Which place is cheaper, Arica or San Carlos de Bariloche?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit San Carlos de Bariloche or Arica?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for San Carlos de Bariloche and Arica. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: San Carlos de Bariloche or Arica?
San Carlos de Bariloche
Set in the foothills of the Andes Mountains in Argentina, San Carlos de Bariloche is the biggest city in the Lake District. Bariloche is popular for skiing and snowboarding in the winter and trekking, swimming, fishing and horseback riding in the summertime.
No matter the time of year, there is something for everyone in Bariloche. Skiing season begins from June to October while fishing season is from November to April. Summer is from December to March, but visiting during low seasons (Spring in October to December and Autumn in late-April to mid-June) also has its benefits when it comes to saving cash and avoiding crowds.
Check out our ultimate guide to Hiking in Patagonia.
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 Eco Tours in Argentina, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Argentina, The Best 10-Day Tours in Chile, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile.
-
San Carlos de Bariloche Prices
Argentina PricesArica Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Carlos de Bariloche $86Arica $100
The average daily cost (per person) in San Carlos de Bariloche is $86, while the average daily cost in Arica is $100. 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 San Carlos de Bariloche and Arica in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Carlos de Bariloche $70Arica $35
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Carlos de Bariloche $140Arica $70
Compare Hotels in San Carlos de Bariloche and Arica
Looking for a hotel in San Carlos de Bariloche 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.
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: San Carlos de Bariloche Hotel Prices and Arica Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Carlos de Bariloche $2.77Arica $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Carlos de Bariloche
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Carlos de Bariloche:
- Shared Transfer Airport Bariloche Downtown : $25
- Shared Departure Transfer: Hotel to Bariloche Airport: $29
- Private Transfer from Villa Mascardi to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $80
- Private Transfer from Tom Wesley to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $60
- Private Transfer from Playa Bonita to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $50
- Private Transfer from Pampa Linda to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $200
- Private Transfer from Lago Moreno to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $50
- Private Transfer from Hotel Tronador to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $179
- Private Transfer from Hotel Llao Llao to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $144
- Private Transfer from Hotel Catedral to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $50
- Private Transfer from El Casco Art Hotel to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $60
- Private Transfer from Downtown Bariloche to the Airport: $43
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Arica
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Arica are as follows:
-
Short Taxi Ride$2.09
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arica
Also for Arica, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Arica City hotels to Arica Cruise Port: $63
- Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica city hotels: $63
- Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Hotels: $69
- Private Transfer from Arica Hotels to Arica Cruise Port: $69
- Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Airport (ARI): $75
- Private Transfer from Arica Airport (ARI) to Arica Cruise Port : $75
- Private Transfer from Arica Airport (ARI) to Arica Cruise Port: $83
- Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Airport (ARI): $83
- Arica Airport Private Transfer: $95
Is it cheaper to fly into San Carlos de Bariloche or Arica?
Prices for flights to both Arica and San Carlos de Bariloche 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 daySan Carlos de Bariloche $6.11Arica $49
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Carlos de Bariloche
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Carlos de Bariloche.
- Bariloche: Snowmobile ride with dinner 4 steps: $537
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Carlos de Bariloche $33Arica $20
Tours and Activities in San Carlos de Bariloche
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for San Carlos de Bariloche are as follows:
- 2-Day Bariloche Experience with Optional Airfare: $430
- 4-Hour Guided Tour of the Small Circuit: $90
- Adventure to Cerro Tronador and Black Ventisquero from Bariloche: $140
- Bariloche Chocolate Tour: Patagonian Flavors on Foot: $52
- Bariloche Craft Beer Sensory Experience: $285
- Bariloche Horseback Riding & Traditional Argentine Barbecue Tour: $204
- Bariloche San Martin de los Andes and Seven Lakes Road Tour: $135
- Bariloche Tour Route of the 7 Lakes to San Martin de los Andes : $80
- Bariloche: Beer Tour through 3 breweries: $240
- Bariloche: Boat Tour to Victoria Island and Arrayanes Forest: $120
- Bariloche: Cerro Catedral Tour: $36
- Bariloche: Cerro Catedral guided tour: $43
Tours and Activities in Arica
For Arica, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Half day Panoramic City Tour: $49
- City Tour with Chinchorro Beach Visit: $82
- Arica Private Sightseeing Tour : $148
- Archeological Sightseeing tour in Arica: $152
- Chungará Lake & Lauca Park Tour from Arica with Lunch: $197
- Private Tour to Tacna from Arica: $285
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Carlos de Bariloche $8.76Arica $19
Sample the Local Flavors in San Carlos de Bariloche
Also in San Carlos de Bariloche, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Bariloche: Patagonian Experience wine tasting: $95
- Bariloche: Wine Tasting Winehouse Experience: $110
- Patagonian WineHouse in Bariloche: Cheese and Wine Tasting: $125
- Bariloche: Bar Crawl. Patagonian Bar Crawl: $160
When comparing the travel costs between San Carlos de Bariloche and Arica, we can see that Arica is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in South America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Carlos de Bariloche Expensive? and Is Arica Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Carlos de Bariloche or Arica?
Arica has a larger population, and is about 95% larger than the population of San Carlos de Bariloche. When comparing the sizes of San Carlos de Bariloche 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.
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.