A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Negril vs. Santiago for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Negril or Santiago?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Negril 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, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Negril or Santiago?

Negril

Negril is a town in western Jamaica known for its miles of white sand beaches and cliffs. It is certainly one of the more laid back towns on the island yet still attracts a lot of tourists. The hotels are as close to the water as you can get, and the sand gets whiter and whiter the further away from populated areas you get. The water is unbelievably clear and warm in Negril!

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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, and The Best Luxury Tours to Chile.


Which place is cheaper, Santiago or Negril?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Negril is $150, while the average daily cost in Santiago is $150. 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 Negril and Santiago in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Negril $102
    Santiago $109
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Negril $204
    Santiago $218
Compare Hotels in Negril and Santiago

Looking for a hotel in Negril 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.

Hotels in Negril


Hotels in Santiago


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: Negril Hotel Prices and Santiago Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Negril $8.39
    Santiago $5.41
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Negril

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Negril:


  • Taxi From Airport
    $13

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Negril

Also for Negril, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Grand Palladium Jamaica - Lady Hamilton Airport Transfer MBJ ***: $15
  • Comfortable Montego Bay Airport to Grand Palladium Transfer 1 Way: $23
  • Grand Palladium Private Airport Transfer: $25
  • MBJ Airport Private transfers to any Hotels in Negril: $29
  • Grand Palladium Jamaica Private Transfers : $29
  • Grand Palladium Private Transfers from MBJ Airport: $30
  • MBJ Airport Private Transfers to any Negril Hotels: $35
  • Grand Palladium Airport Transfer: $37
  • Round-Trip or Direct Private Airport Transfer to Lucea Resorts: $37
  • Private Transfer from MBJ Airport to Grand Palladium Hotel: $38
  • Grand Palladium Airport Transfer : $40
  • Private Montego Bay Airport Transfer to Grand Palladium: $40

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Santiago

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Santiago:


  • Metro Ride
    $1.13

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 Transfer San Antonio Cruise from Santiago to Valparaiso: $300
  • Transfer Santiago to Cruise Port in Valparaiso or San Antonio: $290
  • Transfer Private hotel to Cruise ship in Puerto San Antonio or Valparaiso: $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 Viña del Mar: $261
  • Private Transfer From Santiago airport to San Antonio Pier or Valparaiso Pier : $251
  • Santiago Airport (SCL) to Santo Domingo - Round-Trip Transfer: $240

Is it cheaper to fly into Negril or Santiago?

Prices for flights to both Santiago and Negril 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 day
    Negril $38
    Santiago $23

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Negril

For Negril, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Dinner in the Sky Jamaica Round Trip Taxi & Guide only: $42
  • The Jungle Nightclub Experience with Optional Dinner in Negril: $80
  • Zimbali Mountain Cooking Studio: $105
  • Cultural Food Tour & Seven Mile Beach At Negril’s Margaritaville: $150
  • Local food tour and local fields : $164

Typical Food Prices in Santiago

Some typical examples of dining costs in Santiago are as follows:


  • Empanada
    $1.88
  • Hamburger
    $2.50
  • Dinner
    $26

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
  • Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $82
  • 4-Hour Boozy Chilean Cooking Class in Santiago: $85
  • Bali Hai Dinner & Show, Transport and Wine refill: $106
  • 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: $122
  • San Cristobal Hill Night Tour with Dinner Show: $129
  • Bali Hai Polynesian Dinner Show with Transfer: $130
  • Private Night City Tour with San Cristobal Hill And Dinner Show: $181
  • Santiago Chilean and Peruvian Cooking Class with a Local Carol: $184

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Negril $26
    Santiago $47
Typical Entertainment Prices in Negril

For Negril, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • 2 Hr Horseback Ride
    $42

Tours and Activities in Negril

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Negril.

  • Rockland's Bird Sanctuary Tour from Montego Bay/ Falmouth: $56
  • Negril Beach Experience & Rick's Cafe from Negril: $59
  • Buddle's Taxi and Tours : $60
  • Rick's Cafe Sunset Cruise : $60
  • Private Negril Beach Experience and Rick's Cafe from Negril: $60
  • Negril Glass Bottom Boat Tour Snorkeling and Booby Cay: $65
  • Negril Country Side Tour & Rick's Cafe : $82
  • Off-road ATV Adventure with Wall Climbing: $85
  • PARTY Catamaran Cruise with Snorkeling Rick's Cafe ADULTS ONLY: $88
  • NEGRIL CRUISE Sunset Ricks Cafe Adults only ALL HOTELS : $89
  • Rick's Cafe Sunset Cruise and Snorkelling: $90
  • Family Catamaran Cruise from Jamwest Beach Negril Hotels: $90

Tours and Activities in Santiago

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santiago are as follows:

