Which place is cheaper, Arequipa or Puerto Madryn?
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 Puerto Madryn or Arequipa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Arequipa? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Puerto Madryn or Arequipa?
Puerto Madryn
Puerto Madryn is mostly known as the gateway to Peninsula Valdes, welcoming tourists who come for whale watching. The Peninsula Valdes is a nature reserve designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site; 97 km long and 63 km wide, it is connected to the continent by an isthmus of 35 km from which we can see both gulfs, San Jose at north and the Nuevo at south.
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 Argentina, The Best 3-Week Tours in Argentina, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru, and The Best Cultural Tours in Peru.
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Puerto Madryn Prices
Argentina PricesArequipa Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPuerto Madryn $77Arequipa $57
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Madryn is $77, while the average daily cost in Arequipa is $57. 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 Puerto Madryn and Arequipa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPuerto Madryn $52Arequipa $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPuerto Madryn $104Arequipa $46
Compare Hotels in Puerto Madryn and Arequipa
Looking for a hotel in Puerto Madryn 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: Puerto Madryn Hotel Prices and Arequipa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Puerto Madryn $3.21Arequipa $6.05
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Madryn
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Madryn:
- From Punta Tombo Day Trip with Hotel Transfer: $138
- Puerto Madryn Airport PMY Private Transfer to Puerto Madryn City: $33
- Puerto Madryn Airport Private Transfer: $215
- Trelew Airport Shuttle Transfer To Puerto Madryn : $49
- View of the whales: transfer to El Doradillo beach: $150
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Arequipa
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Arequipa are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$1.36
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Bus Ride$0.44
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Taxi Ride$0.95
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arequipa
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Arequipa:
- Arequipa Airport Arrival Transfer: $13
- Arequipa Airport Departure Transfer: $13
- Alfredo Rodrígue Airport: Arequipa Hotel Private Transfer: $16
- transfer Airport - Hotel: $21
- Airport private transfer to/from the city center: $26
- 1-Way Airport Private Transfer: $31
- Sihanouk Ville Airport Pickup or Transfer Private Car: $32
- Transfer Between Arequipa's Airport and Hotels: $35
- Full Day Tour to Colca including Transfer to Puno: $60
- Colca Canyon Day Trip with Transfer to Puno: $65
- From Colca Canyon Day Trip with Transfer to Puno: $65
- Koh Lanta any hotel to Krabi airport Private transfer: $79
Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Madryn or Arequipa?
Prices for flights to both Arequipa and Puerto Madryn 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 dayPuerto Madryn $9.65Arequipa $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$2.86
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Ice Cream$1.09
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Fruit$0.82
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Ice Cream$0.95
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
- Cooking Class Typical Food in Arequipa: $49
- Peruvian Cooking Class: $53
- Peruvian Cooking Class: $53
- Typical Food Cooking Class in Arequipa: $54
- Cooking Class Typical Food in Arequipa: $57
- Arequipa Food Tour: Ancestral Cuisine & City Tour: $79
- A 3-hour Guided Food Tour with 4 Iconic Restaurants of Arequipa: $79
- Arequipa Food Tour: Ancestral Cuisine & City Tour: $79
- Food Tour | Gastronomic Tour: $113
- Food Tour Experience: $115
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Puerto Madryn $57Arequipa $18
Tours and Activities in Puerto Madryn
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Madryn are as follows:
- El Doradillo Whale Watching Half-Day Tour from Puerto Madryn: $55
- El Doradillo Whale Watching Half-Day Tour: $55
- Excursion to Punta Loma and Puerto Madryn for Cruisers: $60
- Punta Loma: Shore Tour with Craft Beer Tasting: $70
- Punta Loma Shore Excursion with City tour: $75
- From City and Punta Loma Tour: $82
- Cruise Shore Punta Loma and city overview: $83
- Punta Tombo Tour, the Penguin Experience: $90
- Punta Cuevas Bike Tour for Cruise Passengers: $90
- walking tour along beaches and canyons: $90
- Peninsula Valdes Full Day Tour: $90
- City Tour, Trekking, Marine Fauna and Argentinean Empanadas: $95
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$2.73
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Salsa Class$2.73
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Movie Ticket$2.97
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Hot Springs$2.73
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
- Sillar Route Tour.: $13
- Tour to La Ruta del Sillar and Culesbrillas in Arequipa: $13
- Walking tour through the historic center of Arequipa: $15
- Walking Tour through the Historic Center of Arequipa: $16
- From Mirabus City Tour | Yanahuara Viewpoint |: $17
- Walking tour in the Historic Center of Arequipa: $18
- From Panoramic Tour of Arequipa: $20
- From Sillar Route - Half Day Tour: $20
- AREQUIPA COUNTRYSIDE TOUR PANORAMIC BUS TOUR: $20
- Walking tour history, legends & mysteries : $20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPuerto Madryn $15Arequipa $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$2.45
Sample the Local Flavors in Arequipa
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Arequipa:
- Pub Crawl with Skip-The-Line Access and Drinks: $20
- 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 Puerto Madryn and Arequipa, we can see that Puerto Madryn 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 Puerto Madryn would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto Madryn 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 Puerto Madryn Expensive? and Is Arequipa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Puerto Madryn or Arequipa?
Arequipa has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Puerto Madryn. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Madryn 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.