Which place is cheaper, Santiago or Gothenburg?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Gothenburg or Santiago?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Gothenburg 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: Gothenburg or Santiago?
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second largest city in Sweden with a population of about 500,000. It is located on the western coast at the edge of the Gota River. It's a very friendly and welcoming city with a great vibe. Part of its energy comes from the Gothenburg University, which, with over 60,000 students, is the largest university in the country. Historically, Gothenburg has working class roots which are still apparent today, particularly in the city's harbour area. Recently there has been a growing number of expensive restaurants and cafes, showing that the demographic continues to evolve.
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 10-Day Tours in Sweden, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Sweden, 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 dayGothenburg $98Santiago $143
The average daily cost (per person) in Gothenburg is $98, while the average daily cost in Santiago is $143. 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 Gothenburg and Santiago in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGothenburg $40Santiago $111
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGothenburg $80Santiago $222
Compare Hotels in Gothenburg and Santiago
Looking for a hotel in Gothenburg 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: Gothenburg Hotel Prices and Santiago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Gothenburg $18Santiago $5.48
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gothenburg
Also for Gothenburg, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Landvetter Airport Bus Transfer Arrival: $15
- Landvetter Airport Bus Transfer Departure: $15
- Transfer From Gothenburg Hotel To Gothenburg Museum of Art: $32
- Private Transfer from Gothenburg Airport (GOT) to Goteborg Port: $50
- Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) to Goteborg City - Arrival Private Transfer: $55
- Goteborg City to Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) - Departure Private Transfer: $55
- Private Transfer from Goteborg Cruise Port to Gothenburg City: $65
- Private Transfer from Gothenburg city to Goteborg Cruise Port: $65
- Private Transfer From Gothenburg Landvetter Airport to Gothenburg Hotels: $95
- Gothenburg Private Transfer from Central Gothenburg to Gothenburg Airport: $95
- Private Transfer Gothenburg Airport GOT to Gothenburg by Sedan: $102
- Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) to Goteborg City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $109
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$1.15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santiago
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santiago:
- from Santiago airport private arrival transfer to the Valparaiso pier: $251
- Visit Montes Winery (7th World Best Wine) & Transfer to Hotel: $300
- Transfer from or to the airport in Santiago, Chile: $60
- Transfer from Santiago to Portillo Ski Center: $160
- Transfer from Santiago To Valle Nevado, Farellones, Colorado or La Parva ski: $83
- Transfer from Santiago Airport to Santiago Centro Commune: $52
- Transfer To Valle Nevado Private for small groups: $250
- Transfer Santiago to Cruise Port in Valparaiso or San Antonio: $250
- Transfer Santiago Airport to the commune of Providencia: $56
- Transfer Santiago - Viña del Mar: $210
- Transfer Santiago - Valparaíso: $210
- Transfer Privado Entre Santiago Y El Aeropuerto: $52
Is it cheaper to fly into Gothenburg or Santiago?
Prices for flights to both Santiago and Gothenburg 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 dayGothenburg $38Santiago $13
Typical Food Prices in Santiago
Some typical examples of dining costs in Santiago are as follows:
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Empanada$1.91
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Hamburger$2.54
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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.
