Travel Budget for Santiago Visit Santiago on a Budget or Travel in Style

Santiago, Region Metropolitana de Santiago, Chile

How much does it cost to travel to Santiago?

You should plan to spend around $141 (CL$135,415) per day on your vacation in Santiago. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.

Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:

  • $13 (CL$12,460) on meals
  • $5.39 (CL$5,166) on local transportation
  • $220 (CL$210,753) on hotels

A one week trip to Santiago for two people costs, on average, $1,977 (CL$1,895,811). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    $141
    CL$135,415
  • One Week Per person
    $989
    CL$947,905
  • 2 Weeks Per person
    $1,977
    CL$1,895,811
  • One Month Per person
    $4,237
    CL$4,062,452
  • One Week For a couple
    $1,977
    CL$1,895,811
  • 2 Weeks For a couple
    $3,955
    CL$3,791,621
  • One Month For a couple
    $8,474
    CL$8,124,903
This data comes from the travel budgets of real travelers - How it works. Put these numbers on your website.


How much does a one week, two week, or one month trip to Santiago cost?

A one week trip to Santiago usually costs around $989 (CL$947,905) for one person and $1,977 (CL$1,895,811) for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

A two week trip to Santiago on average costs around $1,977 (CL$1,895,811) for one person and $3,955 (CL$3,791,621) for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in Santiago will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

A one month trip to Santiago on average costs around $4,237 (CL$4,062,452) for one person and $8,474 (CL$8,124,903) for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.




Independent Travel

Traveling Independently to Santiago has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.

All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.

Is Santiago expensive to visit?

Prices in Santiago are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.

Within South America, Santiago is a very expensive destination compared to other places. It is in the top 10% of cities in South America for its travel costs. There are only a few cities as expensive as Santiago in the region, such as Rio de Janeiro or Recife.

For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Santiago Expensive?

How much money do I need for a trip to Santiago?

The average Santiago trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Santiago travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.


Category Cost
Accommodation 1 (Double Occupancy) CL$210,753 ($220)
Local Transportation 1 CL$5,166 ($5)
Food 2 CL$12,460 ($13)
Entertainment 1 CL$45,160 ($47)
Tips and Handouts 1 CL$1,870 - 5,609 ($2 - 6)
Alcohol 2 CL$4,011 - 12,033 ($4 - 13)
Accommodation Budget in Santiago
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Santiago is $110 (CL$105,377). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Santiago is $220 (CL$210,753). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.


  • Accommodation1 Hotel or hostel for one person
    $110
    CL$105,377
  • Accommodation1 Typical double-occupancy room
    $220
    CL$210,753

Hotel Prices in Santiago

Looking for a hotel in Santiago? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.

Find the best hotel for your travel style.

 

Actual Hotel Prices
The average hotel room price in Santiago based on data provided by Kayak for actual hotel rooms is $70. (Prices in U.S. Dollars, before taxes & fees.)

Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world.


Recommended Properties


Transportation Budget in Santiago
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The cost of a taxi ride in Santiago is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $5.39 (CL$5,166) per person, per day, on local transportation in Santiago.


  • Transportation1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    $5.39
    CL$5,166

Recommended Services


Flights to Santiago
How much does it cost to go to Santiago? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.

Rental Cars in Santiago
The price of renting a car in Santiago will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.


What did other people spend on Transportation in Santiago?

Typical prices for Transportation in Santiago are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Santiago, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.


  • Metro Ride
    CL$1,080


Food Budget in Santiago
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • While meal prices in Santiago can vary, the average cost of food in Santiago is $13 (CL$12,460) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Santiago should cost around $5.20 (CL$4,984) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Santiago is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.


  • Food2 Meals for one day
    $13
    CL$12,460

Recommended

What did other people spend on Food in Santiago?

Typical prices for Food in Santiago are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Santiago, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.


  • Empanada
    CL$1,800
  • Hamburger
    CL$2,390
  • Dinner
    CL$24,620


Entertainment Budget in Santiago
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • Entertainment and activities in Santiago typically cost an average of $47 (CL$45,160) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.


  • Entertainment1 Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    $47
    CL$45,160

Recommended Activities


Tips and Handouts Budget in Santiago
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average cost for Tips and Handouts in Santiago is $3.90 (CL$3,739) per day. The usual amount for a tip in Santiago is 5% - 15%.


