Which place is cheaper, Santiago or Helsinki?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Helsinki or Santiago?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Helsinki and Santiago can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Helsinki or Santiago?
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital of Finland and dates back to 1550. Helsinki is an international metropolis with a diverse population, but also a small town vibe. The city itself has a population of just over 600,000 but the metropolitan area, including Espoo and Vantaa, has a population of more than 1.3 million. There are many outdoor bars and cafes that take advantage of the warmer summer months. During this time there are long days, and the population floods into the street after a long and cold winter, so visiting during the summer is a fun and lively experience.
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 Finland, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Finland, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, and The Best Luxury Tours to Chile.
-
Helsinki Prices
Finland PricesSantiago Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHelsinki €164Santiago €128
The average daily cost (per person) in Helsinki is €164, while the average daily cost in Santiago is €128. 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 Helsinki and Santiago in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHelsinki €73Santiago €93
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHelsinki €146Santiago €186
Compare Hotels in Helsinki and Santiago
Looking for a hotel in Helsinki 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: Helsinki Hotel Prices and Santiago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Helsinki €22Santiago €4.60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Helsinki
Also for Helsinki, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Helsinki Airport (HEL) to Helsinki - Arrival Private Transfer: $70
- Helsinki Hotels to West Harbour Cruise Terminal - Deparure Private Transfer: $70
- Private Transfer from Helsinki Hotels to Helsinki Cruise Terminal: $70
- Private Transfer from Helsinki Cruise Terminal to Helsinki hotels: $70
- Private Transfer from Helsinki Airport (HEL) to Helsinki Port : $70
- Helsinki West Harbour Terminal to Helsinki hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $70
- Helsinki Airport (HEL) to Helsinki - Arrival Private Transfer : $70
- Minivan Departure Transfer Helsinki City to Helsinki Airport HEL: $79
- Private VIP Transfer in Helsinki: $82
- Private VIP Transfer from or to Helsinki Airport: $84
- Helsinki Private Airport & City Transfer: $90
- Private Transfer: Helsinki City to Cruise Port by Luxury Van: $102
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Santiago
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Santiago:
-
Metro Ride€0.96
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santiago
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santiago:
- Transfer to Valparaiso Cruise Terminal with Winery & Town Tour: $109
- Transfer to Snowy Valley fullday for skiers : $49
- Transfer to San Antonio port with Valparaiso & Casablanca tour: $87
- 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 Valle Nevado, Farellones, Colorado or La Parva ski: $100
- Transfer from Santiago Airport to Santiago Centro Commune: $52
- Transfer Santiago-Viña del Mar / Viña del Mar-Santiago: $220
- Transfer Santiago-Valparaiso / Valparaiso-Santiago: $220
- Transfer Santiago to Cruise Port in Valparaiso or San Antonio: $290
- Transfer Santiago de Chile airport: $40
- Transfer Santiago Airport to the commune of Providencia: $56
Is it cheaper to fly into Helsinki or Santiago?
Prices for flights to both Santiago and Helsinki 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
-
Food Meals for one dayHelsinki €59Santiago €19
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Helsinki
For Helsinki, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- FOOD Tour with Roof Top Bar in Helsinki: $119
- Helsinki Food Tour: A Culinary Experience with a Local: $275
Typical Food Prices in Santiago
Some typical examples of dining costs in Santiago are as follows:
-
Empanada€1.60
-
Hamburger€2.13
-
Dinner€22
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santiago
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Santiago.
