Should you visit Moscow or Santiago?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Moscow 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. So, let's dig into it.
Moscow
Moscow is the capital of Russia and is notable for its important role in history. It's a very sprawling city with many museums and fascinating buildings. Ten percent of Russia's population lives in this capital city and it's a financial and political center for the country. The Moskva River weaves its way through the city and you will find most of the city's sights and attractions on the northern side of the river.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Santiago or Moscow?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Moscow is $63, while the average daily cost in Santiago is $137. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Moscow and Santiago in more detail.
Accommodation
For a normal double-occupancy room in Moscow, $80 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Moscow, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is $40, such as in a hostel.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $214 for a double occupancy room in Santiago.
Food
On average, meal and food prices in Moscow cost around $14 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $5.60.
While meal prices in Santiago can vary, the average travelers spends about $13 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Santiago should cost around $5.20 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Santiago is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Moscow $14
Santiago $13
Typical Food prices in Moscow
For Moscow, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Moscow
For Moscow, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Virtual Home Cooking with Russian Family:
$22
-
Moscow Food Tour:
$67
-
An evening at the monastery with dinner:
$80
-
Traditional Russian Cooking Class and Meal in Moscow with a Friendly Local:
$91
-
Private Market Tour and Traditional Russian Cooking Class in Moscow:
$101
-
Food Tour:
$102
-
Traditional Russian Cooking Class and Meal in a Local Home in Moscow:
$117
-
Moscow Metro and Russian Dinner Private tour:
$127
-
Moscow River Cruise with Dinner and Lively Firework with a Private Guide:
$133
-
Private food tour: Russian culinary culture:
$144
-
Moscow Yummy Food tour:
$160
-
Red Square and River Cruise with Dinner Private Tour:
$167
Typical Food prices in Santiago
Some typical examples of dining costs in Santiago are as follows:
-
Empanada
$2.28
-
Hamburger
$3.03
-
Dinner
$31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santiago
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Santiago.
-
Dinner at a Typical Chilean Restaurant with a Traditional Dance Show in Santiago:
$73
-
A Bite of Santiago Food Tour:
$77
-
Chilean Dinner and Show Experience in Santiago:
$77
-
ChileCooks - Food Tours:
$91
-
Traditional Dinner Show in Santiago:
$96
-
Bali Hai Dinner & Show Including Transport:
$97
-
San Cristobal Hill Night City Tour with Dinner Show:
$106
-
Traditional Chilean Show with Dinner and Private Transportation in Santiago:
$107
-
Chilean Folklore Show and Dinner with Private Transport:
$110
-
Small-Group Tour: Night City Tour with Santa Lucia Hill and Dinner Show:
$116
-
Small-Group Night City Tour: San Cristobal Hill and Dinner Show:
$116
-
Private Market Tour and Traditional Chilean Cooking Class in a Local Home:
$117
Local Transportation
To get around in Moscow, the average visitor spends $6.19 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
The average price of local transportation around Santiago is $5.24 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Moscow
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Moscow are as follows:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Moscow
Also for Moscow, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Ultra - Moscow Private Airport Transfer - City Center to Domodedovo Intl Airport:
$8.71
-
Ultra - Moscow Private Airport Transfer City Centre to Sheremetyevo Airport SVO:
$9.41
-
Moscow Train Stations Private Arrival/Departure Transfer:
$22
-
Private Arrival or Departure Transfer One Way: Moscow Airports to City Center:
$23
-
Private Arrival or Departure Transfer: Moscow Airports to Moscow City Center:
$30
-
Private Airport Transfer: Moscow to Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO):
$30
-
Private Airport Transfer: from Moscow to Vnukovo International Airport (VKO):
$30
-
Moscow DME/SVO/VKO Airports Private Arrival/Departure Transfer:
$32
-
Private transfer from the Moscow center hotel to Sheremetyevo Airport:
$34
-
Moscow to Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport (SVO) - Departure Private Transfer:
$36
-
Departure Private Transfer Moscow City to Moscow Train Station by Business Car:
$38
-
Private Business Transfer from Vnukovo Airport (VKO) to Moscow City Center:
$40
Typical Local Transportation prices in Santiago
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Santiago:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santiago
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santiago:
-
Transfer from Valparaiso or San Antonio to Santiago+Isla Negra and Wine tour:
$139
-
Transfer from Valparaiso or San Antonio Port + Condor Watching Tour:
$203
-
Transfer from Valle Nevado, Farellones, Colorado or La Parva ski to Santiago:
$83
-
Transfer from Santiago hotels to Arturo Merino Benitez Airport:
$21
-
Transfer from Santiago To Valle Nevado, Farellones, Colorado or La Parva ski:
$83
-
Transfer Santiago Airport to Valparaiso / Viña del Mar (Exclusive & Private):
$165
-
Transfer From The Airport To The Hotel on Santiago City:
$62
-
Small group transfer from Valparaiso or San Antonio Port + Santiago City Tour:
$133
-
Private Transfer from Airport to Rui Vaz and/or Vice Versa:
$37
-
Santiago de Chile Airport Shuttle Transfer:
$29
-
Santiago de Chile Airport Private Transfer:
$55
-
Santiago Airport Transfers: Santiago to Santiago Airport SCL in Luxury Van:
$92
Is it cheaper to fly into Moscow or Santiago?
