Which place is cheaper, Santiago or Beijing?
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 Beijing 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 Beijing 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: Beijing or Santiago?
Beijing
Beijing is the capital of China and, with 21.5 million people, it is the second most populated city in the world after Shanghai. It is a city that keeps pockets of its history hidden in old neighborhoods or back alleys, despite the constant change and modernization that goes on around it. As the capital city of China, there is plenty of history and culture. You can still get yourself lost in one of the last remaining hutongs, which are old neighborhoods that remain untouched by the city's modernization. The alleys that weave between the old homes are lined with drying clothes, corner markets, and people going about their daily lives the way they have for centuries. Surrounding these hutongs you'll find modern buildings and a booming economy, all threatening to destroying these last bits of Beijing's history. Beijing offers a glimpse into a microcosm that represents the entire country of China. Make sure you give yourself enough time in China to truly experience Beijing. You can pass a lot of time soaking up life in the city, which remains as diverse as the country it resides within.
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 2-Week Tours from Beijing, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Chile.
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Beijing Prices
China PricesSantiago Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBeijing $96Santiago $154
The average daily cost (per person) in Beijing is $96, 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 Beijing and Santiago in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBeijing $42Santiago $112
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBeijing $84Santiago $224
Compare Hotels in Beijing and Santiago
Looking for a hotel in Beijing 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: Beijing Hotel Prices and Santiago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Beijing $8.28Santiago $5.55
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Beijing
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Beijing:
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Taxi$5.06
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Train from Airport for Two$7.41
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Taxi to Hotel$8.89
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2 Metro Passes$2.37
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Metro$0.59
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Beijing
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Beijing:
- Private Transfers for City, Suburbs & Airport/Train: $1.46
- Datong:Hanging Temple Entry Ticket with Optional Transfer Service: $6.00
- Shilinxia Ticket, Transfer, Guided Tour & Ming City Wall: $6.00
- Shilinxia Glass Platform Ticket, Transfer, Guided Tour & 798: $6.00
- Ming Tombs Entrance Ticket with Optional Guided &Transfer Service: $7.79
- Juyongguan Great Wall Ticket, Transfer, Guided Tour & Ming Tomb: $8.00
- Badaling Great Wall Entrance Ticket with Guide/Transfer Service: $9.50
- Juyongguan Great Wall Entrance Ticket with Guide&Transfer Service: $9.90
- Badaling Great Wall Ticket, Transfer & Guide Service: $10
- Jinshanling Great Wall Ticket, Transfer: $13
- Jinshanling Great Wall Ticket, Transfer, Guided Tour: $13
- Private Mutianyu Great Wall Day Tour w/ Optional Guide/Transfer: $15
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: $99
- Airport Transfer: Santiago to Airport SCL by Business Car: $80
- Arrival Transfer - Santiago International Airport to Hotel in Santiago: $35
- Arrival Transfer: Airport SCL to Santiago by Luxury Van: $99
- City tour santiago with excursion to valparaiso and airport transfer: $150
- Cruise Ship Transfer to Valparaiso Port with 6 Hour tour + Winery: $89
- Cruise Terminal Transfer from Valparaíso & Wine Tasting: $129
- Departure Transfer: Santiago to Airport SCL by Luxury Van: $99
- Maipo Valley Wine Tour, Concha y Toro, Private Transfer from Santiago: $262
- Portillo and Laguna Del Inca, Exclusive Guide and Private Transfer: $250
- Private 15-Passenger Premium Airport Transfer – Santiago (SCL): $190
Is it cheaper to fly into Beijing or Santiago?
Prices for flights to both Santiago and Beijing 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 dayBeijing $36Santiago $23
Typical Food Prices in Beijing
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Beijing:
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Popcorn$0.89
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Hot Pot Dinner$7.41
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Dumpling Breakfast for Two$2.96
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Watermelon$2.07
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Peking Duck Dinner for 2$18
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Two Popsicles$0.89
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Beijing
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Beijing.
