Which place is cheaper, Santiago or La Fortuna?
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 La Fortuna or Santiago?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for La Fortuna and Santiago. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: La Fortuna or Santiago?
La Fortuna
La Fortuna is in San Carlos, in the province of Alajuela. It is the closest town to Arenal Volcano, and the area is often simply refered to as Arenal. The volcano itself is active and has been constantly erupting since 1968. It erupts on average 41 times a day. This area of northern Costa Rica is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the country.
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 Adventure Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Eco Tours in Costa Rica, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Chile.
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La Fortuna Prices
Costa Rica PricesSantiago Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLa Fortuna $138Santiago $146
The average daily cost (per person) in La Fortuna is $138, while the average daily cost in Santiago is $146. 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 La Fortuna and Santiago in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLa Fortuna $57Santiago $106
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLa Fortuna $114Santiago $212
Compare Hotels in La Fortuna and Santiago
Looking for a hotel in La Fortuna 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: La Fortuna Hotel Prices and Santiago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.La Fortuna $23Santiago $5.24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Fortuna
Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Fortuna:
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Arenal San Carlos: $43
- Transfer From Liberia Airport To Arenal La Fortuna San Carlos: $48
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport to Arenal La Fortuna: $48
- Costa Rica Scenic Transfer to or from La Fortuna -Arenal Volcano: $50
- Shared Transfer from La Fortuna to Liberia Airport: $50
- Transfer From Liberia Airport To Arenal La Fortuna San Carlos: $54
- White Water Tubing Tour with Guide and Transfers: $65
- From One way shared transfer to Monteverde: $74
- From San Jose: One way shared transfer to La Fortuna: $74
- Arenal Volcano Hiking Tour with Hotel Transfers: $76
- Guided Tour to Arenal Mistico Hanging Bridges with Transfer: $79
- La Fortuna Arenal to Liberia Airport (LIR) Private VIP Transfer: $95
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$1.09
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santiago
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santiago:
- Private Transfer to/from Santiago Airport (SCL): $15
- Private Transfer from Santiago Airport (SCL): $24
- Private Transfer to Santiago Airport (SCL): $24
- Transfer to Concha y Toro Winery: $30
- Private Santiago Airport to Santiago Transfer: $32
- Arrival Transfer - Santiago International Airport to Hotel in Santiago: $35
- Private Arrival Transfer from Airport to Hotel in Santiago: $37
- Private Airport Transfer: Santiago Airport (SCL) → Hotel: $37
- Private Transfer from Santiago Hotel to SCL Airport: $40
- Private Airport Transfer: Santiago Airport SCL to Hotel: $40
- Santiago de Chile Airport Transfer: $40
- Valle Nevado Ski Day Trip with Hotel Transfers: $42
Is it cheaper to fly into La Fortuna or Santiago?
Prices for flights to both Santiago and La Fortuna 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 dayLa Fortuna $53Santiago $22
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Fortuna
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in La Fortuna.
- Traditional cooking lesson with a local family: $37
- Sloth Tour in La Fortuna and Tortillas Cooking Class: $38
- Farm to Table Cooking Class: $43
- Typical Costa Rican Cooking Classes in La Fortuna: $48
- Traditional cooking class with local family: $50
- Organic Farm Visit & Farm-to-Table Cooking Class: $50
- Costa Rican Cooking Class: $57
- Costa Rican cuisine Cooking Class at Rancho Don Lelo: $60
- Costa Rica The Chela Cooking Experience: $65
- 3-Hour Costa Rican Cooking Class with Dinner: $68
- Arenal Boat Tour & Pirate Hot Springs Dinner: $69
- Private typical cooking class with a Costa Rican family: $70
Typical Food Prices in Santiago
Some typical examples of dining costs in Santiago are as follows:
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Empanada$1.82
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Hamburger$2.42
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Dinner$25
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santiago
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Santiago.
