Which place is cheaper, Arica or Belize City?
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 Belize City or Arica?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Belize City or Arica? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Belize City or Arica?
Belize City
Belize City is the largest city in Belize. It was once the capital of the country, but due to massive hurricane damage in 1961, the country decided to relocate it capital. With a population of 57,000 people, Belize City is located right at the mouth of the Haulover Creek.
This gorgeous tropical city experiences a monsoon climate – meaning there are warm and humid conditions throughout the course of the year. There is a wet season from May to January, so plan for a little bit of rain in that time.
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 G Adventures Tours to Belize, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Belize, The Best 10-Day Tours in Chile, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile.
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Belize City Prices
Belize PricesArica Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBelize City $108Arica $100
The average daily cost (per person) in Belize City is $108, 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 Belize City and Arica in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBelize City $49Arica $35
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBelize City $98Arica $70
Compare Hotels in Belize City and Arica
Looking for a hotel in Belize City 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: Belize City Hotel Prices and Arica Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Belize City $5.81Arica $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Belize City
Also for Belize City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private transfer from the Philip Goldson Airport to San Ignacio: $80
- Private Transfer from Belize City and Airport to Placencia: $150
- Private Transfer from Belize City To Hopkins Village : $115
- Private Transfer from Belize City Port to Belize Airport (BZE): $72
- Philip S.W. Belize Airport (BZE) to Belize city hotels -Arrival Private Transfer: $55
- Philip S.W. Belize Airport (BZE) to Belize City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $110
- Belize City to Philip S.W. Belize Airport (BZE) - Departure Private Transfer: $55
- Belize City to Belize Airport (BZE) - Departure Private Transfer: $54
- Belize City Airport to Placencia Private Transfer: $150
- Belize Airport (BZE) to San Ignacio - Arrival Private Transfer: $89
- Belize Airport (BZE) to Belize city - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $108
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Arica
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Arica are as follows:
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Short Taxi Ride$2.09
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: $69
- 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 Cruise Port to Arica Airport (ARI): $75
- Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Airport (ARI): $83
- Private Transfer from Arica City hotels to Arica Cruise Port: $63
- Private Transfer from Arica Airport (ARI) to Arica Cruise Port : $75
- Private Transfer from Arica Airport (ARI) to Arica Cruise Port: $83
- Arica Airport Private Transfer: $95
Is it cheaper to fly into Belize City or Arica?
Prices for flights to both Arica and Belize City 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 dayBelize City $47Arica $49
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Belize City
For Belize City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Altun Ha Mayan Site & Food Tour - fish farm & restaurant : $80
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Belize City $29Arica $20
Tours and Activities in Belize City
For Belize City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Cave Tubing and Zipline Adventure from Belize City: $195
- ATM Cave Adventure "Actun Tunichil Muknal" (from Belize City): $235
- Altun Ha Cave Tubing and Zip line Tours from Belize City: $268
- Altun Ha Mayan Ruins & Zipline Tour from Belize City All Inclusive: $210
- Altun Ha Mayan Site tour from Belize City: $85
- Altun Ha and Howler Monkey Sanctuary Tour: $200
- Belize City Tour: $40
- Belizean Bits & Bites Food Tastings and City Tour in Belize: $60
- Birding by Boat Cruise at Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary from Belize City: $300
- Cave Kayak tour for Belize Car Rental : $59
- Cave Kayaking and Jungle Zip line Adventures : $175
- Cave Tubing and Zipline Adventure from Belize City: $115
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: $152
- Arica Private Sightseeing Tour : $148
- City Tour with Chinchorro Beach Visit: $82
- Half day Panoramic City Tour: $49
- Chungará Lake & Lauca Park Tour from Arica with Lunch: $197
- Private Tour to Tacna from Arica: $285
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBelize City $12Arica $19
When comparing the travel costs between Belize City and Arica, we can see that Belize City 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. Even though Belize City is in Central America and Arica is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Belize City Expensive? and Is Arica Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Belize City or Arica?
Arica has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Belize City. When comparing the sizes of Belize City 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.