Which place is cheaper, Arequipa or Quepos?
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 Quepos or Arequipa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Quepos and Arequipa can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Quepos or Arequipa?
Quepos
Quepos is both a district and the capital of Aguirre canton in the Puntareanas Province of Costa Rica. The town is quite small, and the district has a population of about 22,000 people. Quepos is a popular tourist destination in Costa Rica due to its close proximity to Manuel Antonio National Park on the Pacific Coast. The town's economy is centered around tourism and there is no shortage of bars and restaurants in the area. The town also has a lively nightlife for such a small community.
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 Wildlife Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Costa Rica, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru, and The Best Cultural Tours in Peru.
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Quepos Prices
Costa Rica PricesArequipa Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayQuepos $155Arequipa $62
The average daily cost (per person) in Quepos is $155, while the average daily cost in Arequipa is $62. 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 Quepos and Arequipa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personQuepos $85Arequipa $25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomQuepos $170Arequipa $50
Compare Hotels in Quepos and Arequipa
Looking for a hotel in Quepos 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: Quepos Hotel Prices and Arequipa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Quepos $11Arequipa $6.61
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quepos
Also for Quepos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- One-Way Private Transfer from Quepos - Manuel Antonio to the Sierpe: $213
- One-Way Private Transfer from Uvita to Quepos - Manuel Antonio: $140
- Private One Way Transfer from Manuel Antonio to Arenal La Fortuna: $195
- Private Transfer FROM or TO Manuel Antonio - Sierpe: $209
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Manuel Antonio: $88
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Manuel Antonio: $88
- Private Transfer from Quepos Cruise Port to San Jose City Hotels: $207
- Private Transfer from Quepos Port to Liberia Int Airport (LIR): $259
- Private Transfer: SJO Airport to or from Manuel Antonio Quepos: $235
- Puntarenas city to Juan Santamaria Intl Airport(SJO)-Departure Private Transfer: $105
- Transfer from Quepos Cruise Port to Juan Santamaria Airport (SJO): $166
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Arequipa
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Arequipa are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$1.49
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Bus Ride$0.48
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Taxi Ride$1.04
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arequipa
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Arequipa:
- transfer Airport - Hotel: $21
- Transfer Between Arequipa's Airport and Hotels: $35
- Private Transfer from Alfredo Rodríguez Ballón Airport to Hotel: $20
- Koh Lanta any hotel to Krabi airport Private transfer: $80
- Colca Canyon Day Trip with Transfer to Puno: $65
- Colca Canyon 2 days from Arequipa with final transfer to Puno: $85
- Colca Canyon + Transfer To Puno: $103
- Arequipa Bus Station Arrival Transfer: $37
- Arequipa Airport Private Transfer: $38
- Arequipa Airport Departure Transfer: $22
- Arequipa Airport Arrival Transfer: $13
- 2 Days Colca Canyon Tour with Transfer to Puno: $115
Is it cheaper to fly into Quepos or Arequipa?
Prices for flights to both Arequipa and Quepos 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 dayQuepos $57Arequipa $26
Typical Food Prices in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch$16
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Seafood Dinner (for 1)$22
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Night Mangrove Safari Boat Tour with Dinner | Manuel Antonio: $79
- Local Flavor Cooking Experience: $96
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$0.45
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Lunch$3.13
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Ice Cream$1.19
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Fruit$0.89
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Ice Cream$1.04
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Arequipa
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Arequipa.
- Peruvian Cooking Experience in Arequipa: $35
- Cooking Class at La Plantation: $36
- Almuerzo Arequipa Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $47
- Arequipa Nights Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $47
- Peruvian Cooking Class: $63
- Arequipa Food Tour: Ancestral Cuisine & City Tour: $79
- Arequipa : Food Tour and History (3 Restaurants and Market): $80
- Arequipa Food Tour Experience: $115
- Food Tour Gastronomic Guided: $119
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Quepos $19Arequipa $20
Tours and Activities in Quepos
For Quepos, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Manuel Antonio National Park *Group tour/Park ticket NOT included: $22
- Manuel Antonio National Park : Guided tour with TICKET INCLUDED: $23
- Beach Day Experience in Manuel Antonio: $25
- Manuel Antonio Nature Experience with Jeremias: $25
- Manuel Antonio Park Tour and its Amazing Wildlife and Beaches: $27
- Manuel Antonio National Park: Guided Tour with TICKET INCLUDED: $27
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour with ticket option: $27
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour With Ticket Option: $27
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour: $28
- Manuel Antonio Park Guided Tour with Ticket Included Option: $28
- Manuel Antonio National Park guided tour: $28
- Manuel Antonio National Guided Park tour: $29
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$2.98
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Salsa Class$2.98
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Movie Ticket$3.25
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Hot Springs$2.98
Tours and Activities in Arequipa
Here are a few actual costs in Arequipa for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2 Day Tour to Colca Canyon: $43
- 2 Days Climbing Volcano Chachani Tour, Conquer Your First 6,070m: $200
- 2 Days Colca Living Experience Nature Culture and Tradition: $173
- 2 days 1 night Colca Canyon tour ending in Puno: $145
- 2 days and 1 night tour in the Colca Canyon: $205
- 2-Day Group Tour to Colca Canyon from Arequipa: $230
- 2-Day Hiking Tour to the Colca Canyon: $120
- 2-Day Tour to the Magical Colca Canyon: $68
- 3-day Colca Canyon Trek Tour Adventure: $90
- 3-hour guided tour in Arequipa: $65
- 8-Hours Tour in Arequipa Laguna de Salinas with Pick-up: $30
- Añashuayco Quarries and Sillar Route Tour from Arequipa: $25
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayQuepos $16Arequipa $17
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$2.68
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Quepos and Arequipa, we can see that Quepos is more expensive. And not only is Arequipa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Quepos is in Central America and Arequipa is in South America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. 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 Quepos would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Quepos 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 Quepos Expensive? and Is Arequipa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Quepos or Arequipa?
Arequipa has a larger population, and is about 110 times larger than the population of Quepos. When comparing the sizes of Quepos 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.