Which place is cheaper, Santiago or London?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit London 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 London and Santiago can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: London or Santiago?
London
The capital of the United Kingdom is a thriving multicultural metropolis. Steeped in iconic landmarks, world-class museums and royal parks, London is energetic, majestic, ambitious and one of the world's greatest cities. London is a cultural and fashion capital, a great place to go out, an amazing place to eat and one of those cities that is constantly changing with new and exciting things sprouting up almost every day. History and tradition greet you at every turn in the UK's capital. London is also a city with an edgy underbelly, delighting in neon pink dive bars, cheeky graffiti and mind-blowing street food. When you need a break from the action, pop into a pub or relax in one of the city's many parks. Blow through the city on a double-decker bus, and take a pinch-me-I'm-in-London walk through the West End. As one of the most visited cities in the world, London is busy, vibrant and very tourist friendly. The only problem with London is that it's very expensive; it can eat away at your budget if you aren't careful. Luckily, there are also tons of free or cheap things to do in London that can fill your time.
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 One Week (7-Day) Tours in United Kingdom, The Best 3-Day Tours in United Kingdom, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Chile.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLondon £190Santiago £111
The average daily cost (per person) in London is £190, while the average daily cost in Santiago is £111. 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 London and Santiago in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLondon £123Santiago £87
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLondon £246Santiago £174
Compare Hotels in London and Santiago
Looking for a hotel in London 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: London Hotel Prices and Santiago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.London £26Santiago £4.28
Typical Local Transportation Prices in London
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in London:
-
Taxi Ride£15
-
Heathrow Express£18
-
Luggage Storage£8.00
-
London Map£1.29
-
Oyster Card£36
-
Train to Gatwick Airport (2)£22
-
Oyster Card£27
Hired Cars and Shuttles in London
Also for London, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Bus Transfer between Heathrow Airport & Premier Inn: $7.42
- Bus Transfer Between Heathrow Airport & Radisson RED: $8.41
- Transfer Heathrow Airport to/from Renaissance Hotel: $8.41
- Heathrow Airport to North London Private Transfer: $13
- Gatwick Airport: Bus Transfer from/to Central London: $13
- Gatwick Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Bristol: $15
- Heathrow Airport to/from Central London Bus Transfer: $15
- Bus Transfer between Heathrow & Luton Airports: $17
- Luton Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Birmingham: $17
- Luton Airport to/from Central London Bus Transfer: $17
- Heathrow Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Birmingham: $17
- Departure Private Transfer Argostoli to Kephalonia Airport EFL in Business Car: $20
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Santiago
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Santiago:
-
Metro Ride£0.89
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santiago
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santiago:
- Private Scenic Transfer to Mendoza.: $539
- Visit Montes Winery (7th World Best Wine) & Transfer to Hotel: $300
- Private Transfer from Santiago or Santiago Airport to Colchagua or Santa Cruz: $300
- Pick up Santiago Visit Haras de Pirque Winery & Transfer Hotel: $300
- Private Transfer from Arturo Merino Benítez (SCL) Airport to Valparaíso: $272
- Private Transfer From Santiago airport to San Antonio Pier or Valparaiso Pier : $251
- Transfer Santiago to Cruise Port in Valparaiso or San Antonio: $250
- Private Transfer from Santiago Airport to Valparaíso,Viña del Mar or San Antonio: $250
- Private Transfer from Arturo Merino Benítez (SCL) Airport to San Antonio: $236
- City Tour with Lunch and Hotel Transfers: $234
- Santiago Private Transfer: Santiago Airport to San Antonio Cruise Port : $216
- Transfer Santiago - Viña del Mar: $210
Is it cheaper to fly into London or Santiago?
Prices for flights to both Santiago and London 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
-
Food Meals for one dayLondon £34Santiago £10
Typical Food Prices in London
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to London:
-
Lunch at Starbucks£13
-
Tea£6.00
-
Afternoon Tea at Fortnum & Mason£39
-
Morning Tea£6.35
-
Pastry£5.00
-
Sushi Dinner for One£18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in London
For London, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hard Rock Cafe with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $34
- Picadilly Circus: Hard Rock Cafe Set Menu Lunch or Dinner: $36
- Hard Rock Cafe Piccadilly Circus with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $38
- Traveling Spoon Nepalese Momos Private Online Cooking Class: $40
- Pizza Making Cookery Class: $52
- Borough Bites, The London Food Tour: $66
- Borough Market Flavors of London Food Tour: $66
- No Diet Club - Best food Tour in East London: $67
- African & Caribbean Food Tour in Multi-Cultural Brixton: $73
- Plant Power - Vegan Food Tour: $87
- Ultimate London Food Tour: Borough Market & Southwark: $89
- Central London Food Tour with 10+ tastings: $94
Typical Food Prices in Santiago
Some typical examples of dining costs in Santiago are as follows:
-
Empanada£1.49
-
Hamburger£1.98
-
Dinner£20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santiago
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Santiago.
- Sunset Winery Tour with Wine Tastings and Dinner: $45
- Sunset at Alyan Family Wines Winery with Dinner: $92
- Traditional Dinner Show in Santiago: $107
- Dinner Show in Bali Hai: $109
- Small-Group Tour: Night City Tour with Santa Lucia Hill and Dinner Show: $116
- Private Market Tour and Traditional Chilean Cooking Class in a Local Home: $117
- Small-Group Night City Tour: San Cristobal Hill and Dinner Show: $120
- San Cristobal Hill Night Tour with Dinner Show: $129
- Private Tour: Santiago at Night with Dinner and Show: $131
- Private Night City Tour with San Cristobal Hill And Dinner Show: $131
- 4-Hour Private Night Tour with Dinner and Show: $150
- Private Dinner and Show with Transfers: $158
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.London £33Santiago £37
Typical Entertainment Prices in London
For London, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
-
Two Tickets to a Concert£83
-
London Symphony Orchestra£34
-
London Pass£47
-
Comedy Show£8.00
Tours and Activities in London
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for London.
