Which place is cheaper, Santiago or Cozumel?
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 Cozumel 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 Cozumel and Santiago can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Cozumel or Santiago?
Cozumel
Cozumel is a Caribbean island just off the Yucatan Peninsula. It'as a popular tourist destination because of its beautiful beaches and excellent snorkeling and scuba diving. With crystal clear waters and vibrant colored coral, Cozumel is one of the most popular dive destinations in the area. The island's economy is centered around tourism, and as such, you'll find plenty of amenities for visitors. The prices are comparable to other coastal towns in the area and there is no shortage of activities or attractions nearby.
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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, The Best Adventure Tours to Mexico, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Chile.
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Cozumel Prices
Mexico PricesSantiago Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCozumel $130Santiago $154
The average daily cost (per person) in Cozumel is $130, while the average daily cost in Santiago is $154. 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 Cozumel and Santiago in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCozumel $67Santiago $112
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCozumel $134Santiago $224
Compare Hotels in Cozumel and Santiago
Looking for a hotel in Cozumel 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: Cozumel Hotel Prices and Santiago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cozumel $22Santiago $5.55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cozumel
Also for Cozumel, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Cozumel Airport to Hotel Private Transfer by Car: $24
- Atv Jungle Ride sin transfer: $49
- Cozumel to Mexico Cozumel Airport (CZM)Departure Private Transfer: $49
- Mexico Cozumel Airport (CZM) to Cozumel -Arrival Private Transfer: $49
- ATV tour to jade cavern with transfer (single or double): $55
- Cozumel Mayan Experience And Beach Getaway with Transfer: $55
- Off Road ATV Tour with Caverns, Cedral & Beach Time with Transfer: $56
- Cozumel Jungle ATV Tour Adventure and Caverns with transfer: $65
- Private One Way Transfer from Cozumel to Cozumel Airport: $66
- Private One Way Transfer from Cozumel Airport to Cozumel: $66
- Wild Jade Cavern ATV Tour With Transfer: $70
- Mexico Cozumel Airport (CZM) to Cozumel Cruise Port - Arrival Private Transfer: $75
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:
- Private Scenic Transfer to Mendoza.: $467
- Airport Transfer and Halfday City tour Santiago de Chile: $362
- Private Transfer to Ski Centers: $299
- Santiago de Chile: Private Transfer to San Antonio / Port: $270
- Private Transfer to Sewell UNESCO Andes Town Tour with Lunch: $269
- Maipo Valley Wine Tour, Concha y Toro, Private Transfer from Santiago: $262
- Private cruise transfer: Puerto San Antonio or Valparaíso ↔ Santiago: $260
- Private Transfer from Arturo Merino Benítez (SCL) Airport to San Antonio: $255
- Private Transfer Santiago Airport SCL to Vina Concon Valparaiso: $250
- Private Santiago, Visit Concha y Toro Winery and Transfer: $250
- Portillo and Laguna Del Inca, Exclusive Guide and Private Transfer: $250
- Private Transfer San Antonio Cruise from Santiago to Valparaiso: $250
Is it cheaper to fly into Cozumel or Santiago?
Prices for flights to both Santiago and Cozumel 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 dayCozumel $40Santiago $23
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cozumel
For Cozumel, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Authentic Mayan Cooking Class in Cozumel: $61
- Private Mexican Trompitos Cooking Class in Cozumel: $80
- Cozumel Small-Group Food Tour: Eat Like a Local: $85
- Kuza Beach & Flavors Experience-Mexican cooking Class & Beach Day: $89
- Under the Stars Twilight Snorkel and Seaside Dinner at Money Bar: $90
- Cozumel Food Tour: $90
- Romantic Gourmet Dinner Experience at Pirate Ship in Cozumel: $120
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$26
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santiago
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Santiago.
- Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $56
- Best Santiago Street Food Tour with 4+ Tastings and Drink: $58
- 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
- Local Food Tour with Tastings & Drinks: $99
- Traditional Dinner Show in Santiago: $107
- Small-Group Tour: Night City Tour with Santa Lucia Hill and Dinner Show: $116
- Barrio Italia Food Tour with Tastings & Drinks: $119
- Private Market Tour and Traditional Chilean Cooking Class in a Local Home: $125
- San Cristobal Hill Night Tour with Dinner Show: $129
- Dinner Show in Bali Hai with Wine refill and transportation: $129
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cozumel $42Santiago $49
Tours and Activities in Cozumel
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cozumel.
- Cozumel!! Guacamole And Margarita Fiesta!!! ( Virtual Experience): $12
- Skip the Line: Admission Ticket to El Cedral Town and Mayan Temple: $16
- Transparent Boat Tour in See Marine Life Up Close: $19
- Chankanaab Experience from Snack Bar Lindas: $27
- Clear Boat Adventure and Snorkeling Tour Underwater World: $28
- Cozumel's Reefs in El Cielo, Palancar and Columbia Guided Tour: $29
- Snorkel into Heaven Palancar Columbia and El Cielo Experience: $29
- Cozumel El Cielo Snorkeling Reef and Marine Experience: $29
- Transparent Boat Experience Cozumel & Snorkeling on Colorful Reef: $29
- Cozumel Snorkel Tour to El Cielo, Palancar and Columbia: $29
- Cozumel Snorkeling Tour: Palancar, Columbia and El Cielo Reefs: $29
- Crystal Boat Trip and Snorkeling Tour from Cozumel: $29
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 Valparaiso and Vina del Mar Tour from Santiago: $51
- 2-Hour Walking Tour of Yungay The Coolest Neighborhood in Chile: $35
- 3 Hours Santiago Blend Walking Tour: $30
- A Fabulous Walking tour by the Old Santiago of Chile -: $25
- 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: $60
- Andean Adventure: Cajón del Maipo & El Morado Lodge and Spa: $147
- Andes Day Lagoon in Cajón del Maipo & Embalse el Yeso Private Tour: $270
- Andes Day Lagoon: Embalse El Yeso Tour from Santiago: $120
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCozumel $11Santiago $8.62
Sample the Local Flavors in Cozumel
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cozumel:
- Downtown Cozumel & Brewery: $79
- Downtown Cozumel and Brewery Experience: $89
- Rum and Gin at Cozumel First Distillery: $99
- Cozumel Mixology Experience at Distillery: $109
- Cozumel 5-Hour Private Bar Crawl Tour: $110
- Cozumel Rum Tasting & Distillery Experience: $119
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
- Traditional Wine Tour in Viña Cousiño Macul Official English: $27
- "Premium Wine Tour" Viña Cousiño Macul Official english: $45
- Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, with Casablanca Wine Tasting: $55
- Valparaiso, Viña del Mar & Casablanca Wine Tour: $61
- Valparaiso, Viña del Mar & Casablanca Wine Tour: $62
- Valparaiso Port and Viña del Mar with Casablanca Wine Tasting: $68
- Valparaíso and Vineyard of the Sea with Casablanca Wine Tasting: $68
- Undurraga Winery Tour with Entry and Wine Tasting: $70
- Undurraga Wine Tasting Tour from Santiago: $75
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cozumel and Santiago, we can see that Santiago is more expensive. And not only is Cozumel much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cozumel is in North America 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 Cozumel would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cozumel 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 Cozumel.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cozumel Expensive? and Is Santiago Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cozumel or Santiago?
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Cozumel. When comparing the sizes of Cozumel 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.