Which place is cheaper, Santiago or Grand Cayman?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Grand Cayman or Santiago?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Grand Cayman and Santiago. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Grand Cayman or Santiago?
Grand Cayman
When people think of the Cayman Islands, they typically think of offshore bank accounts and sunny, cruise ship ports. Grand Cayman has more to offer travelers than a playground for the wealthy or a short stopover for cruise passengers. This tropical island is the largest of the three Cayman Islands, it is a shopper's heaven, a center for global finance and an ideal vacation spot.
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 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 dayGrand Cayman $214Santiago $141
The average daily cost (per person) in Grand Cayman is $214, 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 Grand Cayman and Santiago in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGrand Cayman $150Santiago $110
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGrand Cayman $300Santiago $220
Compare Hotels in Grand Cayman and Santiago
Looking for a hotel in Grand Cayman 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: Grand Cayman Hotel Prices and Santiago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Grand Cayman $31Santiago $5.41
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Grand Cayman
Also for Grand Cayman, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Privat Transfer from Owen Roberts Airport GCM to George Town Port: $53
- George Town Port to Owen Roberts Airport (GCM) - Departure Private Transfer: $53
- Private Transfer from George Town Port to George Town or 7-Mile: $53
- George Town Cruise Port to George Town or 7-Mile Beach -Arrival Private Transfer: $53
- George Town / 7- Mile Beach area to George Town Port -Departure Private Transfer: $53
- Private Transfer from George Town or 7 Mile to George Town Port: $53
- Private Transfer from George Town Port to Owen Roberts AirportGCM: $53
- Airport Transfer - Owen Roberts Intl Airport to GeorgeTown or Seven Mile Beach: $88
- George Town Port to George Town / 7-Mile Beach area -Round-Trip Private Transfer: $106
- Airport Transfers to North Side Accommodation (GCM Grand Cayman): $265
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:
- from Santiago airport private arrival transfer to the Valparaiso pier: $251
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Santiago APT-HTL (SCL): $51
- Transfer from or to the airport in Santiago, Chile: $60
- Transfer from Valparaiso or San Antonio Port + Condor Watching Tour: $230
- Transfer from Valle Nevado, Farellones, Colorado or La Parva ski to Santiago: $83
- 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 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
Is it cheaper to fly into Grand Cayman or Santiago?
Prices for flights to both Santiago and Grand Cayman 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 dayGrand Cayman $39Santiago $13
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 at Alyan Family Wines Winery with Dinner: $94
- Traditional Dinner Show in Santiago: $107
- Dinner Show in Bali Hai: $109
- Sunset Winery Tour with Wine Tastings and Dinner: $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.Grand Cayman $41Santiago $47
Tours and Activities in Grand Cayman
For Grand Cayman, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- West Bay Sightseeing Tour Plus Seven Mile Beach Visit: $45
- Stingraycity Adventure: $69
- Starfish and Stingray City Fun Tour with Reef Snorkeling- 3 stops: $69
- Stingray City Experience Plus One Snorkeling Stop: $69
- Stingray City Sandbar, Coral Gardens and 7-Mile Beach Tour: $70
- Stingray City Experience Plus Two Snorkeling Stops on Grand Cayman: $75
- Stingrays, Starfish and Snorkeling Tour: $75
- Grand Cayman Cruise: Starfish Point, Stingray City, Coral Garden: $80
- Acquarius Stingray City and Snorkel Tours: $80
- Grand Cayman - Bioluminescent Bay Tour: $95
- Cayman Adventure: Starfish Point, Stingray City and Coral Gardens: $99
- West Island Guided Tour with Entry Tickets: $120
Tours and Activities in Santiago
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santiago are as follows:
- Colchagua Valley Tour & Tasting: $270
- Private Half-Day Guided Tour of the City of Santiago.: $280
- "Tour Tradicional" Viña Cousiño Macul Oficial español: $23
- 2-Hour Walking Tour of Yungay The Coolest Neighborhood in Chile: $35
- 4 Hour Santa Rita Winery All inclusive Tour for Wine Lover: $269
- A Fabulous Walking tour by the Old Santiago of Chile -small group: $25
- 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
- Andean Tour: $158
- Andes Day Lagoon: Embalse El Yeso Tour from Santiago: $120
- Andes Half-Day Private Tour with Wine and Cheese Tasting: $190
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGrand Cayman $13Santiago $8.41
Typical Alcohol Prices in Grand Cayman
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Grand Cayman:
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Beer$4.97
Sample the Local Flavors in Grand Cayman
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Grand Cayman:
- Cayman Spirits Co. Distillery Tour Pass Ticket Only: $24
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 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
- Maipo Valley Wine Tour with 4 vineyards from Santiago.: $99
- From Maipo Valley Wine Tour: $99
- Private Tour: Viña del Mar and Valparaíso Tour with Wine Tasting in Casablanca Valley: $143
- Premium Wine Tasting and Tour at Santa Rita with Transport: $145
- Santa Rita: Ultra Premium Wine Tasting, Tour and Transport: $145
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Grand Cayman and Santiago, we can see that Grand Cayman is more expensive. And not only is Santiago much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Grand Cayman is in Caribbean Islands 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 Grand Cayman would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Grand Cayman 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 Grand Cayman Expensive? and Is Santiago Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Grand Cayman or Santiago?
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 160 times larger than the population of Grand Cayman. When comparing the sizes of Grand Cayman 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 Grand Cayman or Santiago?
Santiago has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Grand Cayman experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Grand Cayman or Santiago in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Grand Cayman as well as Santiago. Grand Cayman attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Grand Cayman is generally a little warmer than Santiagoin January. Daily temperatures in Grand Cayman average around 28°C (83°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
Grand Cayman receives a lot of rain in the summer. Grand Cayman usually gets more rain in July than Santiagoin January. Grand Cayman gets 179 mm (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 JanuaryGrand Cayman 28°C (83°F)Santiago 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Grand Cayman or Santiago in the Autumn?
Both Santiago and Grand Cayman are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Grand Cayman throughout the year.
Grand Cayman is much warmer than Santiago in the autumn. The daily temperature in Grand Cayman averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F)in April.
It's quite rainy in Grand Cayman. In October, Grand Cayman usually receives more rain than Santiagoin April. Grand Cayman gets 238 mm (9.4 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 AprilGrand Cayman 27°C (81°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Grand Cayman or Santiago in the Winter?
Both Santiago and Grand Cayman during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Grand Cayman because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the winter, Grand Cayman is much warmer than Santiago. Typically, the winter temperatures in Grand Cayman in January average around 24°C (76°F), and Santiago averages at about 9°C (48°F)in July.
Grand Cayman usually gets less rain in January than Santiagoin July. Grand Cayman gets 58 mm (2.3 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 JulyGrand Cayman 24°C (76°F)Santiago 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Grand Cayman or Santiago in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Grand Cayman and Santiago. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Grand Cayman year-round.
In April, Grand Cayman is generally much warmer than Santiagoin October. Daily temperatures in Grand Cayman average around 26°C (79°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
In April, Grand Cayman usually receives more rain than Santiagoin October. Grand Cayman gets 48 mm (1.9 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 OctoberGrand Cayman 26°C (79°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Santiago and Grand Cayman
| Grand Cayman | Santiago | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 131 mm (5.1 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 179 mm (7 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 172 mm (6.8 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 212 mm (8.3 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 238 mm (9.4 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 141 mm (5.6 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (78°F) | 57 mm (2.3 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.