A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Salvador vs. Arica for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Salvador or Arica?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Salvador 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: Salvador or Arica?

Salvador

Salvador de Bahia was the first capital of Brazil, founded by the Portuguese in 1549. Also known as "Brazil's capital of happiness," Salvador is famous for its plentiful and spirited street festivals. The third most populous city in Brazil, Salvador is also well-known for its Afro-Brazilian culture and Portuguese colonial architecture.

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 Contiki Tours to Brazil, The Best G Adventures Tours to Brazil, The Best 10-Day Tours in Chile, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile.


Which place is cheaper, Arica or Salvador?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Salvador is $44, while the average daily cost in Arica is $79. 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 Salvador and Arica in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Salvador $24
    Arica $35
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Salvador $48
    Arica $70
Compare Hotels in Salvador and Arica

Looking for a hotel in Salvador 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.

Hotels in Salvador


Hotels in Arica


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: Salvador Hotel Prices and Arica Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Salvador $6.02
    Arica $18
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Salvador

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Salvador:


  • Bus from Airport
    $1.17

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Salvador

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Salvador:

  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Salvador HTL-APT(SSA): $66
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Salvador APT-HTL(SSA): $66
  • Transfers: Airport, Hotels, Maritime Terminals, Bus Station.: $23
  • Transfers between Salvador and Barra Grande Maraú: $285
  • Transfer: Salvador to/from Praia do Forte/Guarajuba: $61
  • Transfer: Salvador to/from Boipeba Island: $128
  • Transfer to Sauipe Iberostar Palladium and Galé: $47
  • Transfer to Iberostar Selection Praia do Forte or Bahia: $43
  • Transfer in Salvador: $140
  • Transfer from Salvador Airport to North Coast of Bahia: $100
  • Transfer between Salvador Airport and Costa do Sauipe: $94
  • Transfer Vila Galé Marés (Guarajuba) - Private: $40

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Arica

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


  • Short Taxi Ride
    $2.10

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arica

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

  • Arica Airport Private Transfer: $85
  • Private Transfer from Arica Airport (ARI) to Arica Cruise Port: $31
  • Private Transfer from Arica Airport (ARI) to Arica Cruise Port : $27
  • Private Transfer from Arica City hotels to Arica Cruise Port: $22
  • Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Airport (ARI): $27
  • Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Airport (ARI): $31
  • Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Hotels: $24
  • Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica city hotels: $22
  • Private Transfer from Arica Hotels to Arica Cruise Port: $24

Is it cheaper to fly into Salvador or Arica?

Prices for flights to both Arica and Salvador 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
    Salvador $13
    Arica $28
Typical Food Prices in Salvador

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


  • Dinner for 2
    $1.37

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Salvador

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Salvador.

  • 7-Recipe Boozy Cooking Class in Salvador: $75
  • 7-Recipe Boozy Cooking Class in Salvador: $75
  • Private Cooking Experience with local in Salvador: $130
  • Salvador by Night: Cultural Dinner and Show: $132
  • Cultural Folkloric Show and Dinner in Salvador: $140
  • Baiana Cooking Class with Market Visit & Lunch: $152
  • Bahia By Night: Dinner and Folkloric show: $195

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Salvador $5.67
    Arica $20

Tours and Activities in Salvador

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

  • Afro-Brazilian Roots city Tour in Salvador with lunch at Favela: $150
  • 3-Hour Private Tour of Salvador Capital Afro-Brazilian: $60
  • Afro-Brazilian Roots Private City Tour in Salvador": $102
  • Bahia 500 Years Historic Tour, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil: $25
  • Bike Rentals and Bike Tours: $142
  • Cachoeira Countryside Flavor Private Tour from Salvador: $160
  • Candomblé Cerimony Tour: $61
  • Candomble Religion Mysteries Private Tour in Salvador: $80
  • City Tour in Salvador Discover the first capital of Brazil - En: $140
  • Cruise Ship Special Private Tour Salvador da Bahia Historic Old Town Bonfim and Barra: $152
  • Culinary Traditions Tour: $180
  • Easy Diving - Lord Beach Snorkeling - Leaving Forte Beach by Emytour: $33

Tours and Activities in Arica

For Arica, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Archaeological Tour: $32
  • Half day Panoramic City Tour: $49
  • Archeological Sightseeing tour in Arica: $103
  • Arica Private Sightseeing Tour : $134
  • Private Tour to Tacna from Arica: $256

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Salvador $5.38
    Arica $19
Typical Alcohol Prices in Salvador

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Salvador:


  • Beers for 2
    $1.37
  • Drinks
    $2.74


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

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


Which is Bigger, Salvador or Arica?

Salvador has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Arica. When comparing the sizes of Salvador 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.