Which place is cheaper, Santiago or Bucharest?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bucharest or Santiago?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Bucharest 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.
Where Should I go: Bucharest or Santiago?
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital and largest city in the country of Romania. With about 2 million residents living in the city and about 2.4 million in the surrounding urban area, it is also one of the largest cities in Southeastern Europe. As such, it is the economic, industrial and commercial center for the country. As a visitor, you will likely enter Romania by arriving in Bucharest. The city continues to grow and change, and there are ongoing infrastructure projects that continue to modernize the city. It is not uncommon to find historic churches on the same block as modern office buildings and Communist style apartment buildings. There are also many sights around town and the city continues to grow as a trendy and fascinating city.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bucharest, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Romania, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBucharest $139Santiago $143
The average daily cost (per person) in Bucharest is $139, while the average daily cost in Santiago is $143. 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 Bucharest and Santiago in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBucharest $63Santiago $111
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBucharest $126Santiago $222
Compare Hotels in Bucharest and Santiago
Looking for a hotel in Bucharest 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: Bucharest Hotel Prices and Santiago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bucharest $26Santiago $5.48
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bucharest
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bucharest:
- Therme Bucharest Express Shuttle Transfer: $7.68
- Bucharest Airport Transfer: $11
- Bucuresti: Transfer Therme Bucuresti different hours: $12
- Therme Bucuresti Transfer with Optional Ticket: $13
- Bucharest Transfer Service: $17
- Airport Transfer - Bucharest Otopeni Henri Coandă Airport : $18
- Bucharest Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Tecuci: $22
- Airport Transfer: $22
- Bucharest Private Airport Transfer from or to City Center Hotel: $22
- Private Bucharest Otopeni Airport (OTP) Transfer: $22
- Bucharest Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Barlad: $24
- Bucharest Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Vaslui OMV: $26
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$1.15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santiago
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santiago:
- Private Departure Transfer from Santiago- Santiago Airport (SCL): $27
- Airport transfer between Santiago city center and Arturo Merino Benítez Airport: $51
- Arrival Private Transfers : Santiago Airport SCL to Santiago in Luxury Van: $85
- Arrival Transfer - Santiago International Airport to Hotel in Santiago: $35
- Arturo Merino Benítez Intl Airport: Shared Transfer: $24
- Departure Private Transfers : Santiago to Santiago Airport SCL in Business Car: $68
- Departure Private Transfers : Santiago to Santiago Airport SCL in Luxury Van: $85
- Departure Transfer - Hotel in Santiago to Santiago International Airport: $35
- From Farellones Roundtrip Transfer: $35
- From Valle Nevado and Farellones with Transfer: $72
- Luxury Airport Private Transfer SCL: $90
- Pick up Santiago Visit Haras de Pirque Winery & Transfer Hotel: $300
Is it cheaper to fly into Bucharest or Santiago?
Prices for flights to both Santiago and Bucharest 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 dayBucharest $59Santiago $13
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bucharest
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bucharest.
- Dinner at the Museum of Communism - Traditional Food Tour: $54
- Bohemian Bucharest Markets and Mahallas Traditional Food Tour: $60
- Bucharest Evening Tour and Traditional Dinner: $64
- Cooking Class traditional food: $66
- Street Food Tour with a Local Guide: $74
- Bucharest Evening Tour and Traditional Dinner - 3 hours: $87
- Private Walking Food Tour - Culture, History & Traditions: $99
- Discover Private Highlights and Traditional Food Tour: $109
- Private Bucharest Food Tour with a Local Foodie: $116
- Historical and Cultural Tour with Romanian Cuisine dinner: $142
- 4-Hour Walking Food Tour in the Old Town: $203
- Bucharest City Tour & Traditional Home-made Cooking Experience: $229
Typical Food Prices in Santiago
Some typical examples of dining costs in Santiago are as follows:
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Empanada$1.91
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Hamburger$2.54
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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.