- Traditional Chilean Show with Dinner and Private Transportation in Santiago: $107
- Traditional Dinner Show in Santiago: $107
- Dinner Show in Bali Hai: $109
- Sunset at Alyan Family Wines Winery with Dinner: $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
- 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.Gothenburg $16Santiago $48
Tours and Activities in Gothenburg
For Gothenburg, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Universeum Entry Ticket: $21
- Gothenburg 24-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Ticket: $30
- Hop-On Hop-Off 24-Hour Sightseeing Boat: $30
- Lilla Bommen: 4-Hour Guided Boat Tour to Vinga Island: $31
- City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $31
- Land & Water Amphibious Bus Sightseeing Tour: $31
- 24h Gothenburg Hop-On Hop-Off Boat Tour: $32
- City Sightseeing Gothenburg Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $32
- Paddan Sightseeing Cruise on the Savean River: $33
- Guided boat tour to Vinga in Gothenburg: $33
- Archipelago cruise with guide: $37
- Entry Ticket To Gothenburg Museum of art with pickup: $37
Tours and Activities in Santiago
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santiago are as follows:
- Experience Wildlife Encounter in Provincia Mountain of Chile.: $235
- Private Adventure at 4200 meters above sea level in the Chilean Andes Cerro Pintor: $300
- 4 Hour Santa Rita Winery All inclusive Tour for Wine Lover: $269
- A Private Tour of Valparaiso with an experienced local guide.: $195
- Adventure and Viewpoints in Cajón del Maipo: $255
- Andean Horse Ride Yerba Loca Sanctuary - Private tour from Santiago: $240
- Andes Day Lagoon: Embalse El Yeso Tour from Santiago: $120
- Andes Day Volcano 8k Private Tour : $230
- Andes Half-Day Private Tour with Wine and Cheese Tasting: $190
- Andes Sunset: shared tour with Asado in the mountain: $90
- Andes Whitewater Rafting Adventure plus Winery Tour and Tasting: $199
- Authentic Andes Adventure: Private Horse Riding and Cheese & Wine: $150
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGothenburg $21Santiago $8.51
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
- Concha y Toro Ticket and Tour with Wine Tasting: $50
- Undurraga Winery Tour with Entry and Wine Tasting: $50
- Undurraga Wine tour: $63
- Half Day Trip to Undurraga Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $70
- Private Tour: Santa Rita Vineyard with Wine Tastings: $72
- From Concha y Toro Marqués Half-Day Wine Tasting: $89
- 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
- Colchagua Premium Wine Tour from Santiago: $145
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Gothenburg and Santiago, we can see that Santiago is more expensive. And not only is Gothenburg much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Gothenburg 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 Gothenburg would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Gothenburg 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 Gothenburg.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Gothenburg Expensive? and Is Santiago Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Gothenburg or Santiago?
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Gothenburg. When comparing the sizes of Gothenburg 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 Gothenburg 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 Gothenburg has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Gothenburg or Santiago in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Gothenburg as well as Santiago.
In July, Gothenburg is generally cooler than Santiagoin January. Daily temperatures in Gothenburg average around 16°C (61°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
Gothenburg usually gets more rain in July than Santiagoin January. Gothenburg gets 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryGothenburg 16°C (61°F)Santiago 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Gothenburg or Santiago in the Autumn?
Both Santiago and Gothenburg are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.
Gothenburg is much colder than Santiago in the autumn. The daily temperature in Gothenburg averages around 9°C (47°F) in October, and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F)in April.
In October, Gothenburg usually receives more rain than Santiagoin April. Gothenburg gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilGothenburg 9°C (47°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Gothenburg or Santiago in the Winter?
Both Santiago and Gothenburg during the winter are popular places to visit.
It's quite cold in Gothenburg in the winter. In the winter, Gothenburg is much colder than Santiago. Typically, the winter temperatures in Gothenburg in January average around -2°C (29°F), and Santiago averages at about 9°C (48°F)in July.
Gothenburg usually gets less rain in January than Santiagoin July. Gothenburg gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyGothenburg -2°C (29°F)Santiago 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Gothenburg or Santiago in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Gothenburg and Santiago.
In April, Gothenburg is generally much colder than Santiagoin October. Daily temperatures in Gothenburg average around 5°C (41°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
In April, Gothenburg usually receives more rain than Santiagoin October. Gothenburg gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberGothenburg 5°C (41°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Santiago and Gothenburg
| Gothenburg | Santiago | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -2°C (29°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | -2°C (29°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 1°C (34°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 5°C (41°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 11°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (59°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 16°C (61°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (60°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (54°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 9°C (47°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Nov | 4°C (38°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | 0°C (32°F) | 75 mm (3 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.