Prices for flights to both Santiago and Moscow 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.
Entertainment
In Moscow, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $16 per person, per day.
Santiago's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $46 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Typical Entertainment prices in Moscow
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Moscow's activities, tours, and tickets:
-
Theater Tickets
$16
-
Kremlin Entry (2)
$14
Tours and Activities in Moscow
For Moscow, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
Moscow classical tour:
$6.38
-
Admission ticket to Kolomenskoye Historical and Architectural Museum and Reserve:
$7.02
-
Tsaritsyno Museum entrance ticket:
$8.14
-
Admission ticket to the The Museum of Cosmonautics:
$11
-
The Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center Admission Ticket:
$12
-
Admission ticket to the State Museum of GULAG's History, Moscow:
$13
-
The Museum of Victory Admission Ticket:
$13
-
Admission ticket to the Tochka-G Museum of Erotic Art, Moscow:
$14
-
Admission ticket to Gallery of the European and American XIX-XX centuries art:
$14
-
Tretyakov Gallery Admission Ticket:
$16
-
Admission ticket to the New Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow:
$17
-
1-hour scenic Moscow River Cruise:
$18
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:
$18
-
"Tour Tradicional" Viña Cousiño Macul Oficial portugués:
$18
-
13-Day Tour Chile from North to South:
$2,330
-
2-Day Private Hiking Tour to La Paloma Glacier:
$363
-
2-day tour: Santiago City Tour + Viña del Mar & Valparaiso:
$180
-
3-Day Chilean Andes Experience:
$864
-
3-in-1 Discovery Combo Tour: Chipitin Waterfall, Campfire Night + Tipi Lodging:
$190
-
4-Day Classic Tour of Santiago de Chile visiting Viña, Valparaiso and 1 winery:
$686
-
4-Day Tour Best of Santiago:
$686
-
4-Days Deluxe Culinary Experience at Santiago de Chile:
$910
-
6 days tour Don´t miss:
$1,227
-
7-Day Santiago & Easter Island Tour:
$1,480
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Moscow spend on average $7.95 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
The average person spends about $8.14 on alcoholic beverages in Santiago per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Sample the Local Flavors in Moscow
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Moscow:
-
Pub Crawl Moscow Guided Tour in Classic Soviet Van:
$79
-
Private Wine Tour in Moscow with History, Architecture and Friendly Local Guide:
$121
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:
$18
-
"Premium Wine Tour" Viña Cousiño Macul Official english:
$30
-
"Premium Wine Tour" Viña Cousiño Macul Oficial portugués:
$30
-
Premium Wine Tour in Viña Cousiño Macul Spanish official:
$30
-
Half Day Trip to Undurraga Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included:
$40
-
Concha y Toro Traditional Wine Tour from Santiago:
$45
-
Half Day Trip to Concha y Toro Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included:
$45
-
Half Day Trip to Santa Rita Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included:
$50
-
Half Day Trip to Cousiño Macul Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included:
$55
-
half day wine tour to concha y toro from Santiago seasonal offer:
$57
-
Concha y Toro Marques Wine Tour from Santiago:
$64
-
Premium Wine Tasting in Santiago de Chile:
$71
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Moscow and Santiago, we can see that Santiago is more expensive. And not only is Moscow much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Moscow 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 Moscow would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Moscow 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 Moscow.
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