Which place is cheaper, Santiago or Amsterdam?
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 Amsterdam or Santiago?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Amsterdam or Santiago, 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: Amsterdam or Santiago?
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the capital and most popular tourist destination in the Netherlands. Amsterdam is most famous for its canals that cross and weave around the city, but it also has a rich history, interesting culture, and liberal vibe that appeal to all types of travelers. The historical architecture, scenic bridges, and energetic cycling culture help this metropolitan area maintain its small town vibe, despite being the largest city in the country as well as the financial center.
Santiago
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Amsterdam, The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, and The Best Luxury Tours to Chile.
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Amsterdam Prices
Netherlands PricesSantiago Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAmsterdam €211Santiago €128
The average daily cost (per person) in Amsterdam is €211, while the average daily cost in Santiago is €128. 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 Amsterdam and Santiago in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAmsterdam €102Santiago €93
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAmsterdam €204Santiago €186
Compare Hotels in Amsterdam and Santiago
Looking for a hotel in Amsterdam or Santiago? 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: Amsterdam Hotel Prices and Santiago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Amsterdam €20Santiago €4.60
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Amsterdam
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Amsterdam:
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Ride on Tram€3.20
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Renting a Bike€15
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One Hour Canal Cruise€10
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Single Day Transit Pass€2.60
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Transit Pass to Amsterdam Airport€3.40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Amsterdam
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Amsterdam:
- Train Transfer Amsterdam from/to Leiden: $15
- Private Amsterdam Schiphol Airport Transfer Service: $40
- Transfer: Amsterdam City Center to Airport Schiphol (AMS): $41
- From Keukenhof Gardens Ticket and Transfer: $41
- Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) Departure transfer from Amsterdam City: $42
- Private Amsterdam Local Transfer to/from any Location: $49
- Amsterdam Airport & Non-Airport Private Transfer to City Center: $58
- Keukenhof Gardens with Windmill Cruise & Transfer from Amsterdam: $66
- Amsterdam City to Schiphol Airport Transfer: $73
- Amsterdam Private Local Transfer: $76
- Private Transfer from Amsterdam Hotels to Amsterdam Cruise Port : $77
- Amsterdam Cruise Port to Amsterdam hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $77
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Santiago
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Santiago:
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Metro Ride€0.96
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santiago
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santiago:
- Airport Transfer and Halfday City tour Santiago de Chile: $362
- Airport Transfer: Santiago to Airport SCL by Business Car: $87
- Airport transfer between Santiago city center and Arturo Merino Benítez Airport: $51
- Arrival Transfer from Santiago Airport SCL to Santiago de Chile: $80
- City tour santiago with excursion to valparaiso and airport transfer: $150
- Departure Transfer: Santiago to Airport SCL by Business Car: $87
- From Viña Santa Rita Tour w/Transfer: $120
- Luxury Airport Private Transfer SCL: $90
- Maipo Valley Wine Tour, Concha y Toro, Private Transfer from Santiago: $262
- Private Round Trip Transfer from Santiago Airport SCL to Santiago: $96
- Private Round Trip Transfer on Santiago Of Chile City: $68
- Private Santiago Visit Haras de Pirque Winery & Transfer Hotel: $300
Is it cheaper to fly into Amsterdam or Santiago?
Prices for flights to both Santiago and Amsterdam 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 dayAmsterdam €80Santiago €19
Typical Food Prices in Amsterdam
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Amsterdam:
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Afternoon Tea€6.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Amsterdam
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Amsterdam.
- Amsterdam Self-Guided Food Tour in De Pijp Neighbourhood : $11
- Stroopwafel & Secrets: Amsterdam Street Food Tour de Pijp : $42
- Bike Rental and Dinner or Lunch: $52
- Amsterdam Nightlife Ticket & VIP Dinner at Hard Rock Café: $61
- 3-course Dinner in the Dark Amsterdam: $63
- 3-course dinner party at a secret pop-up restaurant: $72
- Bens Local Food Tour - 8 Tastings: $78
- Amsterdam Music Tour with Dinner: $86
- Small-Group Guided Sunset Canoe Tour in Waterland with Dinner: $94
- Dutch Food Tour with local guide: $94
- Amsterdam-West Food Tour with local guide: $102
- Dinner Canal Cruise 4-Courses Including Drinks: $107
Typical Food Prices in Santiago
Some typical examples of dining costs in Santiago are as follows:
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Empanada€1.60
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Hamburger€2.13
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Dinner€22
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santiago
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Santiago.
