A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bangkok vs. Santiago for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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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 One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Chile.


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.

The average daily cost (per person) in Bangkok is $100, while the average daily cost in Santiago is $155. 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
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bangkok $48
    Santiago $113
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bangkok $96
    Santiago $226
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.

Hotels in Bangkok


Hotels in Santiago


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Bangkok $6.28
    Santiago $5.56
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bangkok

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Bangkok are as follows:


  • Tuk Tuk to bus station
    $2.40
  • Skytrain Ticket
    $4.81
  • Chao Phraya River Express Ticket
    $0.96
  • Ferry Ride
    $0.78
  • Taxi From Airport
    $7.51
  • Short Taxi Ride
    $2.70
  • Boat Taxi
    $1.50
  • Trains to airport
    $4.81

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bangkok

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bangkok:

  • Gems Gallery Bangkok with Round Trip Hotel Transfers: $2.29
  • Gems Gallery Phuket with Round Trip Hotel Transfers: $2.29
  • Museum of Contemporary Art Moca Bangkok Entry Ticket and transfer: $14
  • Suvarnabhumi Airport BKK Private Transfer to Bangkok or Pattaya: $14
  • Suvarnabhumi BKK Airport Private Transfer to City Center: $15
  • Arrival Transfer from BKK Airport to Bangkok Hotel: $15
  • Suvarnabhumi BKK Airport Private Transfer to/from Bangkok/Pattaya: $15
  • Sedan Arrival Transfer Bangkok Airport BKK to Bangkok or Pattaya: $16
  • Private transfer from Hotel in Bangkok to BKK Airport: $17
  • BKK Airport Private Transfer to Bangkok Hotel (Toll Included): $17
  • Private Bangkok Airport Transfer with Free Tollway: $17
  • Shared Airport Transfer: Suvarnabhumi (BKK) to Bangkok Hotel: $18

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Santiago

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Santiago:


  • 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: $104
  • Airport Transfer: Santiago to Airport SCL by Business Car: $84
  • Airport Transfer: Santiago to Santiago Airport SCL by Luxury Van: $104
  • City Tour Santiago with Exclusive Guide + Private Transfer: $270
  • City tour santiago with excursion to valparaiso and airport transfer: $150
  • Clos Apalta Winery - Tour with Private Transfer: $300
  • Cruise Ship Transfer to Valparaiso Port with 6 Hour tour + Winery: $89
  • Cruise Terminal Transfer from Valparaíso & Wine Tasting: $129
  • Departure Transfer Santiago de Chile to Santiago Airport SCL: $82
  • Departure Transfer: Santiago to Airport SCL by Luxury Van: $104
  • Maipo Valley Wine Tour, Concha y Toro, Private Transfer from Santiago: $262

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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Bangkok $35
    Santiago $23
Typical Food Prices in Bangkok

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Bangkok:


  • Dinner at Hard Rock Cafe (for Two)
    $27
  • Casual Lunch of Prawns (for Two)
    $6.01
  • 2 Rotis (Bread)
    $1.35
  • Mango & Sticky Rice
    $0.90
  • Lunch at KFC (for Two)
    $6.01
  • Pad Thai
    $2.10
  • Airport Lunch for 2
    $17
  • Lunch for 2
    $22

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bangkok

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bangkok.

  • Baiyoke Sky Observation Deck Ticket with Buffet Lunch or Dinner: $24
  • Meridian Sunset Cruise Dinner Buffet from Bangkok: $25
  • Chao Phraya Princess Bangkok Sunset Dinner Cruise: $25
  • Chao Phraya Princess Sunset and Dinner Cruise: $26
  • Bangkok Sawasdee Sunset Dinner Cruise from ICONSIAM+Beer FreeFlow: $26
  • Alangka Bangkok Sunset Dinner Cruise: $26
  • Thai Cooking Class in Bangkok's Old Town with Market Tour: $29
  • Bangkok Amazing Chaophraya River Dinner Cruise with Live Music: $30
  • Smile Riverside Cruise Luxury Buffet Dinner from Bangkok: $30
  • Bangkok The Luxury White Sunset or Dinner Cruise (Asiatique Pier): $31
  • Peaceful Wat Pho and Authentic Street Food Tour: $31
  • Bangkok Newest Luxury Noah Chao Phraya River Dinner Cruise: $31

