Which place is cheaper, Santiago or Guilin?
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 Guilin 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 Guilin and Santiago can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Guilin or Santiago?
Guilin
Guilin is a city in Southern China situated on the west bank of the Li River with Hunan to the north. Its name means, "Forest of Sweet Osmanthus," owing to the large number of fragrant Sweet Osmanthus trees located in the city. Products like tea, sugar, and wine, can be made from the tree and are found in many shops throughout Guilin. A popular tourist destination, the city is renowned for its scenery of karst topography with unique mountains jutting out of the urban landscape.
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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, The Best Historical Tours in China, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Chile.
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Guilin Prices
China PricesSantiago Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGuilin $89Santiago $153
The average daily cost (per person) in Guilin is $89, while the average daily cost in Santiago is $153. 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 Guilin and Santiago in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGuilin $37Santiago $111
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGuilin $74Santiago $222
Compare Hotels in Guilin and Santiago
Looking for a hotel in Guilin 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: Guilin Hotel Prices and Santiago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Guilin $6.20Santiago $5.49
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Guilin
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Guilin are as follows:
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Taxi$2.97
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guilin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guilin:
- Private Departure Transfer from Hotel to Guilin Train Stations: $15
- One Way Transfer Service between Guilin city and airport: $17
- Guilin Transfer Services: Airport,train station & hotel: $18
- Private Departure Transfer: Downtown Guilin Hotel to Airport (KWL): $22
- Private Arrival Transfer: Guilin International Airport (KWL) to Downtown Hotel: $22
- [Airport Transfer] Haikou Airport ⇔ Haikou City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! *: $23
- Private Airport Transfer:Guilin Hotel to Guilin Liangjiang International Airport: $35
- Private Arrival Transfer: Guilin Train Stations to Yangshuo: $37
- Private Arrival Transfer: Guilin International Airport (KWL) to Yangshuo: $37
- Guilin Railway stations Transfer Service: $37
- Private Transfer from Guilin hotel to Yangshuo hotel: $37
- Guilin liangjiang Airport Chauffeur Service,Guilin Airport Transfer: $40
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:
- Airport Transfer and Halfday City tour Santiago de Chile: $362
- Airport Transfer: Airport SCL to Santiago by Business Car: $84
- Airport Transfer: Santiago to Airport SCL by Business Car: $84
- Airport transfer between Santiago city center and Arturo Merino Benítez Airport: $51
- Arrival Transfer from Santiago Airport SCL to Santiago de Chile: $82
- Arrival Transfer: Airport SCL to Santiago by Luxury Van: $104
- City tour santiago with excursion to valparaiso and airport transfer: $150
- Cruise Ship Transfer to Valparaiso Port with 6 Hour tour + Winery: $80
- Cruise Terminal Transfer from Valparaíso & Wine Tasting: $129
- Departure Transfer: Santiago to Airport SCL by Business Car: $84
- Maipo Valley Wine Tour, Concha y Toro, Private Transfer from Santiago: $262
- Portillo and Laguna Del Inca, Exclusive Guide and Private Transfer: $250
Is it cheaper to fly into Guilin or Santiago?
Prices for flights to both Santiago and Guilin 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 dayGuilin $42Santiago $23
Typical Food Prices in Guilin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Guilin:
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Fresh Coconut Drink$1.49
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guilin
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guilin.
- Wukong Guilin Neighborhood Food Tour: $69
- Full-Day Li-River with the 4 Star Boat and Yangshuo Cooking Tour: $286
- Countryside Cycling 1-day Tour with Cooking Class: $306
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.
- Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $56
- Mercado Meals Santiago Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $59
- 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 Chilean Show with Dinner and Private Transportation in Santiago: $107
- Lastarria Food Tour: Wine, Bites & Social Culinary Experience: $109
- Barrio Italia Food Tour with Tastings & Drinks: $119
- Traditional Dinner Show in Santiago: $119
- Private Market Tour and Traditional Chilean Cooking Class in a Local Home: $125
- San Cristobal Hill Night Tour with Dinner Show: $129
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Guilin $30Santiago $48
Typical Entertainment Prices in Guilin
Here are a few typical costs in Guilin for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entrance to the Caves$18
Tours and Activities in Guilin
Here are a few actual costs in Guilin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Guilin Yangshuo & Longji Rice Terrace 4 days tour: $21
- Gulong Gorge Outdoor Adventure Park Ticket: $35
- Li River cruise & Yangshuo countryside private day tour: $45
- City Tour with Elephant Hill & Ming Tea Tasting: $46
- Guilin Four lakes night cruise with the English speaking driver from Guilin hotel: $47
- Guilin City Center Walking Group Tour at Night for Three Hours: $50
- Kayaking Adventure with Local Guide(beginner friendly): $51
- Half-Day Self-Guided Yangshuo Xianggong Hill Sunrise Tour: $52
- 1-Day tour of Guilin-LiRiver cruise-Yangshuo Xianggong hill: $58
- Private Full-Day City Tour with Fubo Hill: $60
- Private day tour :Guilin-LiRiver bamboo boat-Yangshuo Highlights: $65
- 1-DAY Private Longji Rice Terraces and Minority Villages Tour: $68
Tours and Activities in Santiago
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santiago are as follows:
- Santiago-du-Chile Audio Guided Walking Tour 3h15 and 26 Audios: $6.91
- Santiago Cathedral's Bell Tower Official Tour: $11
- Historical Sights Walking Tour: $15
- Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino Admission Ticket: $17
- Cable Car Admission Ticket: $18
- History Walking Tour with a Local Guide: $21
- Guided Walking Tour of the Historical Old Town: $25
- A Fabulous Walking tour by the Old Santiago of Chile -: $25
- Santiago Sightseeing Tour: Living History and Local Food Tasting: $25
- Santiago : Highlights Walking Tour With A Guide: $25
- Guided City Tour through the historic center of Santiago: $25
- City Tour Santiago - Walking Tour: $29
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGuilin $6.16Santiago $8.52
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
- Cousiño Macul Heritage Wine Tour with Tastings: $25
- Pub Crawl with Unlimited Beer and Welcome Shots: $25
- Traditional Wine Tour in Viña Cousiño Macul Official English: $27
- Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, with Casablanca Wine Tasting: $50
- 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
- Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, with Wine Tasting: $75
- Concha y Toro Tour with Wine Tasting and Transport: $87
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Guilin and Santiago, we can see that Santiago is more expensive. And not only is Guilin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Guilin is in Asia 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 Guilin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Guilin 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 Guilin.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Guilin Expensive? and Is Santiago Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Guilin or Santiago?
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Guilin. When comparing the sizes of Guilin 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 Guilin 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 Guilin has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Guilin or Santiago in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Guilin and Santiago.
In the summer, Guilin is a little warmer than Santiago. Typically, the summer temperatures in Guilin in July average around 30°C (86°F), and Santiago averages at about 21°C (70°F)in January.
Guilin gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Guilin usually receives more rain than Santiagoin January. Guilin gets 206 mm (8.1 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryGuilin 30°C (86°F)Santiago 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Guilin or Santiago in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Guilin as well as Santiago.
In October, Guilin is generally a little warmer than Santiagoin April. Daily temperatures in Guilin average around 23°C (73°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
Guilin usually gets more rain in October than Santiagoin April. Guilin gets 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilGuilin 23°C (73°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Guilin or Santiago in the Winter?
Both Santiago and Guilin are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities.
Guilin is around the same temperature as Santiago in the winter. The daily temperature in Guilin averages around 10°C (49°F) in January, and Santiago fluctuates around 9°C (48°F)in July.
In January, Guilin usually receives less rain than Santiagoin July. Guilin gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyGuilin 10°C (49°F)Santiago 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Guilin or Santiago in the Spring?
Both Santiago and Guilin during the spring are popular places to visit.
In the spring, Guilin is a little warmer than Santiago. Typically, the spring temperatures in Guilin in April average around 20°C (68°F), and Santiago averages at about 15°C (59°F)in October.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Guilin. Guilin usually gets more rain in April than Santiagoin October. Guilin gets 263 mm (10.3 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberGuilin 20°C (68°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Santiago and Guilin
| Guilin | Santiago | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 10°C (49°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 11°C (51°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 15°C (59°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 20°C (68°F) | 263 mm (10.3 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 25°C (77°F) | 334 mm (13.2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 320 mm (12.6 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (86°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 30°C (86°F) | 168 mm (6.6 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Nov | 17°C (63°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (53°F) | 47 mm (1.9 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.