Which place is cheaper, Santiago or Cartagena?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cartagena 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 Cartagena and Santiago can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Cartagena or Santiago?
Cartagena
The capital of the Bolivar Department of Colombia, Cartagena is one of the most visited cities in the country. It sits on Colombia's northern coast by the Caribbean Sea. It's a port city with a population of almost 900,000, making it the fifth largest city in Colombia. The city has a rich history and was the first Spanish colony on the American continent. It was also one of the first sanctuaries for freed African slaves in the Americas.
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 Adventure Tours to Colombia, The Best Eco Tours in Colombia, 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 dayCartagena $48Santiago $141
The average daily cost (per person) in Cartagena is $48, while the average daily cost in Santiago is $141. 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 Cartagena and Santiago in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCartagena $27Santiago $110
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCartagena $54Santiago $220
Compare Hotels in Cartagena and Santiago
Looking for a hotel in Cartagena 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: Cartagena Hotel Prices and Santiago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cartagena $7.64Santiago $5.41
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cartagena
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cartagena:
- Transfer from the Airport - Hotels in Marbella: $7.99
- Airport transfer to any hotel in Getsemani: $7.99
- Airport transfer to any hotel in Morros: $7.99
- Airport transfer to any hotel in Cartagena: $7.99
- Transfer aeropuerto-centro: $8.21
- Shared Transfer from the Airport to Cartagena City or Vice Versa: $10
- Cartagena Airport: Private Arrival or Departure Transfer: $10
- Cartagena:Transfer from the Airport - Hotels in the Bosque: $11
- Airport transfer to any hotel in Manga: $11
- Airport transfer to any hotel in Castillogrande: $11
- Transfer from the Airport to Hotels in Laguito: $11
- Bilingual Private Transfer In Cartagena : $12
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$1.13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santiago
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santiago:
- 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: $67
- Departure Private Transfers : Santiago to Santiago Airport SCL in Luxury Van: $84
- Departure Transfer - Hotel in Santiago to Santiago International Airport: $35
- From Farellones/Valle Nevado Roundtrip Transfer: $35
- From Valle Nevado and Farellones with Transfer: $71
- Pick up Santiago Visit Haras de Pirque Winery & Transfer Hotel: $300
- Private Round Trip Transfer on Santiago Of Chile City: $55
- Private Santiago Hotel or Airport Arrival Transfer to Viña del Mar or Valparaiso: $95
- Private Transfer From Santiago airport to San Antonio Pier or Valparaiso Pier : $251
- Private Transfer From The Hotel in Santiago City To the Airport: $29
Is it cheaper to fly into Cartagena or Santiago?
Prices for flights to both Santiago and Cartagena 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 dayCartagena $10Santiago $13
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cartagena
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cartagena.
- Featured in NYTimes > Arepas and Dancing: Danceable Cooking Class in Cartagena: $32
- Cooking class of typical food at the beach and sunset view: $39
- Taste Cartagena Food tour: $40
- Street Food Tour in Cartagena: $42
- Guided Street Food Tour with Tastings: $45
- Local Flavors Food Tour with Native Chef: $50
- Cruise by the Bay with Dinner and Wine: $55
- Private Dinner at a Local Chef's House in Cartagena: $58
- Cartagena Gourmet: Cooking Class with a View, Elegance & Flavor: $59
- Street food tour: $61
- Street Food & Local Food Tour: $67
- Street Food Tour in Cartagena Walled City and Getsemani: $74
Typical Food Prices in Santiago
Some typical examples of dining costs in Santiago are as follows:
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Empanada$1.89
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Hamburger$2.50
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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.
