A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Rosario vs. Arequipa for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Rosario 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 Rosario and Arequipa can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Rosario or Arequipa?

Rosario

Rosario is the third largest city in Argentina. Located at the Parana river and known for its rich architectural heritage and beautiful riverside scenery, Rosario is the birthplace of the Argentinian flag as well as two of the nation's most famous icons, Che Guevara and Lionel Messi. Rosario is still an important river port but has done a great job of regenerating its center, which now has a vibrant cultural and night life. The abandoned buildings of the long riverbank have been converted into galleries, restaurants, skateparks and river beaches, which buzz with life in summer. Dynamic and confident without being showy, culturally rich and the best urban location to cool off in the boiling summers, Rosario is easily overlooked but not to be missed.

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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina, The Best Adventure Tours to Argentina, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru, and The Best Cultural Tours in Peru.


Which place is cheaper, Arequipa or Rosario?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Rosario is $9.19, while the average daily cost in Arequipa is $47. 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 Rosario and Arequipa in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Rosario $3.16
    Arequipa $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Rosario $6.32
    Arequipa $46
Compare Hotels in Rosario and Arequipa

Looking for a hotel in Rosario 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.

Hotels in Rosario


Hotels in Arequipa


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: Rosario Hotel Prices and Arequipa Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Rosario $2.71
    Arequipa $6.04

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Arequipa

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Arequipa are as follows:


  • Taxi Ride
    $1.36
  • Bus Ride
    $0.44
  • Taxi Ride
    $0.95

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arequipa

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Arequipa:

  • Private Transfer From Arequipa to Puno, English Speaking Driver: $264
  • Colca Canyon Sightseeing Tour 2D1N and Transfer to Puno: $120
  • Full Day Tour Including Transfer to Puno / Colca Canyon: $112
  • Colca Canyon 2 days with Transfer to Puno: $108
  • From 2-Day Colca Canyon Tour with Transfer to Puno: $103
  • From 2-Day Colca Canyon Tour with Transfer to Puno: $98
  • Koh Lanta any hotel to Krabi airport Private transfer: $72
  • Private Transfer from Alfredo Rodríguez Ballón (AQP) Airport to Arequipa: $35
  • Private Transfer from Arequipa to Alfredo Rodríguez Ballón (AQP) Airport : $35
  • Transfer Between Arequipa's Airport and Hotels: $35
  • Sihanouk Ville Airport Pickup or Transfer Private Car: $32
  • 1-Way Airport Private Transfer: $31

Is it cheaper to fly into Rosario or Arequipa?

Prices for flights to both Arequipa and Rosario 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Rosario $3.90
    Arequipa $14

Typical Food Prices in Arequipa

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Arequipa:


  • Coke
    $0.41
  • Lunch
    $2.86
  • Ice Cream
    $1.09
  • Fruit
    $0.82
  • 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.

  • Skip the Line: Dinner and Typical Dances Show Ticket: $25
  • Peruvian Cooking Experience in Arequipa: $34
  • Peruvian Cooking Class: $48
  • Peruvian Cooking Class: $48
  • Peruvian Cooking Class in arequipa: $50
  • Guided Food Tour in Arequipa City: $69
  • 3-hour guided food tour / 5 iconic restaurants of Arequipa: $72
  • A 3-hour Guided Food Tour with 4 Iconic Restaurants of Arequipa: $79
  • Arequipa Food Tour: Ancestral Cuisine & City Tour: $85
  • Peruvian cooking class + Pisco Sour class + Visit to the local market: $91
  • Peruvian cooking class + PiscoSour class + visit the local market: $91
  • Peruse The Market With A Cooking Class Before Dinner: $97

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Rosario $3.13
    Arequipa $18

Typical Entertainment Prices in Arequipa

Here are a few typical costs in Arequipa for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Monastery Entry
    $2.72
  • Salsa Class
    $2.72
  • Movie Ticket
    $2.97
  • Hot Springs
    $2.72

Tours and Activities in Arequipa

Here are a few actual costs in Arequipa for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Colca Full Day Tour: $51
  • 2 Day - Colca Canyon and Condor Tour from Arequipa, Peru - Group Service : $288
  • 2 Day Shared Tour to Colca Canyon: $45
  • 2-Day Group Tour to Colca Canyon from Arequipa: $230
  • 2-Day Hiking Tour to the Colca Canyon: $100
  • 2-Day Tour to the Magical Colca Canyon: $68
  • 2-day tour to the Colca Valley and the Cruz del Condor: $99
  • 3 Hour Congata Rover Biking Ride Tour in Arequipa: $45
  • 4-hour tour to the Sillar Route in Arequipa: $12
  • 8-Hours Tour in Arequipa Laguna de Salinas with Pick-up: $23
  • Afternoon : Arequipa Walking tour: $55
  • Afternoon : Arequipa city tour with Santa Catalina Monastery: $75

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Rosario $1.79
    Arequipa $16

Typical Alcohol Prices in Arequipa

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Arequipa are as follows:


  • Beer
    $2.45

Sample the Local Flavors in Arequipa

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Arequipa:

  • Pub Crawl Tour in Arequipa with VIP Access.: $25
  • Pub Crawl Tour in Arequipa with Drinks and VIP Access.: $60


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rosario and Arequipa, we can see that Arequipa is more expensive. And not only is Rosario much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Rosario would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Rosario 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 Arequipa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Arequipa than you might in Rosario.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Rosario Expensive? and Is Arequipa Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Rosario or Arequipa?

Rosario has a larger population, and is about 40% larger than the population of Arequipa. When comparing the sizes of Rosario 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.