- Best Santiago Street Food Tour with 4+ Tastings and Drink: $56
- 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
- Local Food Tour with Tastings & Drinks: $99
- Traditional Chilean Show with Dinner and Private Transportation 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.La Fortuna $49Santiago $46
Tours and Activities in La Fortuna
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Fortuna are as follows:
- Arenal Volcano - Ecological Park Entrance Ticket: $17
- La Fortuna Waterfall Admission Ticket: $20
- Skip-the-Line La Fortuna Waterfall Admission Ticket: $20
- PRIVATE EXCLUSIVE GUARANTEED Sloth Watching Tour: $23
- Café Experience in Bijagua: $25
- Arenal Park Self-Guided Experience: $27
- La Fortuna Herbal Tea Experience and Medicinal Plant Tour: $27
- La Fortuna Morning Birdwatching Tour on a Private Forest: $28
- Sloths Frogs and Wildlife Primary Night Walk Tour: $28
- Sunrise Birdwatching Tour on a Private Reserve: $29
- La Fortuna Night Walk: Sloths, Frogs & Wildlife Tour: $29
- ARENAL FORTUNA CITY TOUR .: $30
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: $6.73
- 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 Tour of Santiago de Chile History and Culture: $25
- Santiago Sightseeing Tour: Living History and Local Food Tasting: $25
- Guided Walking Tour of the Historical Old Town: $25
- Guided City Tour through the historic center of Santiago: $25
- Santiago : Highlights Walking Tour With A Guide: $25
- "Tour Tradicional" Viña Cousiño Macul Oficial portugués: $27
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLa Fortuna $12Santiago $8.13
Sample the Local Flavors in La Fortuna
Also in La Fortuna, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Wine Tasting Experience: $135
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
- Tour Viña Santa Carolina in Santiago with 3 wine tasting: $53
- Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, with Casablanca Wine Tasting: $55
- Valparaiso, Viña del Mar & Casablanca Wine Tour: $61
- Valparaiso, Viña del Mar & Casablanca Wine Tour: $65
- Undurraga Winery Tour with Entry and Wine Tasting: $70
- Valparaiso Port and Viña del Mar with Casablanca Wine Tasting: $75
- Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, with Wine Tasting: $75
- Half Day Trip to Undurraga Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $75
- Concha y Toro Tour with Wine Tasting and Transport: $87
When comparing the travel costs between La Fortuna and Santiago, we can see that Santiago is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though La Fortuna is in Central America and Santiago is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is La Fortuna Expensive? and Is Santiago Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, La Fortuna or Santiago?
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 1610 times larger than the population of La Fortuna. When comparing the sizes of La Fortuna 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 La Fortuna or Santiago?
Santiago has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but La Fortuna experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit La Fortuna or Santiago in the Summer?
Both Santiago and La Fortuna are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to La Fortuna throughout the year.
La Fortuna is a little warmer than Santiago in the summer. The daily temperature in La Fortuna averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Santiago fluctuates around 21°C (70°F)in January.
It's quite rainy in La Fortuna. In July, La Fortuna usually receives more rain than Santiagoin January. La Fortuna gets 164 mm (6.5 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 JanuaryLa Fortuna 28°C (82°F)Santiago 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit La Fortuna or Santiago in the Autumn?
Both Santiago and La Fortuna during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to La Fortuna because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the autumn, La Fortuna is much warmer than Santiago. Typically, the autumn temperatures in La Fortuna in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Santiago averages at about 15°C (59°F)in April.
It rains a lot this time of the year in La Fortuna. La Fortuna usually gets more rain in October than Santiagoin April. La Fortuna gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year. December to April is the dry season in La Fortuna. Also, the hurricane season in La Fortuna is May to November.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilLa Fortuna 27°C (81°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit La Fortuna or Santiago in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both La Fortuna and Santiago. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to La Fortuna year-round.
In January, La Fortuna is generally much warmer than Santiagoin July. Daily temperatures in La Fortuna average around 27°C (81°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
In January, La Fortuna usually receives less rain than Santiagoin July. La Fortuna gets 8 mm (0.3 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 JulyLa Fortuna 27°C (81°F)Santiago 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit La Fortuna or Santiago in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to La Fortuna as well as Santiago. La Fortuna attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
La Fortuna is much warmer than Santiago in the spring. The daily temperature in La Fortuna averages around 29°C (85°F) in April, and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F)in October.
La Fortuna usually gets more rain in April than Santiagoin October. La Fortuna gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, December to April in La Fortuna is the dry season. Keep in mind that May to November is the hurricane season in La Fortuna.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberLa Fortuna 29°C (85°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Santiago and La Fortuna
| La Fortuna | Santiago | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 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.