Which place is cheaper, Santiago or Cardiff?
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 Cardiff or Santiago?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cardiff or Santiago? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Cardiff or Santiago?
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital city of Wales, and a major port on the country's southern coast. Though Cardiff boomed with the coal industry during the Industrial Revolution, the city began its history as a Roman fort on the River Taff-perhaps taking its name from a combination of the Welsh word for fort (caer) and the name of the river (Taff). The fort still stands today along with many other landmarks that attract tourists each year.
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 Budget Tours to United Kingdom, The Best Tours for Seniors to United Kingdom, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Chile.
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Cardiff Prices
UK PricesSantiago Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCardiff £188Santiago £121
The average daily cost (per person) in Cardiff is £188, while the average daily cost in Santiago is £121. 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 Cardiff and Santiago in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCardiff £93Santiago £88
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCardiff £186Santiago £176
Compare Hotels in Cardiff and Santiago
Looking for a hotel in Cardiff 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: Santiago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cardiff £21Santiago £4.33
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cardiff
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cardiff:
- Bristol Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Cardiff: $10
- Gatwick Airport : Bus transferring to/from Cardiff: $13
- Heathrow Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Cardiff: $13
- Barry Accommodation to Cardiff Airport (CWL) - Departure Private Transfer: $33
- Newport Accommodation to Cardiff Airport (CWL) - Departure Private Transfer: $60
- Cardiff Airport (CWL) to Barry Accommodation - Arrival Private Transfer: $61
- Private Transfer from Holyhead Port to Manchester Airport (MAN): $102
- Cardiff Airport (CWL) to Newport - Arrival Private Transfer: $114
- Private Transfer from Mold to Manchester Airport (MAN): $125
- Cardiff; EV Airport Transfer Service: $134
- Cardiff Private Transfer from central Cardiff to Cardiff Airport: $163
- Cardiff Airport (CWL) to Cardiff - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $174
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£0.91
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 to Airport SCL by Business Car: $83
- Airport Transfer: Santiago to Santiago Airport SCL by Luxury Van: $103
- Arrival Transfer: Airport SCL to Santiago by Luxury Van: $103
- City Tour Santiago with Exclusive Guide + Private Transfer: $270
- 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 de Chile to Santiago Airport SCL: $82
- Departure Transfer: Santiago to Airport SCL by Business Car: $83
- Departure Transfer: Santiago to Airport SCL by Luxury Van: $103
- Portillo and Laguna Del Inca, Exclusive Guide and Private Transfer: $250
Is it cheaper to fly into Cardiff or Santiago?
Prices for flights to both Santiago and Cardiff 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 dayCardiff £76Santiago £18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cardiff
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cardiff.
- City Flavors Guided Food Tour with 8 Tastings: $119
Typical Food Prices in Santiago
Some typical examples of dining costs in Santiago are as follows:
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Empanada£1.51
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Hamburger£2.01
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Dinner£21
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
- Street Food Tour in Santiago with a Local Guide: $57
- 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
- Food Tour STGO, Eat like Locals!: $99
- Local Food Tour with Tastings & Drinks: $99
- Traditional Chilean Show with Dinner and Private Transportation in Santiago: $107
- Santiago Food Tour: Bohemian Flavors and Local Gems: $109
- Barrio Italia Food Tour with Tastings & Drinks: $119
- Private Market Tour and Traditional Chilean Cooking Class in a Local Home: $125
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cardiff £25Santiago £38
Tours and Activities in Cardiff
Here are a few actual costs in Cardiff for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Llandaff's Ghosts: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Essential Caerphilly: Explore the town’s history on a self-guided audio tour: $6.22
- Cardiff Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.31
- Tudor A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- Cardiff’s Bay and Waterfront: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- The Ghosts of St Fagans: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- Cardiff Bay Private Self-Guided Tour: $11
- Llanberis, Conwy and Caernarfon Castle: A Self-Guided Driving Tour of Snowdonia: $15
- Audio Tour of Cardiff’s Bay and Barrage: $15
- Techniquest Science & Discovery Centre Entry Ticket: $17
- 30 Minute Axe Throwing Experience in Llangollen: $19
- 30 Minute Archery Experience in Llangollen: $19