- Traditional Chilean Show with Dinner and Private Transportation in Santiago: $107
- Traditional Dinner Show in Santiago: $107
- Dinner Show in Bali Hai: $109
- Sunset at Alyan Family Wines Winery with Dinner: $116
- Private Market Tour and Traditional Chilean Cooking Class in a Local Home: $117
- Small-Group Night City Tour: San Cristobal Hill and Dinner Show: $120
- 4-Hour Private Night Tour with Dinner and Show: $150
- Private Dinner and Show with Transfers: $158
- Traditional Chilean Cooking Class with a Local in Her Santiago Countryside Home: $168
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bucharest $15Santiago $48
Tours and Activities in Bucharest
Here are a few actual costs in Bucharest for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Buchaest: Peles Castle, Bran Castle, & Brasov Old Town Tour: $5.37
- Reptiland Bucharest Entry Ticket: $13
- A Tale of Bucharest Old Town Walking Tour: $16
- Communism Walking Tour from Lenin to Ceausescu in Bucharest: $16
- City Highlights Guided Walking Tour: $17
- Bucharest Highlights Walking Tour: $18
- Parliament Palace Skip-the-line Ticket: $20
- Palace of Parliament Bucharest 1 Hour Guided Tour: $21
- Virtual Reality Experience: $21
- Calea Victoriei and Old Town Highlights Tour: $22
- Guided Tour at museum Casa Storck: $22
- 2-Hour Private Walking Tour in Bucharest: $22
Tours and Activities in Santiago
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santiago are as follows:
- Explore Santiago's Soul: Walking In-App Audio Tour: $5.00
- Explore Santiago's Soul: Walking In-App Audio Tour: $5.00
- Santiago Cathedral's Bell Tower Official Tour: $9.00
- La Paz from the Heights: Down hill Walking tour & Cable Cars: $12
- Cable Car Admission Ticket: $15
- Cousiño Macul Official Winery Tour with Tasting: $23
- Skip the Line: Concha y Toro Traditional Tour Ticket: $25
- Walking tour through Santiago: $26
- From Valle Nevado and Farellones Small Group Tour: $29
- The Essentials City Tour & Optional Concha y Toro: $30
- Half Day tradicional city Tour: $30
- TOUR PANORAMICO VALLE NEVADO Y FARELLONES: $32
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBucharest $9.28Santiago $8.51
Sample the Local Flavors in Bucharest
Also in Bucharest, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Weekend Pub Crawl: $24
- Bucharest Pub Crawl in the Old Town: $25
- From Romanian Wine Tasting Tour: $26
- Bachelors Party in Custom Bar Crawl: $38
- Private Bar Crawling in Bucharest Old City: $43
- Private Wine Tasting Experience: $43
- Pub Crawl in the Old CIty and Rooftop Hopping in Bucharest: $47
- Private Romanian Wine Tasting in Urlați: $52
- Guided Pub Crawl in Bucharest: $56
- Bucharest Old Town Pub and Bar Crawl with Guide: $57
- Bucharest VIP Bar Crawl in Lipscani 'Old Town': $59
- Bucharest City Tour and Wine Tasting: $85
Sample the Local Flavors in Santiago
Also in Santiago, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Premium Wine Tour in Viña Cousiño Macul Spanish official: $37
- Concha y Toro Ticket and Tour with Wine Tasting: $50
- Undurraga Winery Tour with Entry and Wine Tasting: $50
- Undurraga Wine tour: $63
- Half Day Trip to Undurraga Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $70
- Private Tour: Santa Rita Vineyard with Wine Tastings: $72
- From Concha y Toro Marqués Half-Day Wine Tasting: $89
- half day wine tour to concha y toro from Santiago seasonal offer: $95
- From Maipo Valley Wine Tour: $99
- Maipo Valley Wine Tour with 4 vineyards from Santiago.: $99
- Private Tour: Viña del Mar and Valparaíso Tour with Wine Tasting in Casablanca Valley: $143
- Colchagua Premium Wine Tour from Santiago: $145
When comparing the travel costs between Bucharest and Santiago, we can see that Santiago 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 Bucharest 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 Bucharest Expensive? and Is Santiago Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bucharest or Santiago?
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Bucharest. When comparing the sizes of Bucharest 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 Bucharest 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 Bucharest has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Bucharest or Santiago in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Bucharest and Santiago. The summer months attract visitors to Bucharest because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
Bucharest is around the same temperature as Santiago in the summer. The daily temperature in Bucharest averages around 23°C (73°F) in July, and Santiago fluctuates around 21°C (70°F)in January.
In July, Bucharest usually receives more rain than Santiagoin January. Bucharest gets 64 mm (2.5 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 JanuaryBucharest 23°C (73°F)Santiago 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Bucharest or Santiago in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Bucharest as well as Santiago. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Bucharest this time of year.
In the autumn, Bucharest is cooler than Santiago. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Bucharest in October average around 13°C (55°F), and Santiago averages at about 15°C (59°F)in April.
Bucharest usually gets more rain in October than Santiagoin April. Bucharest gets 32 mm (1.3 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 AprilBucharest 13°C (55°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Bucharest or Santiago in the Winter?
Both Santiago and Bucharest are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Bucharest for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Bucharest. In January, Bucharest is generally much colder than Santiagoin July. Daily temperatures in Bucharest average around -1°C (29°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
In January, Bucharest usually receives less rain than Santiagoin July. Bucharest gets 40 mm (1.6 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 JulyBucharest -1°C (29°F)Santiago 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Bucharest or Santiago in the Spring?
Both Santiago and Bucharest during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Bucharest in the spring for the activities around the city.
Bucharest is cooler than Santiago in the spring. The daily temperature in Bucharest averages around 12°C (54°F) in April, and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F)in October.
Bucharest usually gets more rain in April than Santiagoin October. Bucharest gets 46 mm (1.8 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 OctoberBucharest 12°C (54°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Santiago and Bucharest
| Bucharest | Santiago | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -1°C (29°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 1°C (34°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (43°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (54°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (70°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 22°C (72°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (65°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 13°C (55°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Nov | 6°C (44°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | 1°C (34°F) | 43 mm (1.7 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.