Which place is cheaper, Santiago or Montevideo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Montevideo 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 Montevideo 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: Montevideo or Santiago?
Montevideo
As the morning sun tinges the calm waters of the Rio de la Plata with a golden hue, the Rambla and its city awakens to life with new adventures for those near and far. From tanning on the luxurious beaches to peering into Uruguayan history at local museums, one can be far from bored while staying in Montevideo. Combining the quaintness of the countryside with the excitement of urban life, this city holds a unique trait that cannot easily be replicated.
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 Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontevideo $63Santiago $141
The average daily cost (per person) in Montevideo is $63, while the average daily cost in Santiago is $141. 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 Montevideo and Santiago in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontevideo $39Santiago $110
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontevideo $78Santiago $220
Compare Hotels in Montevideo and Santiago
Looking for a hotel in Montevideo 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: Montevideo Hotel Prices and Santiago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Montevideo $7.32Santiago $5.41
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montevideo
Also for Montevideo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Montevideo to Carrasco Airport: $20
- Transfer in private vehicle from Montevideo Airport (MVD) -Montevideo City: $21
- Transfer in private vehicle from Montevideo City - Montevideo Airport (MVD): $21
- Shared 1-Way or Round Trip MVD Airport Transfer: $35
- Transfer from Montevideo to Carrasco Airport: $45
- Transfer from Carrasco International Aiport to Montevideo: $45
- Private 1-Way or Round Trip MVD Airport Transfer: $45
- Carrasco Airport (MVD) to Montevideo - Arrival Private Transfer: $49
- 1 - way - Transfer from Carrasco Interational Airport to Montevideo: $51
- Private Transfer from Carrasco Airport MVD to Punta Del Este Port: $72
- TRANSFER FROM OR TO THE AIRPORT (4 to 12 paxs): $80
- Private Transfer - Carrasco Airport (MVD) to Punta Del Este Port: $85
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$1.13
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 Montevideo or Santiago?
Prices for flights to both Santiago and Montevideo 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 dayMontevideo $13Santiago $13
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montevideo
For Montevideo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- The best Montevideo Dinner Show. Tango and Candombe. El Milongon.: $85
- El Milongon Dinner & Show: Candombe, Tango & Folklore in Montevideo: $98
Typical Food Prices in Santiago
Some typical examples of dining costs in Santiago are as follows:
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Empanada$1.89
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Hamburger$2.50
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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.
- Sunset Winery Tour with Wine Tastings and Dinner: $45
- Sunset at Alyan Family Wines Winery with Dinner: $92
- Traditional Dinner Show in Santiago: $107
- 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
- Traditional Chilean Cooking Class with a Local in Her Santiago Countryside Home: $168
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Montevideo $21Santiago $47
Tours and Activities in Montevideo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Montevideo.
- Montevideo's Culture and History: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.20
- Museo Andes 1972 / Crash Memorial Admission Ticket: $8.00
- Palacio Salvo Official Ticket with Guided Tour: $10
- Half-Day Sightseeing Tour: $25
- Half-day Regular City Tour at Montevideo : $25
- Walking Tour of the City of Montevideo (Spanish and/or Portuguese): $26
- Montevideo City Tour for Cruisers - AudioGuided: $26
- Shared Montevideo Tour for Cruisers: $30
- City Sightseeing Tour: $32
- Walking Tour with Photographer and Audioguide: $33
- Old City Walking Tour with Private Photographer: $33
- Montevideo City Tour for Cruisers: $35
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
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMontevideo -Santiago $8.41
Sample the Local Flavors in Montevideo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Montevideo:
- Half Day Tour at Pizzorno Winery with Lunch and Wine Tasting: $120
- Wine tour - Lunch & Tasting with Wine Explorers: $198
- Wine Tasting & Countryside Lunch Experience: $210
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 Montevideo and Santiago, we can see that Santiago is more expensive. And not only is Montevideo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Montevideo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Montevideo 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 Montevideo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Montevideo Expensive? and Is Santiago Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Montevideo or Santiago?
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Montevideo. When comparing the sizes of Montevideo 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 Montevideo 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 Montevideo or Santiago in the Summer?
Both Santiago and Montevideo during the summer are popular places to visit.
In January, Montevideo is generally a little warmer than Santiago. Daily temperatures in Montevideo average around 24°C (75°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
Montevideo usually gets more rain in January than Santiago. Montevideo gets 90 mm (3.5 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 JanuaryMontevideo 24°C (75°F)Santiago 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Montevideo or Santiago in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Montevideo and Santiago.
Montevideo is a little warmer than Santiago in the autumn. The daily temperature in Montevideo averages around 17°C (63°F) in April, and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
Montevideo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Montevideo usually receives more rain than Santiago. Montevideo gets 100 mm (3.9 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 AprilMontevideo 17°C (63°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Montevideo or Santiago in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Montevideo as well as Santiago.
In the winter, Montevideo is a little warmer than Santiago. Typically, the winter temperatures in Montevideo in July average around 11°C (52°F), and Santiago averages at about 9°C (48°F).
Montevideo usually gets less rain in July than Santiago. Montevideo gets 70 mm (2.8 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 JulyMontevideo 11°C (52°F)Santiago 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Montevideo or Santiago in the Spring?
Both Santiago and Montevideo are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
In October, Montevideo is generally a little warmer than Santiago. Daily temperatures in Montevideo average around 17°C (63°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
It's quite rainy in Montevideo. In October, Montevideo usually receives more rain than Santiago. Montevideo 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 OctoberMontevideo 17°C (63°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Santiago and Montevideo
| Montevideo | Santiago | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 23°C (73°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 21°C (70°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 17°C (63°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 14°C (57°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 11°C (52°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 11°C (52°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 12°C (54°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Sep | 14°C (57°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 17°C (63°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Nov | 19°C (66°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | 22°C (72°F) | 100 mm (3.9 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.