Which place is cheaper, Santiago or Bilbao?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Bilbao and Santiago. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
The industrial city of Bilbao is located on a port of the Nervión River in northern Spain, an important location of Basque country. While the downtown is filled with skyscrapers and innovative architecture, it sits between a river and mountains of natural allure. A city of hard-workers to the core, Bilbao displays remnants of its industrial past, though in more recent years it has transformed into a center for art. It is now a popular location for visitors looking to experience art galleries and museums.
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 G Adventures Tours to Spain, The Best 3-Day Tours from Madrid, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Chile.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Bilbao is €137, while the average daily cost in Santiago is €133. 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 Bilbao and Santiago in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Bilbao 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.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bilbao:
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Santiago:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santiago:
Prices for flights to both Santiago and Bilbao 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.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bilbao.
Some typical examples of dining costs in Santiago are as follows:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Santiago.
Here are a few actual costs in Bilbao for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santiago are as follows:
Also in Bilbao, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
Also in Santiago, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When comparing the travel costs between Bilbao and Santiago, we can see that Bilbao is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Bilbao is in Europe and Santiago is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bilbao Expensive? and Is Santiago Expensive?.
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Bilbao. When comparing the sizes of Bilbao 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.
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 Bilbao has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Bilbao and Santiago. The summer months attract visitors to Bilbao because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
Bilbao is around the same temperature as Santiago in the summer. The daily temperature in Bilbao averages around 20°C (68°F) in July, and Santiago fluctuates around 21°C (70°F)in January.
In July, Bilbao usually receives more rain than Santiagoin January. Bilbao gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
The autumn brings many poeple to Bilbao as well as Santiago. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Bilbao this time of year.
In the autumn, Bilbao is around the same temperature as Santiago. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Bilbao in October average around 16°C (62°F), and Santiago averages at about 15°C (59°F)in April.
Bilbao receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Bilbao usually gets more rain in October than Santiagoin April. Bilbao gets 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Santiago and Bilbao are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Bilbao for the museums and the shopping scene.
In January, Bilbao is generally around the same temperature as Santiagoin July. Daily temperatures in Bilbao average around 9°C (48°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
It's quite rainy in Bilbao. In January, Bilbao usually receives more rain than Santiagoin July. Bilbao gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
Both Santiago and Bilbao during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Bilbao in the spring for the activities around the city.
Bilbao is cooler than Santiago in the spring. The daily temperature in Bilbao averages around 12°C (54°F) in April, and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F)in October.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Bilbao. Bilbao usually gets more rain in April than Santiagoin October. Bilbao gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
Bilbao | Santiago | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 9°C (48°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
Feb | 10°C (50°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
Mar | 11°C (51°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
Apr | 12°C (54°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
May | 15°C (59°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
Jun | 18°C (64°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
Jul | 20°C (68°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
Aug | 20°C (68°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
Sep | 19°C (66°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
Oct | 16°C (62°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
Dec | 10°C (50°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |