Which place is cheaper, Arequipa or Veracruz?
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 Veracruz or Arequipa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Veracruz and Arequipa can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Veracruz or Arequipa?
Veracruz
Veracruz is the name of both a state and city in the country of Mexico. Locals often call the city "Puerto" (port) in order to differentiate the city from the state. The general area runs along the Gulf of Mexico and encompasses ruins, old colonial cities, lush green mountains, and delicious seafood.
Arequipa
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 Playa del Carmen, The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru, and The Best Cultural Tours in Peru.
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Veracruz Prices
Mexico PricesArequipa Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVeracruz $152Arequipa $62
The average daily cost (per person) in Veracruz is $152, while the average daily cost in Arequipa is $62. 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 Veracruz and Arequipa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVeracruz $52Arequipa $25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVeracruz $104Arequipa $50
Compare Hotels in Veracruz and Arequipa
Looking for a hotel in Veracruz 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Veracruz Hotel Prices and Arequipa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Veracruz $27Arequipa $6.53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Veracruz
Also for Veracruz, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Veracruz Airport (VER): $26
- Private Transfer to Veracruz Airport (VER): $26
- Roundtrip Private Transfer from Veracruz Airport (VER): $52
- Transfer from Veracruz Airport to Hotel in Veracruz Port: $44
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Arequipa
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Arequipa are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$1.47
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Bus Ride$0.47
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Taxi Ride$1.03
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arequipa
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Arequipa:
- Private Transfer between Arequipa and Puno: $300
- Private Transfer From Arequipa To Puno With a 2 Hour Stop: $262
- 3 Day Trek Including Transfer to Puno / Colca Canyon: $214
- 2-Day Colca Canyon Tour with optional transfer to Puno: $135
- 2 Days Colca Canyon Tour with Transfer to Puno: $110
- Colca Canyon + Transfer To Puno: $103
- Colca Canyon 2 days from Arequipa with final transfer to Puno: $85
- Koh Lanta any hotel to Krabi airport Private transfer: $81
- Colca Canyon full day tour with transfer to Puno: $80
- Colca Canyon Day Trip with Transfer to Puno: $65
- Full Day Tour to Colca including Transfer to Puno: $60
- Arequipa Airport Private Transfer: $38
Is it cheaper to fly into Veracruz or Arequipa?
Prices for flights to both Arequipa and Veracruz 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 dayVeracruz $82Arequipa $26
Typical Food Prices in Arequipa
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Arequipa:
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Coke$0.44
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Lunch$3.09
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Ice Cream$1.18
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Fruit$0.88
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Ice Cream$1.03
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Arequipa
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Arequipa.
- Peruvian Cooking Experience in Arequipa: $35
- Cooking Class at La Plantation: $36
- Peruvian Cooking Class in arequipa: $50
- Peruvian Cooking Class: $63
- Arequipa : Food Tour and History (3 Restaurants and Market): $69
- Arequipa Food Tour: Ancestral Cuisine & City Tour: $79
- A 3-hour Guided Food Tour with 4 Iconic Restaurants of Arequipa: $79
- Arequipa Food Tour Experience: $115
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Veracruz $14Arequipa $20
Tours and Activities in Veracruz
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Veracruz.
- Panoramic Sightseeing Bus City Tour of Veracruz: $8.00
- Mandinga And Boat Trip Tour: $25
- Aquatico Inbursa Waterpark: Veracruz - Ticket: $27
- 3-hour tour to the San Juan de Ulúa Fortress: $30
- San Juan De Ulua Tour: $31
- Veracruz City Tour with San Juan de Ulúa and Mandinga Boat: $55
- Live a Kayak Experience: $85
- Full Day Tour to La Antigua, Cempoala and Quiahuiztlán: $92
- Full Day Tour to Catemaco and Los Tuxtlas with Transportation: $98
- City Tour en Veracruz y Acuario: $100
- Tour with Certified Guide to Xalapa, Xico and Coatepec: $101
- Full Day Tour to Alvarado and Tlacotalpan from Veracruz or Boca del Río: $101
Typical Entertainment Prices in Arequipa
Here are a few typical costs in Arequipa for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Monastery Entry$2.94
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Salsa Class$2.94
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Movie Ticket$3.21
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Hot Springs$2.94
Tours and Activities in Arequipa
Here are a few actual costs in Arequipa for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2 days 1 night Colca Canyon tour ending in Puno: $145
- 2-Day Hiking Tour to the Colca Canyon: $120
- 2-Day Tour to the Magical Colca Canyon: $68
- 3 Hour Congata Rover Biking Ride Tour in Arequipa: $45
- 3-hour guided tour in Arequipa: $65
- 8-Hours Tour in Arequipa Laguna de Salinas with Pick-up: $30
- Añashuayco Quarries and Sillar Route Tour from Arequipa: $25
- Afternoon : Arequipa Walking tour: $55
- Afternoon : Arequipa city tour with Santa Catalina Monastery: $75
- All inclusive Full day tour Colca Canyon: all Meals & Entrances: $94
- Arequipa - Sillar - Salinas - Colca (3 days: Tours + Income): $85
- Arequipa 2 day tour to Colca Canyon and Cruz del Cóndor: $40
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVeracruz $17Arequipa $17
Typical Alcohol Prices in Arequipa
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Arequipa are as follows:
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Beer$2.65
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Veracruz and Arequipa, we can see that Veracruz is more expensive. And not only is Arequipa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Veracruz is in North America and Arequipa 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 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 Veracruz would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Veracruz 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 Veracruz Expensive? and Is Arequipa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Veracruz or Arequipa?
Arequipa has a larger population, and is about 48% larger than the population of Veracruz. When comparing the sizes of Veracruz 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.
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.