Which place is cheaper, Santiago or Bangkok?
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 Bangkok or Santiago?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Bangkok and Santiago can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Bangkok or Santiago?
Bangkok
Bangkok: a name synonymous with all things exotic. The vibrant and exciting capital of Thailand is not just a hub for Southeast Asia, but also a destination into itself. Known for an active nightlife and party scene, as well as great food, historic temples, and busy markets, Bangkok offers a diversity to entertain even the most experienced travelers.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to Thailand, The Best Wildlife Tours to Thailand, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, and The Best Luxury Tours to Chile.
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Bangkok Prices
Thailand PricesSantiago Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBangkok $103Santiago $154
The average daily cost (per person) in Bangkok is $103, while the average daily cost in Santiago is $154. 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 Bangkok and Santiago in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBangkok $49Santiago $112
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBangkok $98Santiago $224
Compare Hotels in Bangkok and Santiago
Looking for a hotel in Bangkok 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: Bangkok Hotel Prices and Santiago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bangkok $6.35Santiago $5.55
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bangkok
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Bangkok are as follows:
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Tuk Tuk to bus station$2.46
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Skytrain Ticket$4.91
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Chao Phraya River Express Ticket$0.98
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Ferry Ride$0.80
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Taxi From Airport$7.68
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Short Taxi Ride$2.76
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Boat Taxi$1.54
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Trains to airport$4.91
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bangkok
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bangkok:
- Don Mueang DMK Airport to Downtown Private Transfer: $10
- Airport Private Transfers from Suvarnabhumi BKK to Bangkok City: $13
- Private Departure Transfer : Bangkok Hotel to BKK/DMK airport: $15
- Bangkok Airport Arrival – Shared Transfer: $16
- Bangkok DonMueang Airport Private Transfer To City Or To Airport: $17
- Private Airport Transfer From Bangkok to Pattaya Hua Hin: $18
- Siam Park Admission Ticket with Lunch and Transfer: $18
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Bangkok HTL- APT(BKK): $19
- Private Bangkok Airport Transfer Free Tollway: $19
- Transfer Suvarnabhumi Airport(BKK) to Bangkok City Center: $19
- Transfer Bangkok City Center to Suvarnabhumi Airport(BKK): $19
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Bangkok APT-HTL (BKK): $19
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$1.16
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 Airport SCL to Santiago by Luxury Van: $107
- Airport Transfer: Santiago to Santiago Airport SCL by Luxury Van: $107
- Arrival Transfer - Santiago International Airport to Hotel in Santiago: $35
- Arrival Transfer: Airport SCL to Santiago by Luxury Van: $107
- City tour santiago with excursion to valparaiso and airport transfer: $150
- Cruise-ship passengers: transfer to Santiago/Chile: $200
- Departure Transfer - Hotel in Santiago to Santiago International Airport: $35
- Departure Transfer: Santiago to Airport SCL by Luxury Van: $107
- From Valle Nevado and Farellones with Transfer: $51
- Maipo Valley Wine Tour, Concha y Toro, Private Transfer from Santiago: $262
- Private Round Trip Transfer from Santiago Airport SCL to Santiago: $96
Is it cheaper to fly into Bangkok or Santiago?
Prices for flights to both Santiago and Bangkok 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 dayBangkok $36Santiago $23
Typical Food Prices in Bangkok
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Bangkok:
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Dinner at Hard Rock Cafe (for Two)$28
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Casual Lunch of Prawns (for Two)$6.14
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2 Rotis (Bread)$1.38
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Mango & Sticky Rice$0.92
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Lunch at KFC (for Two)$6.14
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Pad Thai$2.15
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Airport Lunch for 2$17
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Lunch for 2$23
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bangkok
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bangkok.
- Dinner With Strangers: $21
- White Orchid Chao Phraya Dinner Cruise: $21
- Baiyoke Observation Deck with Lunch/Dinner Buffet: $24
- Michelin Guide Street Food Tour by Tuk Tuk: $24
- Viva Alangka Chao Phraya Dinner Cruise: $25
- River Dinner Cruise on the Chao Phraya Princess: $26
- Chao Phraya Princess Dinner Cruise Ticket: $26
- Unicorn Chao Phraya River Dinner Cruise: $27
- Smile Riverside Dinner Cruise: $27
- The Planet Dinner Cruise: $27
- Calypso Cabaret Show with Thai Set Dinner: $27
- Baiyoke Sky Dinner Experience with Observation Deck Access: $29
Typical Food Prices in Santiago
Some typical examples of dining costs in Santiago are as follows:
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Empanada$1.93
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Hamburger$2.57
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Dinner$26
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santiago
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Santiago.
- Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $81
- Street Food Tour in Santiago with a Local Guide: $84
- Bali Hai Dinner & Show, Transport and Wine refill: $106
- Traditional Chilean Show with Dinner and Private Transportation in Santiago: $107
- Dinner Show in Bali Hai with Wine refill and transportation: $114
- Small-Group Tour: Night City Tour with Santa Lucia Hill and Dinner Show: $116
- Private Dinner & Chilean Folk Show with Transfers: $116
- Alyan Winery Sunset with Wine Tastings and Dinner: $117
- Small-Group Night City Tour: San Cristobal Hill and Dinner Show: $120
- San Cristobal Hill Night Tour with Dinner Show: $129
- Private Tour: Santiago at Night with Dinner and Show: $131
- Concha y Toro Wine Tour with Dinner at the Winery: $172
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bangkok $18Santiago $49
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bangkok
Here are a few typical costs in Bangkok for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Movie Ticket$4.91
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Grand Palace Entrance Ticket$11
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Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha) Ticket$1.54
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Dusit Zoo Entrance Fee (for Two)$6.14
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Club Cover Charge$12
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Thai Boxing Tickets (for Two)$74
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Fish Pedicure$4.61
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Wat Pho entrance ticket$3.07
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Siriraj Museum (2)$12
Tours and Activities in Bangkok
Here are a few actual costs in Bangkok for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Bangkok Hidden Treasures: A Self-Guided Urban Adventure: $3.59
- Bangkok Chinatown Eats: A Self-guided Audio Tour: $5.13
- Mad Monkey Bangkok City Session - Walking Tour: $6.95
- A Self-Guided Tour of Bangkok's Most Picturesque Sights: $6.99
- Chinatown & Golden Buddha Self-Guided Audio Tour (entry not incl): $8.00
- Wat Arun Self-Guided Walking Tour (entry not incl.): $8.00
- Pororo Aqua Park Entry Ticket: $8.91
- Ancient City Bangkok and Erawan Museum Tickets: $10
- Skip the Line: Patpong Museum Guided Tour : $11
- Erawan Museum Ticket (NON THAI): $13
- Erawan Museum in Bangkok Admission Ticket: $14
- Ancient City and Erawan Museum Ticket from Bangkok: $14
Tours and Activities in Santiago
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santiago are as follows:
- Santiago Cathedral's Bell Tower Official Tour: $9.00
- Tour for Adults – History, Culture, Politics: $15
- Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino Admission Ticket: $17
- A historical tour of Santiago, Chile: $17
- Cable Car Admission Ticket: $18
- 3 Hours Santiago Blend Walking Tour: $20
- Private Guided Walking Tour of the City Center: $24
- Guided Walking Tour of the Historical Old Town: $25
- Santiago : Highlights Walking Tour With A Guide: $25
- "Tour Tradicional" Viña Cousiño Macul Oficial portugués: $26
- Cousiño Macul Official Winery Tour with Tasting: $26
- Guided City Tour through the historic center of Santiago: $27
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBangkok $5.52Santiago $8.62
Typical Alcohol Prices in Bangkok
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Bangkok are as follows:
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Beer$1.23
Sample the Local Flavors in Bangkok
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Bangkok:
- Mad Monkey Bangkok Pub Crawl: $14
- Bangkok Pub Crawl: $17
- Pub Crawl: $30
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: $33
- "Premium Wine Tour" Viña Cousiño Macul Oficial portugués: $40
- Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, with Wine Tasting: $60
- Undurraga Winery Tour with Entry and Wine Tasting: $63
- Half Day Trip to Undurraga Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $65
- Undurraga Wine tour: $70
- Undurraga Wine Tasting Tour from Santiago: $75
- Premium Wine Tasting in Santiago de Chile: $77
- Valparaiso Port and Viña del Mar with Casablanca Wine Tasting: $79
- Inca Lagoon and Vineyard Visit with Wine Tasting: $80
- Half Day Trip to Concha y Toro Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $87
- Kross Brewery Tour: A Craft Beer Tasting Experience: $93
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bangkok and Santiago, we can see that Santiago is more expensive. And not only is Bangkok much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bangkok is in Asia 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 Bangkok would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bangkok 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 Santiago would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santiago than you might in Bangkok.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bangkok Expensive? and Is Santiago Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bangkok or Santiago?
Bangkok has a larger population, and is about 6% larger than the population of Santiago. When comparing the sizes of Bangkok 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 Bangkok or Santiago?
Santiago has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Bangkok experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Bangkok or Santiago in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Bangkok and Santiago. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Bangkok year-round.
In the summer, Bangkok is a little warmer than Santiago. Typically, the summer temperatures in Bangkok in July average around 29°C (84°F), and Santiago averages at about 21°C (70°F)in January.
Bangkok gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Bangkok usually receives more rain than Santiagoin January. Bangkok gets 155 mm (6.1 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 JanuaryBangkok 29°C (84°F)Santiago 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Bangkok or Santiago in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Bangkok as well as Santiago. Bangkok attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, Bangkok is generally much warmer than Santiagoin April. Daily temperatures in Bangkok average around 28°C (83°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
Bangkok receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Bangkok usually gets more rain in October than Santiagoin April. Bangkok gets 242 mm (9.5 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, November to February in Bangkok is the dry season. May to October in Bangkok is the rainy season.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilBangkok 28°C (83°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Bangkok or Santiago in the Winter?
Both Santiago and Bangkok are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Bangkok throughout the year.
Bangkok is much warmer than Santiago in the winter. The daily temperature in Bangkok averages around 27°C (80°F) in January, and Santiago fluctuates around 9°C (48°F)in July.
In January, Bangkok usually receives less rain than Santiagoin July. Bangkok gets 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the winter. The dry season in Bangkok is November to February.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyBangkok 27°C (80°F)Santiago 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Bangkok or Santiago in the Spring?
Both Santiago and Bangkok during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Bangkok because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the spring, Bangkok is much warmer than Santiago. Typically, the spring temperatures in Bangkok in April average around 31°C (87°F), and Santiago averages at about 15°C (59°F)in October.
Bangkok usually gets more rain in April than Santiagoin October. Bangkok gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year. May to October is the rainy season in Bangkok.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberBangkok 31°C (87°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Santiago and Bangkok
| Bangkok | Santiago | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (80°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (85°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 31°C (87°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 30°C (86°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (85°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (84°F) | 155 mm (6.1 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 344 mm (13.5 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (83°F) | 242 mm (9.5 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 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.