Which place is cheaper, Santiago or Hofn?
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 Hofn or Santiago?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Hofn 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: Hofn or Santiago?
Hofn
Hofn is a very small fishing town on the southeast of Iceland, measuring just over half a mile across. It is best known for being located in the beautiful Vatnajokull Region, where the largest glacier in Europe is located. Hofn, and the surrounding area, is full of breathtaking natural scenery including lagoons, icefalls, and mountains.
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 Northern Lights Tours in Iceland, The Best Luxury Tours to Iceland, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, and The Best Luxury Tours to Chile.
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Hofn Prices
Iceland PricesSantiago Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHofn $207Santiago $150
The average daily cost (per person) in Hofn is $207, while the average daily cost in Santiago is $150. 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 Hofn and Santiago in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHofn $113Santiago $109
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHofn $226Santiago $218
Compare Hotels in Hofn and Santiago
Looking for a hotel in Hofn 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: Hofn Hotel Prices and Santiago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hofn $31Santiago $5.41
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:
- Private Scenic Transfer to Mendoza.: $467
- Airport Transfer and Halfday City tour Santiago de Chile: $362
- Private Santiago Visit Haras de Pirque Winery & Transfer Hotel: $300
- Private Transfer San Antonio Cruise from Santiago to Valparaiso: $300
- Transfer Santiago to Cruise Port in Valparaiso or San Antonio: $290
- Transfer Private hotel to Cruise ship in Puerto San Antonio or Valparaiso: $270
- Santiago de Chile : private transfer in SUV to Viña del mar or Valparaíso: $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 Transfer from Arturo Merino Benítez (SCL) Airport to Viña del Mar: $261
- Private Transfer From Santiago airport to San Antonio Pier or Valparaiso Pier : $251
- Santiago Airport (SCL) to Santo Domingo - Round-Trip Transfer: $240
Is it cheaper to fly into Hofn or Santiago?
Prices for flights to both Santiago and Hofn 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 dayHofn $73Santiago $23
Typical Food Prices in Santiago
Some typical examples of dining costs in Santiago are as follows:
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Empanada$1.88
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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.
- 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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hofn $20Santiago $47
Tours and Activities in Hofn
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Hofn.
- Ice Cave Tour in the National Park of Vatnajökull: $157
- The Orignal Ice Cave Tour in Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon: $164
- Sapphire Ice Cave Tour from Jökulsárlón - Extra Small Group: $170
- Crystal Ice Cave Tour from Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon: $182
- Frozen Wonders : Small Group Ice Cave Tour: $200
- Crystal Ice Cave Adventure : $203
- 3 Hours Blue Ice Experience in Vatnajokull : $214
- Sindri’s Ice Cave Photography Tour: A Local’s Perspective: $215
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
- 6 Hour Tour of Culture, History and Flavors from Santiago: $75
- 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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHofn $13Santiago $8.40
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 Hofn and Santiago, we can see that Hofn is more expensive. And not only is Santiago much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Hofn 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 Hofn would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hofn 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 Hofn Expensive? and Is Santiago Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hofn or Santiago?
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 2850 times larger than the population of Hofn. When comparing the sizes of Hofn 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 Hofn 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 Hofn has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Hofn or Santiago in the Summer?
Both Santiago and Hofn during the summer are popular places to visit.
Hofn is much colder than Santiago in the summer. The daily temperature in Hofn averages around 9°C (48°F) in July, and Santiago fluctuates around 21°C (70°F)in January.
Hofn usually gets more rain in July than Santiagoin January. Hofn gets 77 mm (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 JanuaryHofn 9°C (48°F)Santiago 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Hofn or Santiago in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Hofn and Santiago.
Hofn can get quite cold in the autumn. In the autumn, Hofn is much colder than Santiago. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Hofn in October average around 4°C (40°F), and Santiago averages at about 15°C (59°F)in April.
Hofn gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Hofn usually receives more rain than Santiagoin April. Hofn gets 153 mm (6 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 AprilHofn 4°C (40°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Hofn or Santiago in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Hofn as well as Santiago.
Hofn can be very cold during winter. In January, Hofn is generally much colder than Santiagoin July. Daily temperatures in Hofn average around -0°C (31°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
Hofn receives a lot of rain in the winter. Hofn usually gets more rain in January than Santiagoin July. Hofn gets 138 mm (5.4 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 JulyHofn -0°C (31°F)Santiago 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Hofn or Santiago in the Spring?
Both Santiago and Hofn are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
The weather in Hofn can be very cold. Hofn is much colder than Santiago in the spring. The daily temperature in Hofn averages around 2°C (36°F) in April, and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F)in October.
In April, Hofn usually receives more rain than Santiagoin October. Hofn gets 83 mm (3.3 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 OctoberHofn 2°C (36°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Santiago and Hofn
| Hofn | Santiago | |||
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| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -0°C (31°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 0°C (32°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 0°C (32°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 2°C (36°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 5°C (40°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 8°C (46°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 9°C (48°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 9°C (48°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Sep | 7°C (44°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 4°C (40°F) | 153 mm (6 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Nov | 1°C (34°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | -0°C (32°F) | 124 mm (4.9 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.