Which place is cheaper, Santiago or La Plata?
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 Plata 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 La Plata and Santiago can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: La Plata or Santiago?
La Plata
Just over an hour from Buenos Aires, the bustling university city of La Plata is notable for being South America's first planned city. Indeed, also known as the City of Diagonal, La Plata's intricate grid system includes diagonal streets that run through it, contributing to easy navigation but confusing intersections.La Plata is the Capital of the Province of Buenos Aires, the main Argentine state, so you will find lots of elaborate government buildings alongside leafy green plazas in this laid back as well as active city. La Plata is a happening university town with a population of over 700,000. You can walk the width of it in under an hour, stopping at trendy craft beer bars, local music joints, and great restaurants along the way. Also, football is a religion in Argentina and if you're looking for some local atmosphere, La Plata is the place to go! Two of Argentina's biggest football teams, Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata and Estudiantes de La Plata challenge each other each year. If you are around during that special day for the city, you will witness thousands of fans wearing the relevant colours heading off to watch the match and parade by calle 7.
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 Argentina, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Argentina, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, and The Best Luxury Tours to Chile.
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La Plata Prices
Argentina PricesSantiago Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLa Plata $65Santiago $161
The average daily cost (per person) in La Plata is $65, while the average daily cost in Santiago is $161. 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 Plata and Santiago in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLa Plata $50Santiago $117
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLa Plata $100Santiago $234
Compare Hotels in La Plata and Santiago
Looking for a hotel in La Plata 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 Plata Hotel Prices and Santiago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.La Plata $4.05Santiago $5.81
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$1.21
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
- Clos Apalta Winery - Tour with Private Transfer: $300
- Private Santiago, Visit Santa Rita Winery & Transfer to Hotel: $300
- Private Santiago Visit Haras de Pirque Winery & Transfer Hotel: $300
- Private Transfer from Arturo Merino Benítez (SCL) Airport to Valparaíso: $296
- City Tour Santiago with Exclusive Guide + Private Transfer: $270
- Private Transfer Between Santiago and Cruise Port: $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 San Antonio: $257
Is it cheaper to fly into La Plata or Santiago?
Prices for flights to both Santiago and La Plata 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 Plata $6.82Santiago $24
Typical Food Prices in Santiago
Some typical examples of dining costs in Santiago are as follows:
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Empanada$2.02
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Hamburger$2.69
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Dinner$28
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
- Street Food Tour in Santiago with a Local Guide: $58
- Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $82
- 4-Hour Boozy Chilean Cooking Class in Santiago: $85
- Food Tour STGO, Eat like Locals!: $99
- Traditional Dinner Show in Santiago: $107
- Lastarria Food Tour: Wine, Bites & Social Culinary Experience: $109
- Santiago Food Tour: Bohemian Flavors and Local Gems: $109
- Dinner Show in Bali Hai with Wine refill and transportation: $114
- Small-Group Tour: Night City Tour with Santa Lucia Hill and Dinner Show: $116
- Private Dinner & Chilean Folk Show with Transfers: $116
- Alyan Winery Sunset with Wine Tastings and Dinner: $117
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.La Plata $22Santiago $51
Tours and Activities in La Plata
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for La Plata.
- Guided City Tour including Cathedral, Museum, and Lunch: $115
- Buenos Aires: Half-Day City Tour: $353
Tours and Activities in Santiago
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santiago are as follows:
- "Tour Tradicional" Viña Cousiño Macul Oficial español: $27
- 1 Day Tour of Viña Concha y Toro from Santiago: $120
- 1 Day Undurraga Vineyard Tour from Santiago: $120
- A Private Tour of Santiago with an Experienced Local Guide: $180
- A full Private Tour of Valparaiso from Santiago: $280
- A historical tour of Santiago, Chile: $18
- Adventure in Portillo: Laguna del Inca and Mountain Picnic: $100
- All Santiago in One Day: Private Guided Tour: $250
- An Architect's Tour of Downtown Santiago: $55
- Andean Adventure: Cajón del Maipo & Santuario del Río Spa: $132
- Andes Day Lagoon: Embalse El Yeso Tour from Santiago: $120
- Andes Half-Day Private Tour with Wine and Cheese Tasting: $190
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLa Plata $5.74Santiago $9.02
Sample the Local Flavors in Santiago
Also in Santiago, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Traditional Wine Tour in Viña Cousiño Macul Official English: $27
- Ludwig's Original Pub Crawl with VIP Club Entry: $34
- Premium Wine Tour in Viña Cousiño Macul Spanish official: $45
- "Premium Wine Tour" Viña Cousiño Macul Official english: $45
- Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, with Casablanca Wine Tasting: $59
- Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, with Wine Tasting: $60
- Undurraga Winery Tour with Entry and Wine Tasting: $63
- Undurraga Wine tour: $70
- Santa Carolina History and Wine Tasting in Santiago: $70
- Valparaiso Port and Viña del Mar with Casablanca Wine Tasting: $75
- Undurraga Wine Tasting Tour from Santiago: $75
- Half Day Trip to Undurraga Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $75
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between La Plata and Santiago, we can see that Santiago is more expensive. And not only is La Plata much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to La Plata would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in La Plata 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 La Plata.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is La Plata Expensive? and Is Santiago Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, La Plata or Santiago?
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of La Plata. When comparing the sizes of La Plata 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 Plata or Santiago?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.
Should I visit La Plata or Santiago in the Summer?
Both Santiago and La Plata during the summer are popular places to visit.
La Plata is a little warmer than Santiago in the summer. The daily temperature in La Plata averages around 25°C (77°F) in January, and Santiago fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
La Plata usually gets more rain in January than Santiago. La Plata gets 86 mm (3.4 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 JanuaryLa Plata 25°C (77°F)Santiago 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit La Plata or Santiago in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both La Plata and Santiago.
In the autumn, La Plata is a little warmer than Santiago. Typically, the autumn temperatures in La Plata in April average around 18°C (65°F), and Santiago averages at about 15°C (59°F).
In April, La Plata usually receives more rain than Santiago. La Plata gets 85 mm (3.3 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 AprilLa Plata 18°C (65°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit La Plata or Santiago in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to La Plata as well as Santiago.
In July, La Plata is generally a little warmer than Santiago. Daily temperatures in La Plata average around 12°C (53°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
La Plata usually gets less rain in July than Santiago. La Plata gets 57 mm (2.2 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 JulyLa Plata 12°C (53°F)Santiago 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit La Plata or Santiago in the Spring?
Both Santiago and La Plata are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
La Plata is a little warmer than Santiago in the spring. The daily temperature in La Plata averages around 18°C (64°F) in October, and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
It's quite rainy in La Plata. In October, La Plata usually receives more rain than Santiago. La Plata gets 100 mm (3.9 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 OctoberLa Plata 18°C (64°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Santiago and La Plata
| La Plata | Santiago | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 22°C (71°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 18°C (65°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 12°C (53°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 12°C (53°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 13°C (55°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Sep | 15°C (59°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 18°C (64°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (69°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (74°F) | 96 mm (3.8 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.