- Legacy Family Tour Lunch or Dinner Pairing 4 Strokes: $40
- Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $82
- 4-Hour Boozy Chilean Cooking Class in Santiago: $85
- Bali Hai Dinner & Show, Transport and Wine refill: $106
- Dinner Show in Bali Hai with Wine refill and transportation: $114
- Private Dinner & Chilean Folk Show with Transfers: $116
- Alyan Winery Sunset with Wine Tastings and Dinner: $117
- Private Market Tour and Traditional Chilean Cooking Class in a Local Home: $122
- San Cristobal Hill Night Tour with Dinner Show: $129
- Bali Hai Polynesian Dinner Show with Transfer: $130
- Private Night City Tour with San Cristobal Hill And Dinner Show: $181
- Santiago Chilean and Peruvian Cooking Class with a Local Carol: $184
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Amsterdam €37Santiago €40
Typical Entertainment Prices in Amsterdam
Here are a few typical costs in Amsterdam for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Two tickets to the Houseboat Museum€6.00
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Entry for two to the Anne Frank House€17
Tours and Activities in Amsterdam
Here are a few actual costs in Amsterdam for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- The Anne Frank Tour Amsterdam: $3.59
- The Classic Walking Tour of Amsterdam | 2 Hours with a Local: $3.59
- Bill's Bike Tour - Rent a Flower Bike in Amsterdam: $5.00
- Amsterdam Tour through its most famous Icons: $6.01
- Amsterdam Center Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self Guided Tour: $6.45
- Amsterdam (Museum Quarter) Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided Tour: $6.45
- Red Light District Amsterdam Tour with Audioguide: $8.40
- Amsterdam Interactive City Tour: $8.42
- WW2 Jewish & Anne Frank Amsterdam Smartphone Guided Walking Tour: $9.75
- Amsterdam's Red Light District: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- Old A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- Volendam Marken Express Boat Cruise: $12
Tours and Activities in Santiago
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santiago are as follows:
- Official Tour of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Santiago: $9.00
- Santiago Cathedral's Bell Tower Official Tour: $9.00
- Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino Admission Ticket: $17
- A historical tour of Santiago, Chile: $18
- Cable Car Admission Ticket: $18
- Santiago City Tour: Living History and Local Food Tasting: $20
- Guided City Tour through the historic center of Santiago: $23
- Private Guided Walking Tour of the City Center: $24
- Guided Walking Tour of the Historical Old Town: $25
- Yungay, Memory, Art, and Neighborhood Walking Tour: $25
- A Fabulous Walking tour by the Old Santiago of Chile -small group: $25
- Santiago : Highlights Walking Tour With A Guide: $26
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAmsterdam €24Santiago €7.15
Sample the Local Flavors in Amsterdam
Also in Amsterdam, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Original Amsterdam Pub Crawl: $29
- City Centre Bar Crawl and Nightlife Experience: $30
- Amsterdam Craft Beer Brewery Tour by Bus with Tastings : $78
- New Year's Eve Pub Crawl With Optional Club Entrance: $84
- Dutch Wine Tasting Experience: $141
Sample the Local Flavors in Santiago
Also in Santiago, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Ludwig's Original Pub Crawl with VIP Club Entry: $34
- Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, with Wine Tasting: $60
- Undurraga Winery Tour with Entry and Wine Tasting: $63
- Undurraga Wine tour: $70
- Half Day Trip to Undurraga Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $70
- Valparaiso Port and Viña del Mar with Casablanca Wine Tasting: $79
- Valparaiso Port and Viña del Mar with wine tasting in Casablanca: $79
- Inca Lagoon and Vineyard Visit with Wine Tasting: $80
- Half Day Trip to Cousiño Macul Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $87
- Half Day Trip to Concha y Toro Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $87
- Maipo Valley Wine Tour with 4 vineyards from Santiago.: $89
- Kross Brewery Tour: A Craft Beer Tasting Experience: $93
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Amsterdam and Santiago, we can see that Amsterdam is more expensive. And not only is Santiago much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Amsterdam is in Europe and Santiago 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 Santiago would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santiago 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 Amsterdam would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Amsterdam than you might in Santiago.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Amsterdam Expensive? and Is Santiago Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Amsterdam or Santiago?
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Amsterdam. When comparing the sizes of Amsterdam and Santiago, 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.
When is the best time to visit Amsterdam or Santiago?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Santiago is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Amsterdam has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Amsterdam or Santiago in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Amsterdam and Santiago. Many travelers come to Amsterdam for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
Amsterdam is cooler than Santiago in the summer. The daily temperature in Amsterdam averages around 17°C (62°F) in July, and Santiago fluctuates around 21°C (70°F)in January.
In July, Amsterdam usually receives more rain than Santiagoin January. Amsterdam gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryAmsterdam 17°C (62°F)Santiago 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Amsterdam or Santiago in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Amsterdam as well as Santiago. Many visitors come to Amsterdam in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Amsterdam is cooler than Santiago. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Amsterdam in October average around 11°C (51°F), and Santiago averages at about 15°C (59°F)in April.
Amsterdam usually gets more rain in October than Santiagoin April. Amsterdam gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilAmsterdam 11°C (51°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Amsterdam or Santiago in the Winter?
Both Santiago and Amsterdam are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Amsterdam for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Amsterdam can be very cold during winter. In January, Amsterdam is generally much colder than Santiagoin July. Daily temperatures in Amsterdam average around 2°C (36°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
In January, Amsterdam usually receives less rain than Santiagoin July. Amsterdam gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyAmsterdam 2°C (36°F)Santiago 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Amsterdam or Santiago in the Spring?
Both Santiago and Amsterdam during the spring are popular places to visit. The spring months attract visitors to Amsterdam because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
Amsterdam is much colder than Santiago in the spring. The daily temperature in Amsterdam averages around 8°C (46°F) in April, and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F)in October.
Amsterdam usually gets more rain in April than Santiagoin October. Amsterdam gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberAmsterdam 8°C (46°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Santiago and Amsterdam
| Amsterdam | Santiago | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 2°C (36°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 3°C (37°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 5°C (41°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 8°C (46°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 12°C (54°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 17°C (62°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Sep | 14°C (57°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (51°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Nov | 6°C (43°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | 3°C (38°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
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.