Which place is cheaper, Santiago or Ho Chi Minh City?
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 Ho Chi Minh City 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 Ho Chi Minh City and Santiago can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Ho Chi Minh City or Santiago?
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, is the largest city in Vietnam. It previously served as the capital of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam). The metropolitan area, including Ho Chi Minh City, Thu Dau Mot, Di An, Bien Hoa, and other surrounding towns, has a population of more than 9 million people and continues to grow.
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 Historical Tours in Vietnam, The Best 10-Day Tours in Vietnam, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Chile.
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Ho Chi Minh City Prices
Vietnam PricesSantiago Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHo Chi Minh City $89Santiago $153
The average daily cost (per person) in Ho Chi Minh City 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 Ho Chi Minh City and Santiago in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHo Chi Minh City $48Santiago $111
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHo Chi Minh City $96Santiago $222
Compare Hotels in Ho Chi Minh City and Santiago
Looking for a hotel in Ho Chi Minh City 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: Ho Chi Minh City Hotel Prices and Santiago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ho Chi Minh City $15Santiago $5.49
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ho Chi Minh City
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Ho Chi Minh City:
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Short Taxi Ride$1.35
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Taxi From Airport$7.72
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Cyclo Ride (One Hour)$1.54
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ho Chi Minh City
Also for Ho Chi Minh City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Mui Ne Beach: Bus transfer from/to Saigon City: $8.00
- Ho Chi Minh: SGN Airport Private Transfer to/from City Center: $8.85
- Private transfer Tan Son Nhat airport - Hotels in Ho Chi Minh: $12
- Ho Chi Minh City airport transfer: $13
- Private Car Transfer: Cam Ranh Airport to Nha Trang City: $14
- Ho Chi Minh Airport: Private Transfer: $14
- Ho Chi Minh City Private Airport Transfers: $14
- Transfer from Ho Chi Minh to Phan Thiet or Mui Ne, Japan Quality: $14
- Ho Chi Minh Airport Arrival Or Departure Private Car Transfers: $15
- Private Transfer From Saigon Center To Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN): $16
- Ho Chi Minh to Ho Chi Minh City Airport (SGN) Departure Transfer: $16
- Ho Chi Minh Airport (SGN) to Ho Chi Minh hotels Arrival Transfer: $16
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:
- Private Scenic Transfer to Mendoza.: $467
- Airport Transfer and Halfday City tour Santiago de Chile: $362
- Private Transfer to Ski Centers: $299
- Private Transfer from Arturo Merino Benítez (SCL) Airport to Valparaíso: $293
- Santiago de Chile: Private Transfer to San Antonio / Port: $270
- Private Transfer to Sewell UNESCO Andes Town Tour with Lunch: $269
- Maipo Valley Wine Tour, Concha y Toro, Private Transfer from Santiago: $262
- Private cruise transfer: Puerto San Antonio or Valparaíso ↔ Santiago: $260
- Private Transfer Santiago Airport SCL to Vina Concon Valparaiso: $250
- Private Santiago, Visit Concha y Toro Winery and Transfer: $250
- Portillo and Laguna Del Inca, Exclusive Guide and Private Transfer: $250
- Villard Winery with exclusive guide + Premium Transfer: $220
Is it cheaper to fly into Ho Chi Minh City or Santiago?
Prices for flights to both Santiago and Ho Chi Minh City 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 dayHo Chi Minh City $23Santiago $23
Typical Food Prices in Ho Chi Minh City
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Ho Chi Minh City:
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Street Food Dinner (for Two)$4.13
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Pizza$5.01
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Sweet Rice$1.16
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Pork Sandwich$0.58
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$6.55
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Western Lunch (for Two)$11
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ho Chi Minh City
For Ho Chi Minh City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Ho Chi Minh City Local Street Food Tour With Local Students: $1.89
- Ho Chi Minh City Street Food Tour with Local LGBT Student Guide: $1.89
- Ho Chi Minh City Street Food Tour & Hidden Local Gems Sightseeing: $9.85
- 1 hour Egg Coffee Cooking Class with Snack and Local Instructor: $14
- Saigon Food Tour & Culture Explore Ho Chi Minh City Walking Tour: $15
- Mekong Delta 4 Islands, TukTuk, Boat, Try Khot Cake Local Cooking: $16
- Ho Chi Minh City Cyclo Ride with Lunch or Dinner Experience: $18
- Saigon Sightseeing & Street Food Tour By scooter with Student: $20
- Saigon Scooter Adventure - City Sights & Street Food Tour: $21
- Ho Chi Minh city Walking Chinatown / HCM city walking food tour: $25
- Saigon Walking Food Tour & Hidden Alleys with Locals: $26
- Street Food Tour In Ho Chi Minh City By Motorbike: $26
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.Ho Chi Minh City $19Santiago $48
Typical Entertainment Prices in Ho Chi Minh City
For Ho Chi Minh City, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Massage$5.40
Tours and Activities in Ho Chi Minh City
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ho Chi Minh City.
- Chinatown Hidden Treasures – Ho Chi Minh City Free Walking Tour: $0.63
- Pho-nomenal 10 Tastings - Saigon Street Food & Hidden Alleys Tour: $0.63
- Hidden Bunker & Vietnam War - Ho Chi Minh City Free Walking Tour: $0.63
- Highlights & Hidden Gems - Free Walking Tour: $0.63
- Ghosts & Legends of Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City Night Walking Tour: $0.63
- Ho Chi Minh City private walking tours with young local volunteers: $1.81
- Cu Chi Tunnels History And Mekong Delta Culture River Cruise Tour: $1.89
- Mekong Delta My Tho and Ben Tre with Boat Cruise Private Tour: $1.89
- Ho Chi Minh City Flexible Private Tour with Spa, City Highlights: $1.89
- 2-Day Mekong Delta Tour: Can Tho Floating Market, Flower Village: $1.89
- Private Long Tan Battlefield, Nui Dat Base and Vung Tau Day Tour: $1.89
- Phu My Port: Ho Chi Minh City Shore Excursion Tour With Massage: $1.89
Tours and Activities in Santiago
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santiago are as follows:
- 1 Day Tour of Viña Concha y Toro from Santiago: $120
- 1 Day Undurraga Vineyard Tour from Santiago: $120
- 1 Day Valparaiso and Vina del Mar Tour from Santiago: $51
- 3 Hours Santiago Blend Walking Tour: $30
- A Fabulous Walking tour by the Old Santiago of Chile -: $25
- A full Private Tour of Valparaiso from Santiago (Standard): $290
- An Architect's Tour of Downtown Santiago: $60
- Andean Adventure: Cajón del Maipo & El Morado Lodge and Spa: $147
- Andean Tour: $200
- Andes Day Lagoon: Embalse El Yeso Tour from Santiago: $120
- Andes Mountains Tour From Santiago with Appetizer: $180
- Andes Panoramico - Guided Sightseeing Tour from Santiago: $87
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHo Chi Minh City $7.71Santiago $8.52
Typical Alcohol Prices in Ho Chi Minh City
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Ho Chi Minh City:
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Beer$0.39
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 Ho Chi Minh City and Santiago, we can see that Santiago is more expensive. And not only is Ho Chi Minh City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ho Chi Minh City 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 Ho Chi Minh City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ho Chi Minh City 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 Ho Chi Minh City.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ho Chi Minh City Expensive? and Is Santiago Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ho Chi Minh City or Santiago?
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 40% larger than the population of Ho Chi Minh City. When comparing the sizes of Ho Chi Minh City 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.
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.