- Online Cooking Class Handmade Noodles by Sunflower Li: $20
- Beijing Hutong Breakfast Food Tour: $45
- Hutong Breakfast Food Tour: $45
- Beijing Acrobatic Show Tickets w/ Optional Dinner or Transfer: $48
- 3.5-Hour Walking Food Tour: A Bite of History at Beijing Niujie Street: $49
- Temple of Heaven Private Tour w/Option Show &Dinner: $54
- China's Favourite Street Food Cooking Workshop: $55
- Experience Beijing Walking Food Tour Private: $55
- Private Local Food Tour in Beijing with a Local Guide: $59
- Beijing Walking Food Tour with a Local Friend: $60
- Authentic Local Food Tour in Center Beijing: $70
- Beijing Hidden Hutong Bike & Food Tour - Pro Photos Included: $71
Typical Food Prices in Santiago
Some typical examples of dining costs in Santiago are as follows:
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Empanada$1.94
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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: $56
- Best Santiago Street Food Tour with 4+ Tastings and Drink: $58
- 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
- Local Food Tour with Tastings & Drinks: $99
- Traditional Dinner Show in Santiago: $107
- Small-Group Tour: Night City Tour with Santa Lucia Hill and Dinner Show: $116
- Barrio Italia Food Tour with Tastings & Drinks: $119
- Private Market Tour and Traditional Chilean Cooking Class in a Local Home: $125
- San Cristobal Hill Night Tour with Dinner Show: $129
- Dinner Show in Bali Hai with Wine refill and transportation: $129
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Beijing $26Santiago $49
Typical Entertainment Prices in Beijing
Here are a few typical costs in Beijing for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entry to Summer Palace for Two$8.89
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Two Opera Tickets$63
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Temple of Heaven Park Entrance (for 2)$10
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Forbidden City (for 2)$18
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Forbidden City Tickets$18
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Audio Guides at Forbidden City$12
Tours and Activities in Beijing
Here are a few actual costs in Beijing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Jingshan Park QR Ticket with 4 Language Audio Guide: $2.50
- Entrance Tickets: Coal Hill Park, Beihai Park & Drum-Bell Towers: $2.50
- Capital Museum tour includes Ticket: $2.78
- Tian’anmenSquare or Forbidden City Online Ticket Booking: $2.92
- Forbidden City/ Palace Museum & Tiananmen Sq. Ticket Booking: $2.99
- Forbidden City/Palace Museum and Tiananmen Square Entry Ticket: $3.00
- Forbidden City & Tiananmen Square Ticket Booking Service: $3.00
- Tian'amen Square & Forbidden City Tickets or Guided Group Tour: $3.00
- Jingshan Park Ticket - Panoramic Forbidden City View: $3.00
- Beijing:Tiananmen Square tickets with guide(optional): $3.19
- Private Combo Tour: Capital Museum & Classic Historical Landmarks: $3.42
- Forbidden City Walking Guided Tour w/ Entry Tickets: $3.60
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
- Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino Admission Ticket: $17
- Cable Car Admission Ticket: $18
- History Walking Tour with a Local Guide: $21
- A Fabulous Walking tour by the Old Santiago of Chile -: $25
- Guided Walking Tour of the Historical Old Town: $25
- Santiago Sightseeing Tour: Living History and Local Food Tasting: $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
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBeijing $12Santiago $8.62
Sample the Local Flavors in Beijing
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Beijing:
- Evening Food Private Tour with Brewery Taproom Hopping at Slow Boat in Beijing: $110
- Tipsy Travel: Beijing Local Food and Bar Crawl night in Hutong: $138
- 5-Hour Private Changyu Chateau Wine Tasting Tour from Beijing: $178
- Private Changyu Chateau Wine Tasting Tour and Mutianyu Great Wall Visit: $238
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
- Traditional Wine Tour in Viña Cousiño Macul Official English: $27
- "Premium Wine Tour" Viña Cousiño Macul Official english: $45
- Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, with Casablanca Wine Tasting: $55
- Valparaiso, Viña del Mar & Casablanca Wine Tour: $61
- Valparaiso, Viña del Mar & Casablanca Wine Tour: $62
- Valparaiso Port and Viña del Mar with Casablanca Wine Tasting: $68
- Valparaíso and Vineyard of the Sea with Casablanca Wine Tasting: $68
- Undurraga Winery Tour with Entry and Wine Tasting: $70
- Undurraga Wine Tasting Tour from Santiago: $75
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Beijing and Santiago, we can see that Santiago is more expensive. And not only is Beijing much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Beijing 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 Beijing would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Beijing 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 Beijing.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Beijing Expensive? and Is Santiago Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Beijing or Santiago?
Beijing has a larger population, and is about 55% larger than the population of Santiago. When comparing the sizes of Beijing 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 Beijing 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 Beijing has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Beijing or Santiago in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Beijing and Santiago. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Beijing this time of year.
In July, Beijing is generally a little warmer than Santiagoin January. Daily temperatures in Beijing average around 27°C (80°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
Beijing gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Beijing usually receives more rain than Santiagoin January. Beijing gets 176 mm (6.9 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 JanuaryBeijing 27°C (80°F)Santiago 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Beijing or Santiago in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Beijing as well as Santiago. Many travelers come to Beijing for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Beijing is around the same temperature as Santiago in the autumn. The daily temperature in Beijing averages around 14°C (56°F) in October, and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F)in April.
Beijing usually gets more rain in October than Santiagoin April. Beijing gets 19 mm (0.7 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 AprilBeijing 14°C (56°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Beijing or Santiago in the Winter?
Both Santiago and Beijing are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Beijing in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Beijing can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Beijing is much colder than Santiago. Typically, the winter temperatures in Beijing in January average around -4°C (26°F), and Santiago averages at about 9°C (48°F)in July.
In January, Beijing usually receives less rain than Santiagoin July. Beijing gets 3 mm (0.1 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 JulyBeijing -4°C (26°F)Santiago 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Beijing or Santiago in the Spring?
Both Santiago and Beijing during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Beijing for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.
In April, Beijing is generally around the same temperature as Santiagoin October. Daily temperatures in Beijing average around 14°C (57°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
Beijing usually gets more rain in April than Santiagoin October. Beijing gets 26 mm (1 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 OctoberBeijing 14°C (57°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Santiago and Beijing
| Beijing | Santiago | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -4°C (26°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | -1°C (30°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (42°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 14°C (57°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 20°C (68°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (76°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (80°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (78°F) | 182 mm (7.2 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Sep | 20°C (69°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 14°C (56°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Nov | 5°C (41°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | -1°C (29°F) | 2 mm (0.1 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.