Which place is cheaper, Santiago or Pamplona?
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 Pamplona or Santiago?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Pamplona or Santiago? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Pamplona or Santiago?
Pamplona
Pamplona is a city in northern Spain located on the snow-capped foothills of the Pyrenees Range. With the backdrop of mountains, the city is surrounded by a setting ideal for skiing, mountaineering, hiking, wildlife and breathtaking scenery. Yet Pamplona itself is a place full of lively culture and stunning architecture. With a long history, the place is embedded in tradition and perhaps most famous for its annual "running of the bulls" celebrated in July, also known as the San Fermin festival.
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 G Adventures Tours to Spain, The Best 3-Day Tours from Madrid, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, and The Best Luxury Tours to Chile.
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Pamplona Prices
Spain PricesSantiago Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPamplona €161Santiago €128
The average daily cost (per person) in Pamplona is €161, while the average daily cost in Santiago is €128. 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 Pamplona and Santiago in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPamplona €67Santiago €93
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPamplona €134Santiago €186
Compare Hotels in Pamplona and Santiago
Looking for a hotel in Pamplona 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: Pamplona Hotel Prices and Santiago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pamplona €24Santiago €4.60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pamplona
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pamplona:
- Private Transfer from Logroño city to Pamplona: $280
- Private Transfer from Pamplona Airport to Logroño city: $280
- Private Transfer from Pamplona city to Logroño: $280
- Private Transfer from Pamplona city to San Sebastian: $280
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€0.96
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santiago
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santiago:
- Santiago Airport (SCL) Private Transfer to Multiple Destinations: $18
- Santiago de Chile Airport Private Transfer: $25
- Official Transfer to Concha y Toro Winery: $27
- Private Transfer to Santiago Airport (SCL): $28
- Private Transfer from Santiago Airport (SCL): $28
- Private Transfer From The Hotel in Santiago City To the Airport: $29
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Santiago APT-HTL (SCL): $30
- Private Santiago Airport to Santiago Transfer: $32
- Airport Private Transfer to/from Santiago de Chile: $40
- Transfer Santiago de Chile airport: $40
- Farellones Full Day Roundtrip Transfer: $40
- Santiago to Santiago Airport (SCL) - Departure Private Transfer: $44
Is it cheaper to fly into Pamplona or Santiago?
Prices for flights to both Santiago and Pamplona 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 dayPamplona €72Santiago €19
Typical Food Prices in Pamplona
Some typical examples of dining costs in Pamplona are as follows:
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Lunch for 2€10
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Ice Cream€4.50
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Coffee€1.30
Typical Food Prices in Santiago
Some typical examples of dining costs in Santiago are as follows:
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Empanada€1.60
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Hamburger€2.13
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Dinner€22
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
- 4-hour Boozy Chilean Cooking class in Santiago: $85
- Bali Hai Dinner & Show, Transport and Wine refill: $106
- Traditional Dinner Show in Santiago: $107
- Dinner Show in Bali Hai with Wine refill and transportation: $114
- Small-Group Tour: Night City Tour with Santa Lucia Hill and Dinner Show: $116
- Private Dinner & Chilean Folk Show with Transfers: $116
- Alyan Winery Sunset with Wine Tastings and Dinner: $117
- San Cristobal Hill Night Tour with Dinner Show: $129
- Bali Hai Polynesian Dinner Show with Transfer: $130
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pamplona €34Santiago €40
Tours and Activities in Pamplona
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Pamplona are as follows:
- Pamplona Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self Guided Tour: $5.13
- Hemingway's Pamplona Smartphone Guided Walking Tour : $9.75
- Pamplona Cathedral Guided Tour History Curiosities and Art: $11
- Royal Palace of Olite Entry Ticket: $12
- Interactive Tour El Sadar, CA Osasuna's Stadium: $20
- Night Tour Dark Secrets and Legends of Pamplona : $24
- San Fermín Tour: $30
- San Fermin Tour Discover the Festivals of Pamplona: $30
- Small Group Walking Tour Pamplona: $45
- Walking Tour with Churros Tasting and Coffee Break: $46
- Pamplona Highlights Walking Tour with Coffee and Churros Break: $46
- San Sebastian & Basque Coast Tour From Pamplona: $93
Tours and Activities in Santiago
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santiago are as follows:
- Santiago Cathedral's Bell Tower Official Tour: $9.00
- Official Tour of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Santiago: $9.00
- Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino Admission Ticket: $17
- A historical tour of Santiago, Chile: $18
