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

Should you visit Rosario or Iquique?

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 Iquique can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Rosario or Iquique?

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.

Iquique

Located in a golden crescent of coastline, the beautiful beach city with an ocean that's several shades of blue and a historic centre that offers the perfect balance of culture and relaxation is counted among Chile's premier beach resorts. The city is home to the duty free zone called "Zofri" and a growing number of high rise resort hotels along its beaches. Slightly more expensive and polluted than neighboring population centers, such as Arica, Iquique and its chaotic duty-free shopping zone (zona franca) have become the perfect summer holiday destination for Chilean families.

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 Chile, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile.


Which place is cheaper, Iquique or Rosario?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Rosario is $9.05, while the average daily cost in Iquique is $96. 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 Iquique in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Rosario $3.11
    Iquique $43
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Rosario $6.22
    Iquique $86
Compare Hotels in Rosario and Iquique

Looking for a hotel in Rosario or Iquique? 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 Iquique


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.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Rosario $2.66
    Iquique $23

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Iquique

Also for Iquique, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Sandboard activity in Iquique with transfer: $60

Is it cheaper to fly into Rosario or Iquique?

Prices for flights to both Iquique 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 $3.84
    Iquique $34

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Rosario $3.08
    Iquique $27

Tours and Activities in Iquique

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Iquique.

  • City Tour in Iquique: $89
  • City tour of Iquique with navigation to the Esmeralda buoy: $50
  • Guided City Tour with Boat Trip to Esmeralda Buoy: $60
  • Pintados Geoglyphs, Humberstone and Salar Crespo tour: $145

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Rosario $1.77
    Iquique $20


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rosario and Iquique, we can see that Iquique 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 Iquique would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Iquique 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 Iquique Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Rosario or Iquique?

Rosario has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Iquique. When comparing the sizes of Rosario and Iquique, 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.