Which place is cheaper, Santiago or Kyoto?
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 Kyoto 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 Kyoto 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: Kyoto or Santiago?
Kyoto
Kyoto is a larger city of Japan, though it is very much set in the old ways. With quiet temples, sublime gardens, colorful shrines, and geisha walking amidst a city surrounded by stunning mountains, Kyoto feels like a world of another time and place. True to ancient Japanese tradition, most aspects of daily life are tied closely with the changing of the seasons.
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 from Tokyo, The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Chile.
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Kyoto Prices
Japan PricesSantiago Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKyoto $111Santiago $154
The average daily cost (per person) in Kyoto is $111, while the average daily cost in Santiago is $154. 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 Kyoto and Santiago in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKyoto $62Santiago $112
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKyoto $124Santiago $224
Compare Hotels in Kyoto and Santiago
Looking for a hotel in Kyoto 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: Kyoto Hotel Prices and Santiago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kyoto $7.35Santiago $5.55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kyoto
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kyoto:
- Naruto & Boruto at Nijigen no Mori Entry & Transfer: $47
- Private departure transfer from Kyoto city to Osaka Itami International airport: $77
- Private departure transfer from Kyoto city to Kansai International airport: $106
- Kansai Airport(KIX)to/from Osaka or Kyoto Private Transfer: $109
- Arashiyama Kinkakuji Quiet Trail E-Bike Tour with Hotel Transfer: $122
- Kyoto Gion & Fushimi E-Bike Tour with Hotel Transfer: $122
- Shared Departure Transfer : Kyoto City to Kansai International Airport: $126
- Departure Transfer from Kyoto to Itami Airport ITM by Minivan: $130
- Private Transfer from Maizuru Cruise Port to Osaka Airport (ITM): $138
- Kyoto hotels to Kansai Airport (KIX) - Departure Private Transfer: $140
- Kyoto to Osaka Kansai Airport (KIX) - Departure Private Transfer: $165
- Osaka Hotel Private Transfer to or from Kyoto Hotel: $206
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$1.16
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: Santiago Airport SCL to Santiago by Luxury Van: $99
- Airport Transfer: Santiago to Airport SCL by Business Car: $80
- Arrival Transfer - Santiago International Airport to Hotel in Santiago: $35
- Arrival Transfer: Airport SCL to Santiago by Luxury Van: $99
- City tour santiago with excursion to valparaiso and airport transfer: $150
- Cruise Ship Transfer to Valparaiso Port with 6 Hour tour + Winery: $89
- Cruise Terminal Transfer from Valparaíso & Wine Tasting: $129
- Departure Transfer: Santiago to Airport SCL by Luxury Van: $99
- Maipo Valley Wine Tour, Concha y Toro, Private Transfer from Santiago: $262
- Portillo and Laguna Del Inca, Exclusive Guide and Private Transfer: $250
- Private 15-Passenger Premium Airport Transfer – Santiago (SCL): $190
Is it cheaper to fly into Kyoto or Santiago?
Prices for flights to both Santiago and Kyoto 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 dayKyoto $40Santiago $23
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kyoto
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kyoto.
- Kyoto Nishiki Market Food Tour Hidden Tastings and Local Insights: $42
- Kyoto Izakaya Hopping: Pontocho & Gion Local Food Tour: $46
- Kyoto Nishiki Market & Depachika: 2-hours Food Tour with a Local: $48
- Kyoto Home Cooking Class Okonomiyaki and Japanese Cuisines: $51
- Future Train Kyoto Diner & Cafe Night Parade Dinner Party: $51
- Nishiki Market Food Tour-7 Tastings: $51
- Plant Based Ramen and Gyoza Cooking Class in Kyoto: $57
- Private Cooking Class Udon in Kyoto Japan: $59
- Japanese Cooking Class: $59
- T9 Kyoto Night Food Tour in Gion and Pontocho: $64
- Gion Food Tour 13 Dishes at 4 Eateries: $67
- Sushi - Authentic Japanese Cooking Class - the best souvenir from Kyoto!: $71
Typical Food Prices in Santiago
Some typical examples of dining costs in Santiago are as follows:
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Empanada$1.94
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Hamburger$2.57
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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
- Best Santiago Street Food Tour with 4+ Tastings and Drink: $58
- 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 Dinner Show in Santiago: $107
- Small-Group Tour: Night City Tour with Santa Lucia Hill and Dinner Show: $116
- Barrio Italia Food Tour with Tastings & Drinks: $119
- Private Market Tour and Traditional Chilean Cooking Class in a Local Home: $125
- San Cristobal Hill Night Tour with Dinner Show: $129
- Dinner Show in Bali Hai with Wine refill and transportation: $129
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kyoto $13Santiago $49
Tours and Activities in Kyoto
Here are a few actual costs in Kyoto for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Hidden Temples in Kyoto a Self-Guided Zen Tour: $3.53
- Kyoto Self-Guided Audio Experience: $6.00
- Family Mitsui House Museum with green tea admission ticket: $7.06
- Tea Ceremony Experience (includes Matcha grinding demonstration): $8.15
- Kyoto Self Guided Walking Tour Gion Alleys with Audio and Quiz: $8.23
- Kyoto Traditional Kintsugi Repair Experience in Central Kyoto: $8.51
- Kyoto Fushimi Inari Taisha Walking Tour with Audioguide: $10
- Nidec Kyoto Tower Observation Deck Admission Ticket: $15
- Kyoto Sightseeing Pass E ticket: $15
- Ticket to Sake Tasting Night in Fushimi: $16
- Gion 160y.o. Building Tour with Matcha & kimono: $16
