Which place is cheaper, Santiago or Cancun?
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 Cancun or Santiago?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Cancun and Santiago can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Cancun or Santiago?
Cancun
In the northeast corner of the Mexican Caribbean, Cancun is one of Mexico's most popular destinations. The area that is now Cancun was actually selected specifically by the Mexican government for development as a tourist destination. The area was chosen because it has fourteen miles of beautiful white beaches, nearby Mayan ruins, and turquoise blue water with nearby snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities. Prior to its development as a tourist destination, there were few inhabitants in the area.
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 Playa del Carmen, The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Chile.
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Cancun Prices
Mexico PricesSantiago Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCancun $161Santiago $155
The average daily cost (per person) in Cancun is $161, 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 Cancun and Santiago in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCancun $93Santiago $113
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCancun $186Santiago $226
Compare Hotels in Cancun and Santiago
Looking for a hotel in Cancun 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: Cancun Hotel Prices and Santiago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cancun $17Santiago $5.56
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cancun
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cancun:
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Taxi Around Town$1.60
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Airport Shuttle (for 2)$13
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Ferry to Isla de Mujeres (for 2)$16
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Local Bus (for 2)$1.95
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cancun
Also for Cancun, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Cancun Airport Small-Group Transfer to Cancun Hotels: $6.00
- Shared Transfer from Cancun Airport: $7.00
- Cancun airport private transfer: $15
- Cancun Airport private transfer to Cancun hotel zone: $15
- Cancun Airport Departure transfer from Hotel Zone, Puerto Juarez, Puerto Morelos: $16
- CUN Airport to Cancun City Centre Hotels Shared Transfer: $17
- Private Transfer in Cancun: $17
- Cancun CUN Airport One Way Private Transfer to Cancun Hotel Zone: $17
- Cancun airport private Transfer: $17
- Private Transfer to/from Puerto Juarez Hotels or Ferry: $19
- transfers between hotels in Cancun hotel strip: $20
- Shared Round-Trip Transfer To/From Cancun International Airport: $23
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:
- Villard Winery with exclusive guide + Premium Transfer: $220
- Valparaíso Cruise Port Transfer with Viña del Mar & Vineyard: $90
- Transfer to Snowy Valley fullday for skiers: $49
- Transfer from Santiago To Valle Nevado, Farellones, Colorado or La Parva ski: $100
- Transfer from Santiago Airport to Santiago Centro Commune: $52
- Transfer Private Airport SCL to Hotels and Airbnb in Santiago: $60
- Transfer From Portillo Ski center to Santiago Airport or Hotel: $97
- TRANSFER TRANSFER AIRPORT-VIÑA DEL MAR VALPARAISO: $190
- Valle Nevado Ski Day Trip with Hotel Transfers: $42
- Transfer to Concha y Toro Winery: $30
- Private Transfer to/from Santiago Airport (SCL): $15
- Private Scenic Transfer to Mendoza.: $467
Is it cheaper to fly into Cancun or Santiago?
Prices for flights to both Santiago and Cancun 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 dayCancun $47Santiago $23
Typical Food Prices in Cancun
For Cancun, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two$20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cancun
For Cancun, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cancun Street Food Tour with Food Stalls, Local Market and Murals: $64
- Cancun Food Tour: Market 23, Local Flavors & Downtown Culture: $69
- Salsa Streets Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $69
- Tortilla Trails Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $69
- Cancun Food Tour - Taco Attack: Street Food & Tequila Tasting: $69
- Cancun Authentic Downtown Food Tour: Tacos and Local Flavors: $78
- Cancun Hands-On Mexican Cooking Class: $79
- Columbus Romantic Dinner in Cancún: $79
- Couples Special Price! Cancun Pirate Show with Dinner & Drinks: $80
- Pirate Night! Dinner, Fun and Show at Cancun Couples Special: $80
- Puerto Morelos Walking Food Tour: $81
- Couples Special Pirate Show & Dinner! Drinks, Adventure and Fun: $82
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$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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cancun $34Santiago $49
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cancun
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Cancun's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Seasick Pills$0.57
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Whale Shark Tour (for 2)$97
Tours and Activities in Cancun
For Cancun, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Cancun's Hidden Gems: A Self-Guided Tour: $8.15
- 7 Days Self Guided AI Audio Tours to Cancun and Yucatan: $12
- Speedboat jungle tour and snorkel: $15
- Discover Isla Mujeres tour with snorkel, buffet and open bar: $15
- Shared Speedboat and Snorkeling Adventure in Cancun: $15
- Cancun Beach Taco Tour Culinary Journey with Tequila Tasting: $15
- Tour in a Catamaran to Isla Mujeres with all included for the best price!: $16
- Isla Mujeres Full Day Catamaran Adventure from Cancun: $16
- Chichen Itza Full Day Tour With Cenote Swim: $16
- Full-Day Catamaran Tour to Isla Mujeres from Cancun with Lunch: $17
- Tour to Isla Mujeres with Snorkeling: $17
- Chichen Itza Tour Full day food included: $18
Tours and Activities in Santiago
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santiago are as follows:
- "Tour Tradicional" Viña Cousiño Macul Oficial español: $27
- 1 Day Tour of Isla Negra Algarrobo and Viña Undurraga from Santiago: $112
- 1 Day Tour of Viña Concha y Toro from Santiago: $120
- 1 Day Undurraga Vineyard Tour from Santiago: $120
- 1 Day Valparaiso and Vina del Mar Tour from Santiago: $51
- 3 Hours Santiago Blend Walking Tour: $30
- 6 Hour Tour of Culture, History and Flavors from Santiago: $75
- A Fabulous Walking tour by the Old Santiago of Chile -: $25
- A Private Tour of Santiago with an Experienced Local Guide: $162
- A full Private Tour of Valparaiso from Santiago: $238
- Adega Montes Guided Tour with Private Transportation: $300
- Adventure in Portillo: Laguna del Inca and Mountain Picnic: $100
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCancun $13Santiago $8.64
Sample the Local Flavors in Cancun
Also in Cancun, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Bar Crawl Madness Tour in Cancun: $115
- Brewery Tour Craft Beer Tasting Cancun Mexico: $130
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
When comparing the travel costs between Cancun and Santiago, we can see that Cancun 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 Cancun is in North America 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 Cancun Expensive? and Is Santiago Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cancun or Santiago?
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Cancun. When comparing the sizes of Cancun 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.
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.