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
- Guided Walking Tour of the Historical Old Town: $25
- Santiago Sightseeing Tour: Living History and Local Food Tasting: $25
- Guided Tour of Santiago de Chile History and Culture: $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
- Santiago Half Day Culture Walking Tour: $27
- Roots and Tales of the Capital with City Tour of Santiago: $27
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCardiff £13Santiago £6.73
Sample the Local Flavors in Cardiff
Also in Cardiff, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Gin Tour at Hensol Castle Distillery: $32
- Guided Bar Crawl with Shots and Nightclub Entry: $34
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
- Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, with Casablanca Wine Tasting: $59
- Valparaiso, Viña del Mar & Casablanca Wine Tour: $61
- Valparaiso, Viña del Mar & Casablanca Wine Tour: $62
- Undurraga Winery Tour with Entry and Wine Tasting: $70
- Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, with Wine Tasting: $75
- Undurraga Wine Tasting Tour from Santiago: $75
- Valparaiso Port and Viña del Mar with Casablanca Wine Tasting: $75
- Half Day Trip to Cousiño Macul Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $87
- Concha y Toro Tour with Wine Tasting and Transport: $87
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cardiff and Santiago, we can see that Cardiff is more expensive. And not only is Santiago much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cardiff is in Europe 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 Santiago would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santiago 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 Cardiff would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cardiff than you might in Santiago.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cardiff Expensive? and Is Santiago Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cardiff or Santiago?
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Cardiff. When comparing the sizes of Cardiff 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 Cardiff 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 Cardiff has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Cardiff or Santiago in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Cardiff and Santiago. Most visitors come to Cardiff for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Cardiff is cooler than Santiago in the summer. The daily temperature in Cardiff averages around 17°C (63°F) in July, and Santiago fluctuates around 21°C (70°F)in January.
In July, Cardiff usually receives more rain than Santiagoin January. Cardiff gets 62 mm (2.4 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 JanuaryCardiff 17°C (63°F)Santiago 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Cardiff or Santiago in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Cardiff as well as Santiago. The autumn months attract visitors to Cardiff because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Cardiff is cooler than Santiago. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Cardiff in October average around 11°C (52°F), and Santiago averages at about 15°C (59°F)in April.
Cardiff receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Cardiff usually gets more rain in October than Santiagoin April. Cardiff gets 101 mm (4 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 AprilCardiff 11°C (52°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Cardiff or Santiago in the Winter?
Both Santiago and Cardiff are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Cardiff this time of year.
It's quite cold in Cardiff in the winter. In January, Cardiff is generally much colder than Santiagoin July. Daily temperatures in Cardiff average around 3°C (38°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
In January, Cardiff usually receives more rain than Santiagoin July. Cardiff gets 95 mm (3.7 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 JulyCardiff 3°C (38°F)Santiago 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Cardiff or Santiago in the Spring?
Both Santiago and Cardiff during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Cardiff for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
Cardiff is much colder than Santiago in the spring. The daily temperature in Cardiff averages around 9°C (48°F) in April, and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F)in October.
Cardiff usually gets more rain in April than Santiagoin October. Cardiff gets 47 mm (1.9 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 OctoberCardiff 9°C (48°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Santiago and Cardiff
| Cardiff | Santiago | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (38°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 4°C (40°F) | 70 mm (2.7 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (42°F) | 80 mm (3.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 9°C (48°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 12°C (53°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (59°F) | 57 mm (2.3 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (63°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Sep | 14°C (58°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (52°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | 5°C (40°F) | 96 mm (3.8 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.