- Kyoto Tower Higashi Honganji and Shōseien Garden walking tour: $17
Tours and Activities in Santiago
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santiago are as follows:
- 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
- A Fabulous Walking tour by the Old Santiago of Chile -: $25
- Guided Walking Tour of the Historical Old Town: $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
- "Tour Tradicional" Viña Cousiño Macul Oficial español: $27
- City Tour Santiago - Walking Tour: $29
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKyoto $12Santiago $8.62
Sample the Local Flavors in Kyoto
Also in Kyoto, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Kyoto Nightlife Pub Crawl with Drinks and Karaoke: $27
- Kyoto's Sake District Brewery Tour and Tasting: $40
- Kyoto Night Pub Crawl: Pontocho & Gion Hidden Alley Bars Tour: $42
- Kyoto sake brewery experience tour (Includes 4 sake tastings): $80
- 3-Hour Kyoto Insider Sake Brewery Tour with Tastings & Pairings: $82
- Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo, Temple, Monkey or Local Mountain Brewery: $87
- Fushimi Cherry Blossom and Sake Brewery Tour: $95
- Fushimi Sake Brewery Tour - 18 Tastings in 2.5 Hours: $109
- Kyoto Kyo-Yuzen Craft Workshop Day Tour and Sake Brewery Visit: $141
- Private Kyoto Sake Brewery Tour: Certified Expert & Inside Access: $154
- Visit Whisky Distillery Tour from Kyoto: $225
- Kyoto Sake Brewery Tour with Lunch: $227
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
- Pub Crawl with Unlimited Beer and Welcome Shots: $25
- Cousiño Macul Heritage Wine Tour with Tastings: $25
- Traditional Wine Tour in Viña Cousiño Macul Official English: $27
- "Premium Wine Tour" Viña Cousiño Macul Official english: $45
- Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, with Casablanca Wine Tasting: $55
- 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
- Undurraga Wine Tasting Tour from Santiago: $75
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kyoto and Santiago, we can see that Santiago is more expensive. And not only is Kyoto much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kyoto 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 Kyoto would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kyoto 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 Kyoto.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kyoto Expensive? and Is Santiago Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kyoto or Santiago?
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Kyoto. When comparing the sizes of Kyoto 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 Kyoto 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 Kyoto has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Kyoto or Santiago in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Kyoto and Santiago. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Kyoto this time of year.
Kyoto is a little warmer than Santiago in the summer. The daily temperature in Kyoto averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Santiago fluctuates around 21°C (70°F)in January.
Kyoto gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Kyoto usually receives more rain than Santiagoin January. Kyoto gets 236 mm (9.3 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 JanuaryKyoto 27°C (81°F)Santiago 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Kyoto or Santiago in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Kyoto as well as Santiago. Many travelers come to Kyoto for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Kyoto is a little warmer than Santiago. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kyoto in October average around 18°C (64°F), and Santiago averages at about 15°C (59°F)in April.
Kyoto receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Kyoto usually gets more rain in October than Santiagoin April. Kyoto gets 111 mm (4.4 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 AprilKyoto 18°C (64°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Kyoto or Santiago in the Winter?
Both Santiago and Kyoto are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Kyoto in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Kyoto can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Kyoto is generally much colder than Santiagoin July. Daily temperatures in Kyoto average around 5°C (40°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
In January, Kyoto usually receives less rain than Santiagoin July. Kyoto gets 50 mm (2 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 JulyKyoto 5°C (40°F)Santiago 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Kyoto or Santiago in the Spring?
Both Santiago and Kyoto during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Kyoto for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.
Kyoto is around the same temperature as Santiago in the spring. The daily temperature in Kyoto averages around 14°C (58°F) in April, and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F)in October.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kyoto. Kyoto usually gets more rain in April than Santiagoin October. Kyoto gets 153 mm (6 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 OctoberKyoto 14°C (58°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Santiago and Kyoto
| Kyoto | Santiago | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 5°C (40°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 5°C (41°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (47°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 14°C (58°F) | 153 mm (6 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 19°C (67°F) | 154 mm (6 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 23°C (73°F) | 251 mm (9.9 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 18°C (64°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | 7°C (45°F) | 40 mm (1.6 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.