Which place is cheaper, Santiago or Guayaquil?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Guayaquil or Santiago?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Guayaquil 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: Guayaquil or Santiago?
Guayaquil
Guayaquil is Ecuador's largest city and seaport. From a tourist perspective, the city acts primarily as a transportation gateway to the country and the Galapagos Islands. While the city can be skipped altogether, should you have a free day to spend here, there are a few noteworthy things to do, as well as some terrific dining and nightlife options. Guayaquil’s main tourist attraction is Las Penas, a hill with old, colorfully painted buildings at the north end of the Malecon, where you can walk the 400 steps to the lighthouse at the top for good views of the city. The neighborhood is filled with cafes, bars, restaurants, and art galleries and is relatively safe. Other important sights include the Malecon 2000, a massive urban development project that has brought new life to the riverside in the city center and the Parque Seminario, filled with fountains, trees and iguanas, located at 10 de Agosto Ave and Chile Ave.
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 G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador, 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 dayGuayaquil $95Santiago $141
The average daily cost (per person) in Guayaquil is $95, 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 Guayaquil and Santiago in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGuayaquil $32Santiago $110
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGuayaquil $64Santiago $220
Compare Hotels in Guayaquil and Santiago
Looking for a hotel in Guayaquil 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: Guayaquil Hotel Prices and Santiago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Guayaquil $15Santiago $5.41
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guayaquil
Also for Guayaquil, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Guayaquil Airport to Hotel or vice versa: $12
- Guayaquil PRIVATE Departure Transfer from Hotels to the Airport.: $17
- Guayaquil PRIVATE Arrival Transfer from the Airport to Hotels: $17
- Guayaquil PRIVATE Arrival Transfer from the Airport to Hotels: $18
- Private Airport Transfer from Guayaquil Airport to Hotel: $20
- Private Transfer Out From Hotel to Guayaquil Airport: $25
- Private Transfers to and from the Airport in Guayaquil: $25
- Guayaquil Airport GYE to Guayaquil city -Arrival Private Transfer: $29
- Shared transfer from Hotel to Airport in Guayaquil: $47
- Shared transfer from Guayaquil Airport to Hotel: $47
- Guayaquil Airport (GYE) to Guayaquil hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $52
- Guayaquil Airport(GYE) to Guayaquil - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $59
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:
- Visit Montes Winery (7th World Best Wine) & Transfer to Hotel: $300
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Santiago APT-HTL (SCL): $51
- Transfer in Private Minivan from Santiago de Chile City - Santiago Airport (SCL): $50
- Transfer in Private Minivan from Santiago Airport (SCL) - Santiago de Chile City: $49
- 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 To Valle Nevado Private for small groups: $250
- Transfer Santiago to Cruise Port in Valparaiso or San Antonio: $250
Is it cheaper to fly into Guayaquil or Santiago?
Prices for flights to both Santiago and Guayaquil 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 dayGuayaquil $29Santiago $13
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guayaquil
For Guayaquil, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Half Day Guayaquil Culinary Adventure, Cacao Cooking Class: $185
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: $95
- Traditional Dinner Show in Santiago: $107
- Sunset Alyan + 6 wines + savory board + rustic dinner + dessert: $119
- 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.Guayaquil $21Santiago $47
Tours and Activities in Guayaquil
For Guayaquil, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Shared Walking Tour in Guayaquil City: $35
- City Tour Guayaquil: $40
- Guayaquil City Tour: $40
- Self-guided walking tour of Guayaquil's landmarks.: $45
- Private Experience of Flavors and Wine Pairing in Guayaquil: $52
- From Montañita: Paragliding Experience: $55
- City Tour with Hotel Pickup and Drop-off: $63
- Guayaquil to Cuenca one-way tour with Cajas Park and a Cacao Farm visit: $74
- City Tour around Guayaquil: $75
- Private Guayaquil City Tour and Parque Historico: $80
- Guayaquil City Tour Including the Light House of Cerro Santa Ana: $80
- Guayaquil Layover Sightseeing Tour with Round-Trip Airport Transport: $82
Tours and Activities in Santiago
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santiago are as follows:
- Private Adventure at 4200 meters above sea level in the Chilean Andes Cerro Pintor: $300
- Private Half-Day Guided Tour of the City of Santiago.: $280
- 4 Hour Santa Rita Winery All inclusive Tour for Wine Lover: $269
- 4-hour city tour of Santiago in small groups: $80
- 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
- Andes Sunset: shared tour with Asado in the mountain: $90
- Andes Tour to Portillo Inca Lagoon with San Esteban Vineyard Empanada & Wine: $119
- Andes Whitewater Rafting Adventure plus Winery Tour and Tasting: $199
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGuayaquil $17Santiago $8.41
Sample the Local Flavors in Guayaquil
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Guayaquil:
- Wine Tasting Experience with Tasting Menu: $55
- Taste and discover the factory of a craft brewery: $65
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
- Premium Wine Tasting in Santiago de Chile: $77
- From Concha y Toro Marqués Half-Day Wine Tasting: $89
- Private Tour: Undurraga Vineyard Experience with Premium Wine Tasting: $92
- From Maipo Valley Wine Tour: $99
- Concha y Toro semi-private tour with 3 wine tastings: $99
- Maipo Valley Wine Tour with 4 vineyards from Santiago.: $99
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Guayaquil and Santiago, we can see that Santiago is more expensive. And not only is Guayaquil much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Guayaquil would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Guayaquil 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 Guayaquil.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Guayaquil Expensive? and Is Santiago Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Guayaquil or Santiago?
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Guayaquil. When comparing the sizes of Guayaquil 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 Guayaquil or Santiago?
Santiago has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Guayaquil experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Guayaquil or Santiago in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Guayaquil as well as Santiago. Guayaquil attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Guayaquil is generally around the same temperature as Santiagoin January. Daily temperatures in Guayaquil average around 23°C (73°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
Guayaquil receives a lot of rain in the summer. Guayaquil usually gets more rain in July than Santiagoin January. Guayaquil gets 110 mm (4.3 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 JanuaryGuayaquil 23°C (73°F)Santiago 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Guayaquil or Santiago in the Autumn?
Both Santiago and Guayaquil are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Guayaquil throughout the year.
Guayaquil is much warmer than Santiago in the autumn. The daily temperature in Guayaquil averages around 23°C (73°F) in October, and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F)in April.
In October, Guayaquil usually receives more rain than Santiagoin April. Guayaquil gets 90 mm (3.5 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 AprilGuayaquil 23°C (73°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Guayaquil or Santiago in the Winter?
Both Santiago and Guayaquil during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Guayaquil because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the winter, Guayaquil is much warmer than Santiago. Typically, the winter temperatures in Guayaquil in January average around 28°C (82°F), and Santiago averages at about 9°C (48°F)in July.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Guayaquil. Guayaquil usually gets more rain in January than Santiagoin July. Guayaquil gets 190 mm (7.5 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 JulyGuayaquil 28°C (82°F)Santiago 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Guayaquil or Santiago in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Guayaquil and Santiago. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Guayaquil year-round.
In April, Guayaquil is generally much warmer than Santiagoin October. Daily temperatures in Guayaquil average around 28°C (82°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
Guayaquil gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Guayaquil usually receives more rain than Santiagoin October. Guayaquil gets 120 mm (4.7 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 OctoberGuayaquil 28°C (82°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Santiago and Guayaquil
| Guayaquil | Santiago | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (73°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (77°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 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.