- Cable Car Admission Ticket: $18
- Santiago City Tour: Living History and Local Food Tasting: $20
- Guided City Tour through the historic center of Santiago: $23
- Private Guided Walking Tour of the City Center: $24
- Guided Walking Tour of the Historical Old Town: $25
- Yungay, Memory, Art, and Neighborhood Walking Tour: $25
- Santiago : Highlights Walking Tour With A Guide: $26
- "Tour Tradicional" Viña Cousiño Macul Oficial español: $26
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPamplona €31Santiago €7.15
Sample the Local Flavors in Pamplona
Also in Pamplona, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Half Day Rioja Wine Tour: $262
- Wine Tour: 2 Wineries From Logroño: $286
- Rioja Wine Tour: 2 Wineries From Pamplona: $286
- Wine Tour: Winery & Traditional Lunch From Logroño: $298
- Rioja Wine Tour: Winery & Traditional Lunch From Pamplona: $298
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
- Santiago by Night: Funicular, Wine Tasting & Cueca Show: $69
- 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
- Inca Lagoon and Vineyard Visit with Wine Tasting: $80
- Half Day Trip to Concha y Toro Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $87
- Half Day Trip to Cousiño Macul 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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pamplona and Santiago, we can see that Pamplona is more expensive. And not only is Santiago much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Pamplona 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 Pamplona would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pamplona 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 Pamplona Expensive? and Is Santiago Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Pamplona or Santiago?
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Pamplona. When comparing the sizes of Pamplona 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 Pamplona 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 Pamplona has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Pamplona or Santiago in the Summer?
Both Santiago and Pamplona are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Pamplona for the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Pamplona is around the same temperature as Santiago in the summer. The daily temperature in Pamplona averages around 20°C (68°F) in July, and Santiago fluctuates around 21°C (70°F)in January.
In July, Pamplona usually receives more rain than Santiagoin January. Pamplona gets 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryPamplona 20°C (68°F)Santiago 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Pamplona or Santiago in the Autumn?
Both Santiago and Pamplona during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Pamplona because of the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, and the shopping scene.
In the autumn, Pamplona is around the same temperature as Santiago. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Pamplona in October average around 16°C (60°F), and Santiago averages at about 15°C (59°F)in April.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Pamplona. Pamplona usually gets more rain in October than Santiagoin April. Pamplona gets 155 mm (6.1 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilPamplona 16°C (60°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Pamplona or Santiago in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Pamplona and Santiago. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Pamplona this time of year.
In January, Pamplona is generally around the same temperature as Santiagoin July. Daily temperatures in Pamplona average around 8°C (47°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
Pamplona gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Pamplona usually receives more rain than Santiagoin July. Pamplona gets 183 mm (7.2 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyPamplona 8°C (47°F)Santiago 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Pamplona or Santiago in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Pamplona as well as Santiago. Many travelers come to Pamplona for the activities around the city.
Pamplona is cooler than Santiago in the spring. The daily temperature in Pamplona averages around 12°C (54°F) in April, and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F)in October.
Pamplona receives a lot of rain in the spring. Pamplona usually gets more rain in April than Santiagoin October. Pamplona gets 163 mm (6.4 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberPamplona 12°C (54°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Santiago and Pamplona
| Pamplona | Santiago | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 8°C (47°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 9°C (49°F) | 147 mm (5.8 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 10°C (51°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (54°F) | 163 mm (6.4 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 139 mm (5.5 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 18°C (64°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 20°C (68°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 20°C (68°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (65°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (60°F) | 155 mm (6.1 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Nov | 11°C (52°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | 9°C (49°F) | 184 mm (7.2 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.