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

Should you visit Sydney or Iquique?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Sydney or Iquique, 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: Sydney or Iquique?

Sydney

Sydney, known as the harbour city, is the most famous and frequently visited city in Australia. It is at the economical and cultural heart of the country, and is one of the most beautiful and livable cities in the world. It's situated on the water with stunning views of the famous harbour throughout the city. It's most famous landmarks include the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It is also very close wonderful beaches, parks, and nature.

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 Contiki Tours to Australia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Australia, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Chile.


Which place is cheaper, Iquique or Sydney?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Sydney is $228, while the average daily cost in Iquique is $130. 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 Sydney and Iquique in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Sydney $113
    Iquique $46
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Sydney $226
    Iquique $92
Compare Hotels in Sydney and Iquique

Looking for a hotel in Sydney 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 Sydney


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: Sydney Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Sydney $16
    Iquique $25
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Sydney

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


  • Taxi Ride
    $14
  • Taxi to Airport
    $18

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sydney

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sydney:

  • From Special Event, Festival or Conference Transfers: $661
  • Hunter Valley Sunrise Balloon Flight with Transfer: $363
  • From Sydney Hotels - Hotel Transfer to Airport: $355
  • Private City, Harbour, and Bondi Tour with Transfer: $274
  • Premium Private Transfer FROM Sydney CBD/Downtown to Sydney Airport 1-11 people: $261
  • Featherdale Wildlife Park with Exclusive Private Transfers: $253
  • Tandem Skydive with Optional Transfers: $251
  • Luxury Mini Bus - Sydney Airport Transfers: $236
  • Sydney Airport Private Car Departure Transfer: $178
  • Minivan Arrival Transfer from Sydney Airport SYD to Sydney City: $168
  • Private Transfer FROM Sydney Airport to Sydney CBD 1 to 5 people: $163
  • Private Transfer FROM Sydney CBD to Sydney Airport 1 to 5 people: $153

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Iquique

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

  • Sandboard activity in Iquique with transfer: $95

Is it cheaper to fly into Sydney or Iquique?

Prices for flights to both Iquique and Sydney 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
    Sydney $85
    Iquique $63
Typical Food Prices in Sydney

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


  • Tea
    $2.88
  • Lunch Special
    $11
  • Food/Drink Coogie Beach
    $11
  • Meat Pies
    $3.60

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sydney

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

  • Vivid Festival of Light Harbor Cruise with Dinner: $36
  • City Highlights Walking Food Tour with Harbor Cruise: $45
  • Vivid Sydney Fireworks Dinner Cruises: $47
  • Harbour Dinner Cruise with Buffet: $50
  • Roti Making Class with 5-Course Dinner: $50
  • Foraging Food Tour Sydney Native Aussie Food: $53
  • Sydney Harbour Discovery Dinner Cruise Scenic Sights and Buffet: $54
  • Twilight Dinner Cruise on Coral Trekker: $59
  • Harbor Sunset Cruise with Dinner: $59
  • Sydney Harbour Tall Ship Twilight Dinner Cruise: $65
  • Vivid Tall Ships Dinner Cruise on Sydney Harbour: $65
  • Tall Ship Harbour Twilight Dinner Cruise: $72

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Sydney $35
    Iquique $29
Typical Entertainment Prices in Sydney

Here are a few typical costs in Sydney for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Theatre Show
    $32
  • Sydney Tower Visit (for 2)
    $33
  • Blue Mountain Tour/Featherdale Park (for 2)
    $137
  • Powerhouse Museum
    $11

Tours and Activities in Sydney

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

  • #1 Blue Mountains Tour Scenic World Waterfalls Wildlife Park: $188
  • 1 Day Perisher Snow Tour: $138
  • 1 Day Thredbo Snow Tour From Sydney: $138
  • 1/2 day Sydney Sightseeing and Bondi Beach Tour: $45
  • 14-Day Sydney to Cairns, Fraser, Whitsundays Comfort Tour: $5,614
  • 2 Hour Private Surf Lesson Experience in Wollongong: $160
  • 2-Hour Guided Walking Tour in Sydney Harbour National Park: $43
  • 30 Minute Shared Sydney Harbour Scenic Helicopter Tour: $238
  • 30-Minute Sydney Harbour and Olympic Park Helicopter Tour: $243
  • 30-minute Private Sydney Harbour Helicopter Tour for 2: $331
  • 45-Minute Sydney Harbour Adventure Jet Boat Ride: $72
  • 4Hr Sydney Tour including a Rocks Walking Tour & Bondi: $62

Tours and Activities in Iquique

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

  • City tour of Iquique with navigation to the Esmeralda buoy: $55
  • City Tour in Iquique: $89
  • Pintados Geoglyphs, Humberstone and Salar Crespo tour: $145
  • Red Lagoon Tour: $639

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Sydney $17
    Iquique $22
Typical Alcohol Prices in Sydney

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


  • Wine
    $12

Sample the Local Flavors in Sydney

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Sydney:

  • Amazing Bar Crawl in Wollongong: Go Out with a Gong: $15
  • Sydney's Haunted Pub Tour & Cellar visit: $28
  • Big Night Out Pub Crawl with Local Party Hosts: $32
  • Private Wine Tasting at The Rocks: $46
  • Marrickville Brewery Tour: $84
  • The Rocks Pub Walking Tour: $86
  • From: Sydney - Hunter Valley Wine Tasting Guided Day Tour: $89
  • Luxury Hunter Valley Wildlife & Wine Tasting Tour from Sydney: $91
  • Brewery, Winery, and Distillery Tasting Tour: $112
  • From Full-Day Hunter Valley Wine Tour & Lunch: $145
  • From Hunter Valley Wine Tasting Day Tour: $145
  • From Hunter Valley Multi-Brewery Tour with Lunch: $149


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sydney and Iquique, we can see that Sydney is more expensive. And not only is Iquique much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Sydney is in Pacific and Iquique is in South America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Iquique would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Iquique 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 Sydney would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sydney than you might in Iquique.

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


Which is Bigger, Sydney or Iquique?

Sydney has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Iquique. When comparing the sizes of Sydney 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.