- London's Hidden Gems Self Guided City Tour: $1.07
- London Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $3.26
- Harry Potter Movie Locations Self Walking Tour: $3.73
- Interactive Murder Mystery Jack The Ripper Tour: $4.79
- Jack the Ripper Self Guided Audio Tour in London: $4.90
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in London: $5.43
- Bloomsbury's Contribution to Health Care History: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.48
- Brick Lane: A self-guided audio tour of East London's vibrant jewel: $5.54
- Covent Garden: A Self-Guided Photography Tour : $5.54
- London Lights: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of the Cultural Capital of the World: $5.54
- Camden Town's Quirky Characters: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.54
- Southbank Photography Walk: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.55
Tours and Activities in Santiago
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santiago are as follows:
- Private Adventure at 4200 meters above sea level in the Chilean Andes Cerro Pintor: $300
- Private Half-Day Guided Tour of the City of Santiago.: $280
- "Tour Tradicional" Viña Cousiño Macul Oficial español: $23
- 2-Hour Walking Tour of Yungay The Coolest Neighborhood in Chile: $35
- 4 Hour Santa Rita Winery All inclusive Tour for Wine Lover: $269
- A Private Tour of Valparaiso with an experienced local guide.: $195
- Adventure and Viewpoints in Cajón del Maipo: $255
- Andean Horse Ride Yerba Loca Sanctuary - Private tour from Santiago: $240
- Andean Tour: $158
- Andes Day Lagoon: Embalse El Yeso Tour from Santiago: $120
- Andes Half-Day Private Tour with Wine and Cheese Tasting: $190
- Andes Sunset: shared tour with Asado in the mountain: $90
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayLondon £15Santiago £6.64
Sample the Local Flavors in London
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in London:
- 2-Hour Haunted Pub Walking Tour: $20
- Shoreditch Bar Crawl of Five Venues with Drink Deals: $22
- Craft Brewery Tour with Tasting of 4 Beers: $25
- Bombay Sapphire Distillery Tour and Cocktail Ticket: $25
- London Pub Crawl: $27
- Pub Crawl and Nightlife Tour: $28
- 2-Hour Historic Pub Tour: $31
- Camden Pub Crawl & Bar Tour London: $31
- Burlesque Cabaret Show in Covent Garden: $31
- Balfour Winery, Wine Tasting Masterclass: $32
- Small Group Covent Garden Historic Pub Tour in London: $32
- Camden Pub Crawl in London: $32
Sample the Local Flavors in Santiago
Also in Santiago, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Premium Wine Tour in Viña Cousiño Macul Spanish official: $37
- Undurraga Winery Tour with Entry and Wine Tasting: $50
- Concha y Toro Ticket and Tour with Wine Tasting: $50
- Undurraga Wine Tasting Tour from Santiago: $62
- Undurraga Wine tour: $63
- Half Day Trip to Undurraga Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $70
- From Concha y Toro Marqués Half-Day Wine Tasting: $89
- Private Tour: Undurraga Vineyard Experience with Premium Wine Tasting: $92
- half day wine tour to concha y toro from Santiago seasonal offer: $95
- From Maipo Valley Wine Tour: $99
- Maipo Valley Wine Tour with 4 vineyards from Santiago.: $99
- Private Tour: Viña del Mar and Valparaíso Tour with Wine Tasting in Casablanca Valley: $143
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between London and Santiago, we can see that London is more expensive. And not only is Santiago much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since London 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 London would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in London 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 London Expensive? and Is Santiago Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, London or Santiago?
London has a larger population, and is about 53% larger than the population of Santiago. When comparing the sizes of London 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 London 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 London has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit London or Santiago in the Summer?
Both Santiago and London during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to London in the summer for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, London is generally cooler than Santiagoin January. Daily temperatures in London average around 18°C (64°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
London usually gets more rain in July than Santiagoin January. London gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryLondon 18°C (64°F)Santiago 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit London or Santiago in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both London and Santiago. Most visitors come to London for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
London is cooler than Santiago in the autumn. The daily temperature in London averages around 12°C (53°F) in October, and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F)in April.
In October, London usually receives more rain than Santiagoin April. London gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilLondon 12°C (53°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit London or Santiago in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to London as well as Santiago. The winter months attract visitors to London because of the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
The weather in London can be very cold. In the winter, London is much colder than Santiago. Typically, the winter temperatures in London in January average around 4°C (40°F), and Santiago averages at about 9°C (48°F)in July.
London usually gets less rain in January than Santiagoin July. London gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyLondon 4°C (40°F)Santiago 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit London or Santiago in the Spring?
Both Santiago and London are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to London this time of year.
In April, London is generally much colder than Santiagoin October. Daily temperatures in London average around 9°C (48°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
In April, London usually receives more rain than Santiagoin October. London gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberLondon 9°C (48°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Santiago and London
| London | Santiago | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 4°C (40°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 5°C (40°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 7°C (44°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 9°C (48°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 13°C (55°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 16°C (61°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 18°C (64°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 18°C (64°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Sep | 15°C (59°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 12°C (53°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | 5°C (42°F) | 57 mm (2.2 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.