Typical Food Prices in Santiago

Some typical examples of dining costs in Santiago are as follows:


  • Empanada
    $1.94
  • Hamburger
    $2.57
  • Dinner
    $27

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: $56
  • Best Santiago Street Food Tour with 4+ Tastings and Drink: $57
  • Mercado Meals Santiago Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $59
  • Mercado Meals Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $60
  • 4h Cooking Class in 8 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $77
  • 4h Cooking Class in Santiago : 8 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $85
  • Lastarria Food Tour: Wine, Bites & Social Culinary Experience: $98
  • Local Food Tour with Tastings & Drinks: $99
  • Food Tour STGO, Eat like Locals!: $99
  • Traditional Chilean Show with Dinner and Private Transportation in Santiago: $107
  • Santiago Food Tour: Bohemian Flavors and Local Gems: $109

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bangkok $17
    Santiago $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:


  • Movie Ticket
    $4.81
  • Grand Palace Entrance Ticket
    $11
  • Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha) Ticket
    $1.50
  • Dusit Zoo Entrance Fee (for Two)
    $6.01
  • Club Cover Charge
    $11
  • Thai Boxing Tickets (for Two)
    $72
  • Fish Pedicure
    $4.51
  • Wat Pho entrance ticket
    $3.00
  • 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 Chinatown Eats: A Self-guided Audio Tour: $5.13
  • Bangkok Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.00
  • Bangkok Self-Guided Walking Tour Essential Landmarks and Quizzes: $6.53
  • Bangkok Noi Canal: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
  • Chinatown & Golden Buddha Self-Guided Audio Tour (entry not incl): $6.99
  • Wat Pho Reclining Buddha Self-Guided Audio Tour (entry not incl.): $6.99
  • Bangkok's Wireless Road: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
  • Bangkok Art and Culture Hidden Gems Self Guided Audio Tour: $8.55
  • Ancient City Bangkok and Erawan Museum Tickets: $9.59
  • Erawan Museum Ticket (NON THAI): $9.77
  • Erawan Museum & Ancient City Admission Ticket - Bangkok (NonThai): $9.77
  • Bangkok Erawan Museum Ticket (NON-THAI): $9.77

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: $11
  • Historical Sights Walking Tour: $15
  • Cable Car Admission Ticket: $18
  • History Walking Tour with a Local Guide: $21
  • Santiago Sightseeing Tour: Living History and Local Food Tasting: $25
  • Tour of Santiago with Professional Photography: $25
  • A Fabulous Walking tour by the Old Santiago of Chile -: $25
  • Guided Walking Tour of the Historical Old Town: $25
  • Santiago : Highlights Walking Tour With A Guide: $25
  • Guided City Tour through the historic center of Santiago: $25
  • "Tour Tradicional" Viña Cousiño Macul Oficial español: $27
  • City Tour Santiago - Walking Tour: $29

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bangkok $5.48
    Santiago $8.64
Typical Alcohol Prices in Bangkok

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Bangkok are as follows:


  • Beer
    $1.20

Sample the Local Flavors in Bangkok

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Bangkok:

  • Sunset Rooftop, TukTuk Ride, Night Market & Bar Crawl: $29
  • Bangkok Bar Crawl by Tuk Tuk: $67

Sample the Local Flavors in Santiago

Also in Santiago, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • "Chile in Your Glass" Wine Tasting.: $22
  • Pub Crawl with Unlimited Beer and Welcome Shots: $25
  • Cousiño Macul Heritage Wine Tour with Tastings: $25
  • Valparaiso, Viña del Mar & Casablanca Wine Tour: $61
  • Valparaiso, Viña del Mar & Casablanca Wine Tour: $62
  • Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, with Casablanca Wine Tasting: $65
  • Valparaíso and Vineyard of the Sea with Casablanca Wine Tasting: $68
  • Undurraga Winery Tour with Entry and Wine Tasting: $70
  • Valparaiso Port and Viña del Mar with Casablanca Wine Tasting: $75
  • Undurraga Wine Tasting Tour from Santiago: $75
  • Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, with Wine Tasting: $75
  • Half Day Trip to Cousiño Macul Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $87

How are these travel costs calculated?

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.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July and January
    Bangkok 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.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October and April
    Bangkok 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.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January and July
    Bangkok 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.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April and October
    Bangkok 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.
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