Which place is cheaper, Arequipa or Riga?
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 Riga or Arequipa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Riga 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: Riga or Arequipa?
Riga
Riga is the vibrant capital city of Latvia. It continues to gain popularity as a tourist destination in part because it is the base for the airline Air Baltic. This affordable airline offers discount flights around Europe and most of these flights pass through Riga with a forced overnight layover. This encourages travelers to visit this fascinating city for at least a night or two.
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 Sightseeing Tours in Peru, and The Best Cultural Tours in Peru.
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Riga Prices
Latvia PricesArequipa Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRiga €122Arequipa €54
The average daily cost (per person) in Riga is €122, while the average daily cost in Arequipa is €54. 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 Riga and Arequipa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRiga €52Arequipa €22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRiga €104Arequipa €44
Compare Hotels in Riga and Arequipa
Looking for a hotel in Riga 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: Riga Hotel Prices and Arequipa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Riga €9.63Arequipa €5.70
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Riga
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Riga:
- Arrival Private Transfer from Riga Airport RIX to Riga City by Minibus: $120
- Arrival Private Transfer from Riga Airport RIX to Riga City by Minivan: $51
- Arrival Private Transfer from Riga Airport RIX to Riga by Sedan: $37
- Baltic Explorer Private Riga–Tallinn/Tallinn–Riga Transfer & Tour: $205
- Departure Private Transfer Riga City to Riga Airport RIX by Minibus: $120
- Departure Transfer from Riga to Riga Airport RIX by Car or Van: $70
- From Cesis and Sigulda Day Trip with Hotel Transfers: $161
- From Private Transfer to Tallinn with Pärnu City Tour: $680
- From Private Transfer to Tallinn with Sightseeing: $494
- From Private Transfer to Vilnius with Sightseeing: $448
- Private Transfer Riga International Airport RIX to Jurmala City: $51
- Private Transfer from Hotel to Riga Airport with English speaking driver: $56
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Arequipa
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Arequipa are as follows:
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Taxi Ride€1.28
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Bus Ride€0.41
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Taxi Ride€0.90
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arequipa
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Arequipa:
- Arequipa Airport Arrival Transfer: $13
- Arequipa Airport Departure Transfer: $19
- Private Transfer from Alfredo Rodríguez Ballón Airport to Hotel: $20
- Arequipa Airport Private Transfer: $38
- Colca Canyon Day Trip with Transfer to Puno: $65
- Koh Lanta any hotel to Krabi airport Private transfer: $78
- Colca Canyon full day tour with transfer to Puno: $80
- Colca Canyon 2 days from Arequipa with final transfer to Puno: $85
- Colca Canyon + Transfer To Puno: $103
- 2 Days Colca Canyon Tour with Transfer to Puno: $138
Is it cheaper to fly into Riga or Arequipa?
Prices for flights to both Arequipa and Riga 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 dayRiga €57Arequipa €22
Typical Food Prices in Riga
Some typical examples of dining costs in Riga are as follows:
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Fast Food Lunch€5.77
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Riga
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Riga.
- Riga Central Market Food Tour with Guide & Tastings ENG, DE: $26
- Central Market Latvian Food Tour with 20 taste samples: $52
- Khinkali and Pelmeni Cooking Master Class: $69
- Latvian Cooking Class in a Local Home: $114
- Riga Medieval Dinner: $125
- Pizza Making Master Class in Riga: $240
- Traditional Latvian Dinner with Private Folk Show: $248
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€0.39
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Lunch€2.70
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Ice Cream€1.03
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Fruit€0.77
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Ice Cream€0.90
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
- Arequipa Nights Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $59
- Almuerzo Arequipa Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $59
- Peruvian Cooking Class: $63
- 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.Riga €14Arequipa €17
Tours and Activities in Riga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Riga are as follows:
- Historic Canal Boat Tour with Audio Guide: $8.01
- Panorama Riga Observation Deck Ticket: $9.22
- Historic Canal Boat Tour with Audio Guide: $10
- Audio Tour of Riga Old Town: $12
- Old Town Walking Tour with a Local Guide: $12
- Old Town E-Bus Tour with Audio Guide: $12
- Entrance Ticket - House of the Black Heads: $12
- Old Riga Walking Tour: Stories and Legends ENG/DE/ESP: $12
- Top Panorama Cruise With Bar,WiFi and audioguide: $13
- Riga Sightseeing by Canal Boat with Audio Guide: $14
- Riga Old Town Walking Tour: Stories and Legends ENG/DE/ESP: $14
- Top City Panorama Cruise With Bar & WiFi by boat Jelgava/Liepaja: $14
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€2.57
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Salsa Class€2.57
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Movie Ticket€2.80
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Hot Springs€2.57
Tours and Activities in Arequipa
Here are a few actual costs in Arequipa for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Pedestrian Tour of the Historic Center of Arequipa: $5.00
- Route of the Sillar 4-Hour Tour: $10
- Walking Tour through the Historic Center of Arequipa: $10
- City tour Arequipa by foot: $10
- Arequipa Tasting Tour: $13
- Tour to La Ruta del Sillar and Culesbrillas in Arequipa: $15
- Chili River White Water Rafting Adventure with Pickup: $16
- Sillar Route Tour The best experience!!: $17
- Countryside Tour Arequipa: $18
- City Tour Arequipa: $20
- Koh Rong Tour: A Snorkeling, Fishing, Sunset, Plankton: $20
- Sillar Route and Culebrillas Canyon Full-Day Tour from Arequipa: $25
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRiga €20Arequipa €15
Sample the Local Flavors in Riga
Also in Riga, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl with Local Guide: $29
- Old town pub & bar crawl, hidden gems, and local party: $29
- Brewery Tour with Beer and Riga Balsam Tasting: $32
- Brewery Tour and Beer Tasting in Riga: $33
- Riga Pub Crawl Nightlife Experience: $37
- Combo Brewery Tour + Canal Boat tour: $39
- Pub Crawl- Your best night out in Riga with our local guide!: $40
- Private - Riga Pub Crawl: $40
- 2 in 1 - Old Town Walking Tour & Pub Crawl: $40
- Riga 2 in 1 Tour: Art Nouveau Tour & Pub Crawl: $45
- Riga Evening Adventure: Pub Crawl & Games Night: $50
- Authentic Latvian Brewery Beer Tasting & Riga Highlight Tour: $51
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€2.31
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Riga and Arequipa, we can see that Riga is more expensive. And not only is Arequipa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Riga is in Europe 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 Riga would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Riga 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 Riga Expensive? and Is Arequipa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Riga or Arequipa?
Arequipa has a larger population, and is about 13% larger than the population of Riga. When comparing the sizes of Riga 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.