- Sunset Winery Tour with Wine Tastings and Dinner: $45
- Sunset at Alyan Family Wines Winery with Dinner: $92
- Traditional Dinner Show in Santiago: $107
- Small-Group Tour: Night City Tour with Santa Lucia Hill and Dinner Show: $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
- San Cristobal Hill Night Tour with Dinner Show: $129
- Private Tour: Santiago at Night with Dinner and Show: $131
- Private Night City Tour with San Cristobal Hill And Dinner Show: $131
- 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.Cartagena $22Santiago $47
Tours and Activities in Cartagena
Here are a few actual costs in Cartagena for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Emeralds Tour: $0.03
- Into the Walls of The City: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Cartagena de Indias: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - The Great Battle: Fort of San Felipe: $6.99
- Shared walking tour in the historic center: $9.95
- Emerald Museum and Factory Tour: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: The Rise of the Wall City Part I: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - Legends of the Streets of Downtown : $10
- Historic Free Tour Slavery and Gethsemane Heritage: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: Ghost of Downtown: Fear in the streets. : $10
- Republican Architecture Self-Guided Audio Tour in Cartagena: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour of Getsemaní Neighborhood: $10
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
- Santiago Cathedral's Bell Tower Official Tour: $9.00
- Cable Car Admission Ticket: $15
- La Paz from the Heights: Walking tour and Three Telefericos.: $20
- Cousiño Macul Official Winery Tour with Tasting: $23
- "Tour Tradicional" Viña Cousiño Macul Oficial español: $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
- History Walking Tour in Chile: $29
- Half Day tradicional city Tour: $30
- Private custom tour with a local guide: $33
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCartagena $9.39Santiago $8.41
Sample the Local Flavors in Cartagena
Also in Cartagena, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl with Dancing and Complimentary Drinks: $18
- Cartagena's Best Pub Crawl all included!: $20
- Cartagena Pub Crawl: Let's Party & Matching in Getsemaní: $20
- Pub Crawl Only Locals Have Fun In The Walled City: $35
- Pub Crawl: $70
- Nightlife Pub crawl in Cartagena: $73
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
- Undurraga Winery Tour with Entry and Wine Tasting: $50
- Concha y Toro Ticket and Tour with Wine Tasting: $50
- Undurraga Wine Tasting Tour from Santiago: $62
- Undurraga Wine tour: $63
- Half Day Trip to Undurraga Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $70
- From Concha y Toro Marqués Half-Day Wine Tasting: $89
- Private Tour: Undurraga Vineyard Experience with Premium Wine Tasting: $92
- 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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cartagena and Santiago, we can see that Santiago is more expensive. And not only is Cartagena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cartagena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cartagena 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 Cartagena.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cartagena Expensive? and Is Santiago Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cartagena or Santiago?
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Cartagena. When comparing the sizes of Cartagena 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 Cartagena or Santiago?
Santiago has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Cartagena experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Cartagena or Santiago in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Cartagena and Santiago. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cartagena year-round.
Cartagena is a little warmer than Santiago in the summer. The daily temperature in Cartagena averages around 29°C (84°F) in July, and Santiago fluctuates around 21°C (70°F)in January.
In July, Cartagena usually receives more rain than Santiagoin January. Cartagena gets 60 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 JanuaryCartagena 29°C (84°F)Santiago 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Cartagena or Santiago in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Cartagena as well as Santiago. Cartagena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the autumn, Cartagena is much warmer than Santiago. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Cartagena in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Santiago averages at about 15°C (59°F)in April.
Cartagena receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Cartagena usually gets more rain in October than Santiagoin April. Cartagena gets 150 mm (5.9 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 AprilCartagena 27°C (81°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Cartagena or Santiago in the Winter?
Both Santiago and Cartagena are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cartagena throughout the year.
In January, Cartagena is generally much warmer than Santiagoin July. Daily temperatures in Cartagena average around 27°C (81°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
In January, Cartagena usually receives less rain than Santiagoin July. Cartagena gets 10 mm (0.4 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 JulyCartagena 27°C (81°F)Santiago 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Cartagena or Santiago in the Spring?
Both Santiago and Cartagena during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Cartagena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Cartagena is much warmer than Santiago in the spring. The daily temperature in Cartagena averages around 28°C (82°F) in April, and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F)in October.
Cartagena usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Santiagoin October. Cartagena gets 10 mm (0.4 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 OctoberCartagena 28°C (82°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Santiago and Cartagena
| Cartagena | Santiago | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (84°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (84°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (84°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 30 mm (1.2 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.