A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Cinque Terre vs. Santiago for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Cinque Terre or Santiago?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Cinque Terre or Santiago, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Cinque Terre or Santiago?

Cinque Terre

Located on the rugged Italian Riviera coastline, Cinque Terra consists of five seaside villages exuding a charm that dates back to medieval times. Fishing boats bob in the harbors, bringing fresh seafood to the tables of the region, while age old vineyards make for fragrant signature wines. Cinque Terre is considered to be a National Park, with its five villages earning a spot on the UNESCO World Heritage List for their beauty and timelessness.

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 Vineyard & Wine Tours in Italy, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Italy, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, and The Best Luxury Tours to Chile.


Which place is cheaper, Santiago or Cinque Terre?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Cinque Terre Prices
    Italy Prices
    Santiago Prices
    Chile Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Cinque Terre 170
    Santiago 138

The average daily cost (per person) in Cinque Terre is €170, while the average daily cost in Santiago is €138. 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 Cinque Terre and Santiago in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cinque Terre 72
    Santiago 101
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cinque Terre 144
    Santiago 202
Compare Hotels in Cinque Terre and Santiago

Looking for a hotel in Cinque Terre 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.

Hotels in Cinque Terre


Hotels in Santiago


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: Cinque Terre Hotel Prices and Santiago Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cinque Terre 16
    Santiago 4.98
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cinque Terre

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Cinque Terre:


  • Ferry Day Pass
    15

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Santiago

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Santiago:


  • Metro Ride
    1.04

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santiago

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santiago:

  • Villard Winery with exclusive guide + Premium Transfer: $220
  • Transfer to San Antonio port with Valparaiso & Casablanca tour: $95
  • Transfer in/out cruise to/from Santiago plus tour Valparaiso: $135
  • Transfer from Santiago Airport to Santiago Centro Commune: $52
  • Transfer by Electric Car SCL Airport Santiago, Chile: $61
  • Transfer Santiago-Viña del Mar / Viña del Mar-Santiago: $220
  • Transfer Santiago de Chile airport: $40
  • Transfer Santiago Airport to the commune of Providencia: $56
  • Transfer Parque Farellones Fullday 50%OFF: $59
  • Transfer From Portillo Ski center to Santiago Airport or Hotel: $97
  • Tour to Santiago and Valparaiso with Transfers included: $150
  • TRANSFER TRANSFER AIRPORT-VIÑA DEL MAR VALPARAISO: $143

Is it cheaper to fly into Cinque Terre or Santiago?

Prices for flights to both Santiago and Cinque Terre 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Cinque Terre 72
    Santiago 21
Typical Food Prices in Cinque Terre

For Cinque Terre, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Whole Pizza
    9.50
  • Panini
    3.75
  • Sitdown Dinner (for Two)
    52
  • Fresh Focaccia
    2.12

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cinque Terre

For Cinque Terre, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Home Cooking Class & Meal with a Local in Riomaggiore: $212
  • Cesarine: Sunset Spritz Masterclass with Dinner in Cinque Terre: $212

Typical Food Prices in Santiago

Some typical examples of dining costs in Santiago are as follows:


  • Empanada
    1.74
  • Hamburger
    2.30
  • Dinner
    24

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
  • Street Food Tour in Santiago with a Local Guide: $58
  • Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $82
  • 4-Hour Boozy Chilean Cooking Class in Santiago: $85
  • Food Tour STGO, Eat like Locals!: $99
  • Traditional Dinner Show in Santiago: $107
  • Lastarria Food Tour: Wine, Bites & Social Culinary Experience: $109
  • Santiago Food Tour: Bohemian Flavors and Local Gems: $109
  • Dinner Show in Bali Hai with Wine refill and transportation: $114
  • Small-Group Tour: Night City Tour with Santa Lucia Hill and Dinner Show: $116
  • Private Dinner & Chilean Folk Show with Transfers: $116
  • Alyan Winery Sunset with Wine Tastings and Dinner: $117

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cinque Terre 13
    Santiago 44
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cinque Terre

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Cinque Terre's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Double Kayak Rental (One Hour)
    10
  • Bagni Eden Beach Club Umbrella
    16
  • Cinque Terre Card (One Day)
    5.00
  • Cinque Terre Card (Three Days)
    12

Tours and Activities in Cinque Terre

For Cinque Terre, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Cinque Terre Pesto experience in Riomaggiore: $59
  • Marine Biology & Snorkelling Experience in the Cinque Terre: $63
  • Exclusive E-Bike Tour to Cinque Terre from Monterosso: $88
  • Kayak experience with Carnassa Tour in Cinque Terre + Snorkeling: $88
  • La Spezia: Cinque Terre Guided Hiking Tour: $94
  • Kayak tour from Monterosso to Vernazza: $103
  • Cinque Terre Boat Tour Departing from Monterosso: $105
  • 3 Hour One-Way Sunset Boat Tour from Monterosso to La Spezia: $112
  • 2-Hour Boat Tour at sunset in the Cinque Terre with Pesto tasting and focaccia: $112
  • Cinque Terre Boat Tour with Drinks & Pesto Tasting: $116
  • The heart of the 5 Terre: Monterosso and national park ebike tour: $117
  • Monterosso : Daily boat tours with drinks on board: $117

