa 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: Pucon or Arequipa?
Pucon
A popular hub for adventure tourism, Pucon is a town in the Lake District of the South American nation of Chile. Located on Lake Villarirca with the snowcapped Villarrica volcano looming above and plenty of forested valleys below, the town has become a home base year-round for a full range of outdoor activities.
Check out our ultimate guide to Traveling in Patagonia.
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 Chile, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Chile, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru, and The Best Cultural Tours in Peru.
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Pucon Prices
Chile PricesArequipa Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPucon $130Arequipa $58
The average daily cost (per person) in Pucon is $130, while the average daily cost in Arequipa is $58. 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 Pucon and Arequipa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPucon $44Arequipa $24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPucon $88Arequipa $48
Compare Hotels in Pucon and Arequipa
Looking for a hotel in Pucon 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: Arequipa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pucon $20Arequipa $6.11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pucon
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pucon:
- Private Transfer Pucon Thermal Resorts to Temuco Airport (ZCO): $81
- Pucon Temuco Airport Private Transfer: $98
- Pucon to Puerto Montt El Tepual Airport (PMC) -Departure Transfer: $261
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Arequipa
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Arequipa are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$1.38
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Bus Ride$0.44
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Taxi Ride$0.96
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arequipa
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Arequipa:
- 2-Day Colca Canyon Tour with optional transfer to Puno: $132
- Alfredo Rodrígue Airport: Arequipa Hotel Private Transfer: $16
- Arequipa Airport Arrival Transfer: $13
- Arequipa Bus Station Departure Transfer: $25
- 1-Way Airport Private Transfer: $31
- Airport private transfer to/from the city center: $26
- City Highlights Bus Tour with Transfer: $22
- Colca Canyon Day Trip with Transfer to Puno: $65
- From 2-Day Colca Canyon Tour with Transfer to Puno: $98
- From 2-Day Colca Canyon Tour with Transfer to Puno: $103
- From Colca Canyon Day Trip with Transfer to Puno: $65
- Full Day Tour to Colca including Transfer to Puno: $60
Is it cheaper to fly into Pucon or Arequipa?
Prices for flights to both Arequipa and Pucon 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 dayPucon $67Arequipa $24
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$0.41
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Lunch$2.89
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Ice Cream$1.10
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Fruit$0.83
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Ice Cream$0.96
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: $35
- Peruvian Cooking Experience in Arequipa: $35
- Hands-On Experience, Master Peruvian Cooking: $39
- Cooking Class Typical Food in Arequipa: $49
- Peruvian Cooking Class in arequipa: $50
- Peruvian Cooking Class: $53
- Peruvian Cooking Class: $53
- Typical Food Cooking Class in Arequipa: $54
- Private Cooking Class in Arequipa: $57
- Cooking Class Typical Food in Arequipa: $57
- Arequipa Food Tour: Ancestral Cuisine & City Tour: $79
- Arequipa Food Tour: Ancestral Cuisine & City Tour: $79
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pucon $38Arequipa $19
Tours and Activities in Pucon
Here are a few actual costs in Pucon for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Tour in Self-drive Electric Hot Tub Boat Nestled in nature!: $50
- Private 3-Hour Canyoning Experience on the Correntoso River: $68
- Geometric Thermal Tour with Pickup and Tickets: $120
- Half Day Tour to The Eyes Of Caburgua from Pucon: $124
- Sightseeing Tour in Pucon and Villarica: $125
- Full Day Excursion Tour to Quetrupillán Volcano: $177
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$2.75
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Salsa Class$2.75
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Movie Ticket$3.00
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Hot Springs$2.75
Tours and Activities in Arequipa
Here are a few actual costs in Arequipa for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 4 hours Tour: Route of Sillar with Trek in Culebrillas: $8.39
- Tour + Hike to the Sillar Route and Culebrillas in Arequipa: $8.99
- Arequipa Tasting Tour: $12
- Sillar Route Tour.: $13
- Tour to La Ruta del Sillar and Culesbrillas in Arequipa: $13
- Walking Tour through the Historic Center of Arequipa: $16
- From Mirabus City Tour | Yanahuara Viewpoint |: $17
- Countryside Tour Arequipa: $18
- Walking tour through the historic center of Arequipa: $19
- From Panoramic Tour of Arequipa: $20
- From Sillar Route Tour || Half Day ||: $20
- AREQUIPA COUNTRYSIDE TOUR PANORAMIC BUS TOUR: $20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPucon $27Arequipa $16
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$2.48
Sample the Local Flavors in Arequipa
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Arequipa:
- Pub Crawl with Skip-The-Line Access and Drinks: $21
- Pub Crawl Tour in Arequipa with VIP Access.: $25
- From Pisco and wine tour through the Majes Valley: $50
- Pisco and wine tour through the Majes Valley: $59
- Pub Crawl Tour in Arequipa with Drinks and VIP Access.: $60
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pucon and Arequipa, we can see that Pucon is more expensive. And not only is Arequipa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Pucon would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pucon 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 Pucon Expensive? and Is Arequipa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Pucon or Arequipa?
Arequipa has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Pucon. When comparing the sizes of Pucon 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.