- Legacy Family Tour Lunch or Dinner Pairing 4 Strokes: $40
- Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $82
- 4-Hour Boozy Chilean Cooking Class in Santiago: $85
- Bali Hai Dinner & Show, Transport and Wine refill: $106
- Dinner Show in Bali Hai with Wine refill and transportation: $114
- Private Dinner & Chilean Folk Show with Transfers: $116
- Alyan Winery Sunset with Wine Tastings and Dinner: $117
- Private Market Tour and Traditional Chilean Cooking Class in a Local Home: $122
- San Cristobal Hill Night Tour with Dinner Show: $129
- Bali Hai Polynesian Dinner Show with Transfer: $130
- Private Night City Tour with San Cristobal Hill And Dinner Show: $181
- Santiago Chilean and Peruvian Cooking Class with a Local Carol: $184
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Helsinki €27Santiago €40
Tours and Activities in Helsinki
For Helsinki, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Tip-based Tour of Helsinki - RED UMBRELLA - 2025: $3.61
- Tove Jansson's Helsinki Self Guided Tour: $11
- Helsinki Historical Highlights Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour : $11
- Capital of Contrasts: A Self Guided Audio Tour in Helsinki: $15
- A Finntastic Walking Tour in Helsinki: $24
- Sightseeing Cruise in Archipelago of Helsinki: $32
- Helsinki Canal Cruise: $33
- Hop-On Hop-Off City Tour: $42
- City Sightseeing Helsinki Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $42
- Helsinki Panorama Sightseeing Audio-Guided Bus Tour: $43
- Adventure Day: $48
- Explore Tallinn: Self-Guided Day Cruise from Helsinki: $49
Tours and Activities in Santiago
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santiago are as follows:
- Private Half-Day Guided Tour of the City of Santiago.: $280
- Private Sightseeing City Tour in Valparaíso and Viña del Mar: $240
- "Tour Tradicional" Viña Cousiño Macul Oficial español: $26
- 1 Day Tour of Viña Concha y Toro from Santiago: $120
- 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 full Private Tour of Valparaiso from Santiago : $240
- A historical tour of Santiago, Chile: $18
- An Architect's Tour of Downtown Santiago: $55
- Andean Adventure: Cajón del Maipo & Santuario del Río Spa: $132
- Andean Horse Ride Yerba Loca Sanctuary - Private tour from Santiago: $240
- Andes Day Lagoon in Cajón del Maipo & Embalse el Yeso Private Tour: $200
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayHelsinki €16Santiago €7.15
Sample the Local Flavors in Santiago
Also in Santiago, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Ludwig's Original Pub Crawl with VIP Club Entry: $34
- Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, with Wine Tasting: $60
- Undurraga Winery Tour with Entry and Wine Tasting: $63
- Undurraga Wine tour: $70
- Half Day Trip to Undurraga Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $70
- Valparaiso Port and Viña del Mar with Casablanca Wine Tasting: $79
- Valparaiso Port and Viña del Mar with wine tasting in Casablanca: $79
- Inca Lagoon and Vineyard Visit with Wine Tasting: $80
- Half Day Trip to Cousiño Macul Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $87
- Half Day Trip to Concha y Toro Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $87
- Maipo Valley Wine Tour with 4 vineyards from Santiago.: $89
- Kross Brewery Tour: A Craft Beer Tasting Experience: $93
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Helsinki and Santiago, we can see that Helsinki is more expensive. And not only is Santiago much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Helsinki 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 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 Helsinki would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Helsinki 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 Helsinki Expensive? and Is Santiago Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Helsinki or Santiago?
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Helsinki. When comparing the sizes of Helsinki 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 Helsinki 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 Helsinki has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Helsinki or Santiago in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Helsinki as well as Santiago. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Helsinki this time of year.
Helsinki is cooler than Santiago in the summer. The daily temperature in Helsinki averages around 17°C (62°F) in July, and Santiago fluctuates around 21°C (70°F)in January.
Helsinki usually gets more rain in July than Santiagoin January. Helsinki gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryHelsinki 17°C (62°F)Santiago 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Helsinki or Santiago in the Autumn?
Both Santiago and Helsinki are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Helsinki for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Helsinki is much colder than Santiago. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Helsinki in October average around 6°C (42°F), and Santiago averages at about 15°C (59°F)in April.
In October, Helsinki usually receives more rain than Santiagoin April. Helsinki gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilHelsinki 6°C (42°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Helsinki or Santiago in the Winter?
Both Santiago and Helsinki during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Helsinki in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Helsinki can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Helsinki is generally much colder than Santiagoin July. Daily temperatures in Helsinki average around -6°C (21°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
Helsinki usually gets less rain in January than Santiagoin July. Helsinki gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyHelsinki -6°C (21°F)Santiago 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Helsinki or Santiago in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Helsinki and Santiago. Most visitors come to Helsinki for the natural beauty during these months.
Helsinki can be very cold during spring. Helsinki is much colder than Santiago in the spring. The daily temperature in Helsinki averages around 3°C (37°F) in April, and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F)in October.
In April, Helsinki usually receives more rain than Santiagoin October. Helsinki gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberHelsinki 3°C (37°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Santiago and Helsinki
| Helsinki | Santiago | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -6°C (21°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | -7°C (20°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | -3°C (27°F) | 34 mm (1.4 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 3°C (37°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 9°C (49°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (59°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (62°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (60°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Sep | 11°C (51°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 6°C (42°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Nov | 1°C (33°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | -4°C (26°F) | 58 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.