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 Viña Concha y Toro from Santiago: $120
  • 1 Day Undurraga Vineyard Tour from Santiago: $120
  • 6 Hour Tour of Culture, History and Flavors from Santiago: $75
  • A Private Tour of Santiago with an Experienced Local Guide: $180
  • A full Private Tour of Valparaiso from Santiago: $280
  • A historical tour of Santiago, Chile: $18
  • Adventure in Portillo: Laguna del Inca and Mountain Picnic: $100
  • All Santiago in One Day: Private Guided Tour: $250
  • An Architect's Tour of Downtown Santiago: $55
  • Andean Adventure: Cajón del Maipo & Santuario del Río Spa: $132
  • Andes Day Lagoon: Embalse El Yeso Tour from Santiago: $120

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cinque Terre 6.71
    Santiago 7.73
Typical Alcohol Prices in Cinque Terre

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Cinque Terre:


  • Glass of Local Wine
    2.90

Sample the Local Flavors in Cinque Terre

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Cinque Terre:

  • Pesto Class and Wine Tasting in Vernazza, Cinque Terre: $73
  • BarCa Winery Cinqueterre Trekking & Wine Tasting & Pesto Class: $77
  • Cinque terre wine tour and tasting with the somelier: $81
  • Private Tour of Cinque Terre's Wine tasting with a local: $156
  • Private Cinque Terre Walking Tour with Food and Wine Tastings: $163
  • Vineyard Tour with Wine Tasting in Cinque Terre: $188
  • Natural Wine Tasting with sea view in Riomaggiore: $212

Sample the Local Flavors in Santiago

Also in Santiago, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Traditional Wine Tour in Viña Cousiño Macul Official English: $27
  • Ludwig's Original Pub Crawl with VIP Club Entry: $34
  • "Premium Wine Tour" Viña Cousiño Macul Official english: $45
  • Premium Wine Tour in Viña Cousiño Macul Spanish official: $45
  • Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, with Casablanca Wine Tasting: $59
  • Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, with Wine Tasting: $60
  • Undurraga Winery Tour with Entry and Wine Tasting: $63
  • Undurraga Wine tour: $70
  • Santa Carolina History and Wine Tasting in Santiago: $70
  • Undurraga Wine Tasting Tour from Santiago: $75
  • Valparaiso Port and Viña del Mar with Casablanca Wine Tasting: $75
  • Half Day Trip to Undurraga Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $75


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cinque Terre and Santiago, we can see that Cinque Terre is more expensive. And not only is Santiago much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cinque Terre 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 Cinque Terre would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cinque Terre 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 Cinque Terre Expensive? and Is Santiago Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Cinque Terre or Santiago?

Santiago has a larger population, and is about 3080 times larger than the population of Cinque Terre. When comparing the sizes of Cinque Terre 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 Cinque Terre 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 Cinque Terre has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Cinque Terre or Santiago in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Cinque Terre as well as Santiago. Many travelers come to Cinque Terre for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Cinque Terre is generally a little warmer than Santiagoin January. Daily temperatures in Cinque Terre average around 24°C (75°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).

Cinque Terre usually gets more rain in July than Santiagoin January. Cinque Terre gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July and January
    Cinque Terre 24°C (75°F) 
    Santiago 21°C (70°F)

Should I visit Cinque Terre or Santiago in the Autumn?

Both Santiago and Cinque Terre are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Cinque Terre in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.

Cinque Terre is a little warmer than Santiago in the autumn. The daily temperature in Cinque Terre averages around 17°C (63°F) in October, and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F)in April.

It's quite rainy in Cinque Terre. In October, Cinque Terre usually receives more rain than Santiagoin April. Cinque Terre gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October and April
    Cinque Terre 17°C (63°F) 
    Santiago 15°C (59°F)

Should I visit Cinque Terre or Santiago in the Winter?

Both Santiago and Cinque Terre during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Cinque Terre for the shopping scene and the cuisine during these months.

In the winter, Cinque Terre is cooler than Santiago. Typically, the winter temperatures in Cinque Terre in January average around 8°C (46°F), and Santiago averages at about 9°C (48°F)in July.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Cinque Terre. Cinque Terre usually gets more rain in January than Santiagoin July. Cinque Terre gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January and July
    Cinque Terre 8°C (46°F) 
    Santiago 9°C (48°F)

Should I visit Cinque Terre or Santiago in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Cinque Terre and Santiago. The spring months attract visitors to Cinque Terre because of the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty.

In April, Cinque Terre is generally around the same temperature as Santiagoin October. Daily temperatures in Cinque Terre average around 14°C (57°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).

In April, Cinque Terre usually receives more rain than Santiagoin October. Cinque Terre gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April and October
    Cinque Terre 14°C (57°F) 
    Santiago 15°C (59°F)

Typical Weather for Santiago and Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre Santiago
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 8°C (46°F) 100 mm (3.9 in) 21°C (70°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
Feb 8°C (46°F) 95 mm (3.7 in) 20°C (68°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
Mar 11°C (52°F) 100 mm (3.9 in) 18°C (64°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
Apr 14°C (57°F) 85 mm (3.3 in) 15°C (59°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
May 18°C (64°F) 75 mm (3 in) 12°C (54°F) 50 mm (2 in)
Jun 22°C (72°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 9°C (48°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)
Jul 24°C (75°F) 30 mm (1.2 in) 9°C (48°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)
Aug 24°C (75°F) 80 mm (3.1 in) 10°C (50°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)
Sep 21°C (70°F) 100 mm (3.9 in) 12°C (54°F) 20 mm (0.8 in)
Oct 17°C (63°F) 150 mm (5.9 in) 15°C (59°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
Nov 12°C (54°F) 110 mm (4.3 in) 17°C (63°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
Dec 9°C (48°F) 80 mm (3.1 in) 20°C (68°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)