  • Tips and Handouts1 For guides or service providers
    $3.90
    CL$3,739


Alcohol Budget in Santiago
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average person spends about $8.37 (CL$8,022) on alcoholic beverages in Santiago per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.


  • Alcohol2 Drinks for one day
    $8.37
    CL$8,022

Recommended


Water Budget in Santiago
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • On average, people spend $1.45 (CL$1,389) on bottled water in Santiago per day. The public water in Santiago is considered safe to drink.


  • Water2 Bottled water for one day
    $1.45
    CL$1,389


Last Updated: Mar 13, 2024
Santiago On a Budget
Santiago Santiago, Chile
Santiago is the capital city of Chile. It is centrally located in the long and narrow country, making it a good jumping off point to explore everywhere else. It's convenient location means that you can go skiing in the Andes one day, and hang out at the beach the next.

Santiago has a cool semi-arid climate that is similar to Mediterranean climates. The summers, which are between November and March, are warm and dry. The temperatures climb to around 95 degrees Fahrenheit. The winters, between June and August, are humid with cold mornings. The daily highs are around 55 degrees Fahrenheit and the lows stay a few degrees above freezing. Rain is more common in the winter months and the dry season is between December and March.
Sights
Santiago has no shortage of sights. Notable landmarks around the city include La Chascona, La Moneda Palace, Teatro Municipal, Iglesia y museo de San Francisco, and Palacio Cousino. Museums and cultural centers include Centro Cultural Palacio de La Moneda, Centro Cultural Matucana 100, Centro Cultural Gabriela Mistral, Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino, and Museo de la Memoria y los Derechos Humanos. Parks are also abundant around town. Some of the best are Parque Metropolitano, Parque Forestal, Cerro Santa Lucia, and Parque Bicentenario. Plaza de Armas is the city's main plaza. This is where you'll find the national cathedral and the main post office. It's near the Central Market and has some interesting restaurants nearby.
Neighborhoods
Santiago's metropolitan area has a population of more than 7 million. There are many different neighborhoods, or barrios to explore. Some of the more interesting ones for tourists include Providencia, Bellavista, Nunoa, Lastarria, Barrio Brasil, and Parque Bustamante. Providencia is an upscale area with many restaurants and shops. Bellavista is known for its nightlife and street art. Nunoa is a quieter neighborhood that's a great place to grab a relaxing dinner. Lastarria has quaint cobblestone streets and European architecture. Barrio Brasil has a good number of affordable bars and restaurants with great happy hours and Parque Bustamante is a tree-lined park that makes a great refuge from the big city.

Activities
Santiago is conveniently located near many activities. This makes it a perfect base for day trips outside of town. There are a range of outdoor sports that you can enjoy just a short drive away including mountain climbing and skiing. There are also wineries that you can tour. Other activities in town include city food tours, shopping, and organized bike tours. Perhaps the most enjoyable activity is simply walking around the city's neighborhoods and taking in the personality. There is a diverse and fun vibe to many neighborhoods so it's fun to just throw out your itinerary and soak up the atmosphere.
Food and Dining
There are plenty of restaurants and bars all around town. You can generally make a good guess at the price and style based on the restaurant's neighborhood location. Food options generally include South American, European and seafood options among others. In the area surrounding Plaza de Armas there are a handful of great Peruvian restaurants. This area has become a popular gathering place for Peruvian immigrants and they have opened a variety of shops, food stores, and great restaurants. Outdoor cafes are also common around town and can be enjoyable places to grab a drink and relax a little.

Transportation
Public transportation is the best way to travel around Santiago. If you're going to be in town for at least a few days then it's worth purchasing a bip!card. You can pick them up at any subway station and they can be used on both the subway and the bus, with free transfers during a two hour period. The metro and bus systems combine to make an efficient system for traveling around the city. The metro system has five lines and 94 stations. The buses are modern and reliable. If you plan to ride a bus at all during your stay, then you will be required to have a bip!card to pay for the ride, as cash is not accepted. If you're planning to travel outside of Santiago, having a rental car can be very helpful. Chilean Rent a Car is a decent company with reliable cars.


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We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.



1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase. Thus, the overall daily average cost is not a summation of the individual categories.