Which place is cheaper, Arequipa or San Pedro de Atacama?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for San Pedro de Atacama and Arequipa. 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.
San Pedro de Atacama is a gateway to northern Chile. It is a good jumping off point for exploring the area's impressive landscape, most of which is included in the Los Flamencos National Reserve. It is popular with both Chilean and international tourists, and because of its popularity, it is a relatively expensive destination, with many prices comparable to what you might pay in Santiago.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Santiago, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Chile, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru, and The Best Cultural Tours in Peru.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in San Pedro de Atacama is $59, 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 San Pedro de Atacama and Arequipa in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in San Pedro de Atacama 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.
Also for San Pedro de Atacama, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Arequipa are as follows:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Arequipa:
Prices for flights to both Arequipa and San Pedro de Atacama 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.
For San Pedro de Atacama, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
For San Pedro de Atacama, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Arequipa:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Arequipa.
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for San Pedro de Atacama's activities, tours, and tickets:
For San Pedro de Atacama, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Here are a few typical costs in Arequipa for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Here are a few actual costs in Arequipa for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in San Pedro de Atacama:
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Arequipa are as follows:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Arequipa:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Pedro de Atacama and Arequipa, we can see that San Pedro de Atacama is more expensive. And not only is Arequipa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 San Pedro de Atacama would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Pedro de Atacama 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 San Pedro de Atacama Expensive? and Is Arequipa Expensive?.
Arequipa has a larger population, and is about 420 times larger than the population of San Pedro de Atacama. When comparing the sizes of San Pedro de Atacama 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.