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Is San Pedro de Atacama expensive? What things really cost in 2026
Short answer
San Pedro de Atacama is expensive for Chile, and for South America generally: almost everything is brought in from Calama, and most sights are reached by paid tours with park fees on top. Expect about CLP$80,000 a day per person on a budget, about CLP$165,000 mid-range and about CLP$380,000 for comfort. Tours are the biggest cost, followed by rooms; cycling to the nearby valleys saves a lot.
Daily budget: backpacker, mid-range, luxury
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | CLP$25,000 | CLP$55,000 | CLP$150,000 |
| Food & drink | CLP$20,000 | CLP$40,000 | CLP$80,000 |
| Sights & tickets | CLP$30,000 | CLP$60,000 | CLP$120,000 |
| Local transport | CLP$5,000 | CLP$10,000 | CLP$30,000 |
| Per person, per day | CLP$80,000 | CLP$165,000 | CLP$380,000 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our San Pedro de Atacama day-cost table.
What things cost
| Item | Typical price* |
|---|---|
| Empanada from a bakery | about CLP$2,500–4,000 |
| Set lunch menu | about CLP$10,000–15,000 |
| Dinner with a drink on Caracoles | CLP$20,000–35,000 |
| Pisco sour | about CLP$5,000–8,000 |
| Bicycle hire | about CLP$10,000–15,000 a day |
| Valle de la Luna entry (by bike, booked online) | roughly CLP$10,000–15,000 |
| El Tatio geysers tour | about CLP$35,000–55,000 + entry |
| Altiplanic lagoons full-day tour | about CLP$50,000–75,000 + park fees |
| Shuttle from Calama airport | about CLP$15,000–25,000 |
* Approximate prices, October 2026. They change with season and exchange rates.
Where the money goes
Tours take the biggest share: El Tatio, the altiplanic lagoons, Laguna Cejar and stargazing each cost about CLP$30,000–75,000, and most sites charge separate entry fees, often run by local Indigenous communities. Rooms come next — hostels cost about CLP$35,000–60,000 for a double, adobe guesthouses CLP$80,000–140,000, and all-inclusive lodges CLP$400,000 or more. Food is dearer than elsewhere in Chile, though set lunches at CLP$10,000–15,000 help. Getting there adds a flight to Calama and a shuttle.
When it is cheaper
May, June and the shoulder months outside school holidays often have lower room rates. Prices peak around Christmas and New Year, in January and February (Chilean summer holidays), and over Easter and the mid-September Fiestas Patrias.
How to spend less
- Cycle to Valle de la Luna, Valle de la Muerte and Pukará de Quitor instead of taking tours.
- Compare several agencies on Caracoles; prices and group sizes vary for the same tour.
- Eat the set lunch menu as your main meal of the day.
- Carry cash in pesos for entry fees, which are not always included in tour prices.
- Rent a car with friends for the lagoons and Laguna Cejar if you are confident driving on gravel.
- Choose a hostel with a kitchen and buy supplies in Calama, where shops are cheaper.
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Common questions
Is San Pedro de Atacama expensive?
Yes, for Chile. Most sights need tours with entry fees on top, and food is dearer because supplies come from Calama.
How much do tours cost in San Pedro?
About CLP$30,000–75,000 each, plus entry fees. El Tatio is about CLP$35,000–55,000 and the lagoons about CLP$50,000–75,000.
How much money do I need per day in San Pedro?
About CLP$80,000 per person on a budget, about CLP$165,000 mid-range and about CLP$380,000 for comfort, based on two people sharing.