  • Private Half-Day Guided Tour of the City of Santiago.: $280
  • Private Sightseeing City Tour in Valparaíso and Viña del Mar: $240
  • "Tour Tradicional" Viña Cousiño Macul Oficial español: $26
  • 1 Day Tour of Viña Concha y Toro from Santiago: $120
  • 4 Hour Santa Rita Winery All inclusive Tour for Wine Lover: $269
  • A Fabulous Walking tour by the Old Santiago of Chile -small group: $25
  • A full Private Tour of Valparaiso from Santiago : $240
  • A historical tour of Santiago, Chile: $18
  • An Architect's Tour of Downtown Santiago: $55
  • Andean Adventure: Cajón del Maipo & Santuario del Río Spa: $132
  • Andean Horse Ride Yerba Loca Sanctuary - Private tour from Santiago: $240
  • Andes Day Lagoon in Cajón del Maipo & Embalse el Yeso Private Tour: $200

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Negril $9.74
    Santiago $8.40

Sample the Local Flavors in Negril

Also in Negril, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Negril One Love Bus Bar Crawl: $26

Sample the Local Flavors in Santiago

Also in Santiago, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Ludwig's Original Pub Crawl with VIP Club Entry: $34
  • Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, with Wine Tasting: $60
  • Undurraga Winery Tour with Entry and Wine Tasting: $63
  • Undurraga Wine tour: $70
  • Half Day Trip to Undurraga Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $70
  • Valparaiso Port and Viña del Mar with Casablanca Wine Tasting: $79
  • Valparaiso Port and Viña del Mar with wine tasting in Casablanca: $79
  • Inca Lagoon and Vineyard Visit with Wine Tasting: $80
  • Half Day Trip to Cousiño Macul Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $87
  • Half Day Trip to Concha y Toro Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $87
  • Maipo Valley Wine Tour with 4 vineyards from Santiago.: $89
  • Kross Brewery Tour: A Craft Beer Tasting Experience: $93


When comparing the travel costs between Negril and Santiago, we can see that Santiago is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Negril is in Caribbean Islands and Santiago is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Negril Expensive? and Is Santiago Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Negril or Santiago?

Santiago has a larger population, and is about 1610 times larger than the population of Negril. When comparing the sizes of Negril 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 Negril or Santiago?

Santiago has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Negril experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Negril or Santiago in the Summer?

Both Santiago and Negril during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Negril because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Negril is a little warmer than Santiago in the summer. The daily temperature in Negril averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Santiago fluctuates around 21°C (70°F)in January.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Negril. Negril usually gets more rain in July than Santiagoin January. Negril gets 176 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July and January
    Negril 27°C (81°F) 
    Santiago 21°C (70°F)

Should I visit Negril or Santiago in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Negril and Santiago. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Negril year-round.

In the autumn, Negril is much warmer than Santiago. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Negril in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Santiago averages at about 15°C (59°F)in April.

Negril gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Negril usually receives more rain than Santiagoin April. Negril gets 222 mm (8.7 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October and April
    Negril 27°C (81°F) 
    Santiago 15°C (59°F)

Should I visit Negril or Santiago in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Negril as well as Santiago. Negril attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In January, Negril is generally much warmer than Santiagoin July. Daily temperatures in Negril average around 25°C (77°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

Negril usually gets less rain in January than Santiagoin July. Negril gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January and July
    Negril 25°C (77°F) 
    Santiago 9°C (48°F)

Should I visit Negril or Santiago in the Spring?

Both Santiago and Negril are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Negril throughout the year.

Negril is much warmer than Santiago in the spring. The daily temperature in Negril averages around 26°C (79°F) in April, and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F)in October.

It's quite rainy in Negril. In April, Negril usually receives more rain than Santiagoin October. Negril gets 107 mm (4.2 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April and October
    Negril 26°C (79°F) 
    Santiago 15°C (59°F)

Typical Weather for Santiago and Negril

Negril Santiago
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 25°C (77°F) 49 mm (1.9 in) 21°C (70°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
Feb 25°C (77°F) 49 mm (1.9 in) 20°C (68°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
Mar 25°C (77°F) 71 mm (2.8 in) 18°C (64°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
Apr 26°C (79°F) 107 mm (4.2 in) 15°C (59°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
May 27°C (81°F) 205 mm (8.1 in) 12°C (54°F) 50 mm (2 in)
Jun 27°C (81°F) 183 mm (7.2 in) 9°C (48°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)
Jul 27°C (81°F) 176 mm (6.9 in) 9°C (48°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)
Aug 27°C (81°F) 188 mm (7.4 in) 10°C (50°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)
Sep 27°C (81°F) 181 mm (7.1 in) 12°C (54°F) 20 mm (0.8 in)
Oct 27°C (81°F) 222 mm (8.7 in) 15°C (59°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
Nov 26°C (79°F) 91 mm (3.6 in) 17°C (63°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
Dec 26°C (79°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 20°C (68°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)