Which place is cheaper, Arica or Punta del Este?
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 Punta del Este or Arica?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Punta del Este 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: Punta del Este or Arica?
Punta del Este
Punta del Este with its many beaches, elegant seaside homes, yacht harbor, high-rise apartment buildings, pricey hotels, ardent night scene and glitzy restaurants is a chic beach resort town in Uruguay. Many tourists come from Brazil and Argentina, on the other side of the Rio de la Plata, to get some nice sun and lay on the beach for a weekend getaway. Punta del Este is more expensive than other areas in Uruguay and has been called the Monaco of South America. Tourist season varies wildly from totally deserted in the winter to very crowded in the summer.
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 Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best 10-Day Tours in Chile, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile.
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Punta del Este Prices
Uruguay PricesArica Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPunta del Este $116Arica $107
The average daily cost (per person) in Punta del Este is $116, while the average daily cost in Arica is $107. 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 Punta del Este and Arica in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPunta del Este $52Arica $38
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPunta del Este $104Arica $76
Compare Hotels in Punta del Este and Arica
Looking for a hotel in Punta del Este 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.
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: Punta del Este Hotel Prices and Arica Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Punta del Este $21Arica $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta del Este
Also for Punta del Este, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Punta del Este Airport Private Transfer: $60
- Private Transfer to Punta del Este Special Art Icons Tour: $185
- Private Transfer to Punta del Este Airport: $60
- Private Transfer from Punta Del Este Port to Montevideo hotels: $271
- Private Transfer from Punta Del Este Cruise Port to Montevideo: $165
- Private Transfer from Montevideo to Punta Del Este Cruise Port: $165
- Private Transfer - Carrasco Airport (MVD) to Punta Del Este Port: $114
- Bodega Garzon Wine Experience with Private Transfer: $200
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Arica
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Arica are as follows:
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Short Taxi Ride$2.25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arica
Also for Arica, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arica Airport Private Transfer: $109
- Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Airport (ARI): $81
- Private Transfer from Arica Airport (ARI) to Arica Cruise Port: $81
- Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Airport (ARI): $74
- Private Transfer from Arica Airport (ARI) to Arica Cruise Port: $74
- Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Hotels: $68
- Private Transfer from Arica Hotels to Arica Cruise Port: $68
- Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica city hotels: $63
- Private Transfer from Arica City hotels to Arica Cruise Port: $63
Is it cheaper to fly into Punta del Este or Arica?
Prices for flights to both Arica and Punta del Este 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 dayPunta del Este $51Arica $52
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Punta del Este $10Arica $21
Tours and Activities in Punta del Este
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Punta del Este.
- Best private Have It Your Way Tour in Punta Del Este.: $290
- Candelaria Church and Punta del Este Old Town Private Tour: $122
- Discovering Half-Day City Tour: $47
- From Montevideo: Punta del Este Full-Day City Tour: $62
- Full Experience Tasting Menu Viña Edén: $165
- Guided Tour of Vineyards: $33
- Guided Tour of the Winery Viña Edén: $19
- Half Day Tour in Punta del Este and Jose Ignacio: $170
- Jewish History Punta del Este Old Town Private Walking Tour: $150
- Montevideo: City Tour, Punta del Este, & Colonia Trip: $129
- Montevideo: Punta del Este Full-Day Tour with Hotel Pick-Up: $88
- Museo Ralli Private Guided Tour in Punta del Este: $122
Tours and Activities in Arica
For Arica, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Archeological Sightseeing tour in Arica: $174
- Arica Private Sightseeing Tour: $171
- City Tour with Chinchorro Beach Visit: $82
- Half day Panoramic City Tour: $49
- Chungará Lake & Lauca Park Tour from Arica with Lunch: $197
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPunta del Este $7.41Arica $21
Sample the Local Flavors in Punta del Este
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Punta del Este:
- Wine Tasting: $42
- Wine Lovers - Fun Wine Tasting outside Punta del Este!: $199
When comparing the travel costs between Punta del Este and Arica, we can see that Punta del Este 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. Since both cities are in South America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Punta del Este Expensive? and Is Arica Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Punta del Este or Arica?
Arica has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Punta del Este. When comparing the sizes of Punta del Este 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.
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.