Which place is cheaper, Santiago or Mar del 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 Mar del 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 Mar del Plata and Santiago can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Mar del Plata or Santiago?
Mar del Plata
Mar del Plata is found only 404 km southeast of the city of Buenos Aires, on the Atlantic coast. Today Mar Del Plata is Argentina‘s most well known beach resort. It has successfully married the two worlds of beach and city into a fun, cosmopolitan urban center with the presence of highly developed tourist infrastructure. Founded in 1874, Mar del Plata was at first mainly an industrial and commercial center before becoming a vacation destination for Argentinians. For a peaceful trip and intimate oceanfront promenades, avoid visiting Mar del Plata during summer time, as the gorgeous arced coastline will be crawling with visitors. But the city is more than just beaches. It also offers some culture, lively nightlife, and great food.
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 Luxury Tours to Argentina, The Best Budget Tours to Argentina, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Chile.
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Mar del Plata Prices
Argentina PricesSantiago Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMar del Plata $59Santiago $161
The average daily cost (per person) in Mar del Plata is $59, 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 Mar del Plata and Santiago in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMar del Plata $45Santiago $117
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMar del Plata $90Santiago $234
Compare Hotels in Mar del Plata and Santiago
Looking for a hotel in Mar del 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: Mar del Plata Hotel Prices and Santiago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mar del Plata $3.25Santiago $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
- Private Santiago Visit Haras de Pirque Winery & Transfer Hotel: $300
- Private Santiago, Visit Santa Rita Winery & Transfer to Hotel: $300
- Private Transfer from Arturo Merino Benítez (SCL) Airport to Valparaíso: $295
- Santiago de Chile : private transfer in SUV to Viña del mar or Valparaíso: $270
- City Tour Santiago with Exclusive Guide + Private Transfer: $270
- Private Transfer Between Santiago and Cruise Port: $270
- Private Transfer to Sewell UNESCO Andes Town Tour with Lunch: $269
- Private Transfer from Arturo Merino Benítez (SCL) Airport to San Antonio: $256
- Private Transfer: Santiago Airport to San Antonio Cruise Port: $242
- Private Cruise Transfer : Santiago → Valparaiso or San Antonio: $239
Is it cheaper to fly into Mar del Plata or Santiago?
Prices for flights to both Santiago and Mar del 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 dayMar del Plata $7.18Santiago $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.
- 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
- 4h Cooking Class in Santiago : 8 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $85
- Food Tour STGO, Eat like Locals!: $99
- Santiago Food Tour: Bohemian Flavors and Local Gems: $109
- 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: $125
- Bali Hai Dinner & Show, Transport and Wine refill: $128
- San Cristobal Hill Night Tour with Dinner Show: $129
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mar del Plata $22Santiago $51
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
- "Tour Tradicional" Viña Cousiño Macul Oficial portugués: $27
- 1 Day Tour of Isla Negra Algarrobo and Viña Undurraga from Santiago: $112
- 1 Day Tour of Viña Concha y Toro from Santiago: $120
- 1 Day Valparaiso and Vina del Mar Tour from Santiago: $51
- 6 Hour Tour of Culture, History and Flavors from Santiago: $75
- A Fabulous Walking tour by the Old Santiago of Chile -: $25
- 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
- Adega Montes Guided Tour with Private Transportation: $300
- Adventure in Portillo: Laguna del Inca and Mountain Picnic: $100
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMar del Plata $8.11Santiago $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
- Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, with Casablanca Wine Tasting: $59
- Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, with Wine Tasting: $60
- Valparaiso, Viña del Mar & Casablanca Wine Tour: $62
- Undurraga Winery Tour with Entry and Wine Tasting: $63
- Undurraga Wine tour: $70
- Undurraga Wine Tasting Tour from Santiago: $75
- Valparaiso Port and Viña del Mar with Casablanca Wine Tasting: $75
- Half Day Trip to Undurraga Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $75
- Inca Lagoon and Vineyard Visit with Wine Tasting: $80
- Half Day Trip to Cousiño Macul Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $87
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mar del Plata and Santiago, we can see that Santiago is more expensive. And not only is Mar del Plata much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Mar del Plata would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mar del 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 Mar del Plata.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mar del Plata Expensive? and Is Santiago Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mar del Plata or Santiago?
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Mar del Plata. When comparing the sizes of Mar del 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 Mar del 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 Mar del Plata or Santiago in the Summer?
Both Santiago and Mar del Plata during the summer are popular places to visit.
In the summer, Mar del Plata is around the same temperature as Santiago. Typically, the summer temperatures in Mar del Plata in January average around 20°C (69°F), and Santiago averages at about 21°C (70°F).
Mar del Plata usually gets more rain in January than Santiago. Mar del Plata gets 96 mm (3.8 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 JanuaryMar del Plata 20°C (69°F)Santiago 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Mar del Plata or Santiago in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Mar del Plata and Santiago.
In April, Mar del Plata is generally around the same temperature as Santiago. Daily temperatures in Mar del Plata average around 15°C (59°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
In April, Mar del Plata usually receives more rain than Santiago. Mar del Plata gets 67 mm (2.6 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 AprilMar del Plata 15°C (59°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Mar del Plata or Santiago in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Mar del Plata as well as Santiago.
Mar del Plata is around the same temperature as Santiago in the winter. The daily temperature in Mar del Plata averages around 9°C (47°F) in July, and Santiago fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
Mar del Plata usually gets less rain in July than Santiago. Mar del Plata gets 63 mm (2.5 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 JulyMar del Plata 9°C (47°F)Santiago 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Mar del Plata or Santiago in the Spring?
Both Santiago and Mar del Plata are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
In the spring, Mar del Plata is cooler than Santiago. Typically, the spring temperatures in Mar del Plata in October average around 13°C (56°F), and Santiago averages at about 15°C (59°F).
In October, Mar del Plata usually receives more rain than Santiago. Mar del Plata gets 78 mm (3.1 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 OctoberMar del Plata 13°C (56°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Santiago and Mar del Plata
| Mar del Plata | Santiago | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 20°C (69°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 18°C (65°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (59°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 12°C (53°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 9°C (48°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 9°C (47°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 9°C (49°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Sep | 11°C (51°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 13°C (56°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Nov | 16°C (61°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | 19°C (66°F) | 88 mm (3.5 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.