Which place is cheaper, Arica or San Pedro de Atacama?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit San Pedro de Atacama 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 Pedro de Atacama 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 Pedro de Atacama or Arica?
San Pedro de Atacama
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.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Santiago, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Chile, The Best Wildlife Tours to Chile, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Chile.
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San Pedro de Atacama Prices
Chile PricesArica Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Pedro de Atacama $73Arica $106
The average daily cost (per person) in San Pedro de Atacama is $73, while the average daily cost in Arica is $106. 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 Arica in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Pedro de Atacama $34Arica $37
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Pedro de Atacama $68Arica $74
Compare Hotels in San Pedro de Atacama and Arica
Looking for a hotel in San Pedro de Atacama 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 Pedro de Atacama Hotel Prices and Arica Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Pedro de Atacama $9.67Arica $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Pedro de Atacama
Also for San Pedro de Atacama, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- To/From El Loa Airport: San Pedro de Atacama Shared Transfer: $30
- TRANSFER TO PURITAMA HOT SPRINGS: $55
- Tatio Geysers W/Breakfast & Transfer: $90
- Puritama Hot Springs Transfer Tour: $39
- Etno-Stargazing Tour with Transfer: $45
- San Pedro de Atacama : Transfer to Termas de Puritama: $39
- Private Transfer to San Pedro de Atacama. without waiting: $89
- Private Transfer to Calama Airport (CJC): $101
- Calama Airport: Transfer to/from San Pedro de Atacama: $30
- Calama Airport Transfer to Atacama / Airport Lodging: $70
- Atacama Airport Shuttle Transfer: $33
- Atacama Airport Private Transfer: $99
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Arica
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Arica are as follows:
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Short Taxi Ride$2.22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arica
Also for Arica, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Arica Hotels to Arica Cruise Port: $68
- Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica city hotels: $62
- Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Hotels: $68
- Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Airport (ARI): $74
- Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Airport (ARI): $81
- Private Transfer from Arica City hotels to Arica Cruise Port: $62
- Private Transfer from Arica Airport (ARI) to Arica Cruise Port: $74
- Private Transfer from Arica Airport (ARI) to Arica Cruise Port: $81
- Arica Airport Private Transfer: $109
Is it cheaper to fly into San Pedro de Atacama or Arica?
Prices for flights to both Arica 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one daySan Pedro de Atacama $26Arica $52
Typical Food Prices in San Pedro de Atacama
For San Pedro de Atacama, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Empanadas$1.33
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Lunch$11
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Dinner$12
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Drink$1.00
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Empanada$5.54
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Pedro de Atacama
For San Pedro de Atacama, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Private Dinner Under the Stars: $300
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Pedro de Atacama $22Arica $21
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Pedro de Atacama
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for San Pedro de Atacama's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Sand Boarding$59
Tours and Activities in San Pedro de Atacama
For San Pedro de Atacama, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- "Astronomical Adventure in San Pedro de Atacama": $35
- 2 Tours Valley of the Moon and Hidden Lagoons: $120
- 2-Days private tour from Chile to Uyuni Salt Flats: $1,255
- 3 Main Tours in San Pedo de Atacama: $190
- 3 Shared Tours in San Pedro de Atacama: $260
- 4 TOUR IN ATACAMA IN 3 DAYS: $230
- 4 Tours in 3 Days in San Pedro de Atacama: $220
- 4 Tours to Discover Atacama (3 days): $249
- 5 Fantastic Tours in the Atacama Desert in 3 Days: $240
- ASTRONOMICAL TOUR: $48
- Adventure in Piedras Rojas: From Plains to Mountains: $90
- Adventure in Red Stones and One Day Altiplane Lagunas: $200
Tours and Activities in Arica
For Arica, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Archeological Sightseeing tour in Arica: $174
- Arica Private Sightseeing Tour: $171
- City Tour with Chinchorro Beach Visit: $82
- Half day Panoramic City Tour: $49
- Chungará Lake & Lauca Park Tour from Arica with Lunch: $260
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Pedro de Atacama $5.22Arica $21
Typical Alcohol Prices in San Pedro de Atacama
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in San Pedro de Atacama:
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Alcohol$26
Sample the Local Flavors in San Pedro de Atacama
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in San Pedro de Atacama:
- “Drunken Llama Sightseeing Tour” Wine Tasting and Visit with Llama: $355
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Pedro de Atacama and Arica, we can see that Arica is more expensive. And not only is San Pedro de Atacama much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to San Pedro de Atacama would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Pedro de Atacama 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 San Pedro de Atacama.
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 Arica Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Pedro de Atacama or Arica?
Arica has a larger population, and is about 90 times larger than the population of San Pedro de Atacama. When comparing the sizes of San Pedro de Atacama 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.