Which place is cheaper, Santiago or Porto?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Porto 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 Porto and Santiago can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Porto or Santiago?
Porto
Porto is the second largest city in Portugal. It is also the capital of the Northern Region and a hub for commercial and industrial activity. The city is not as large as you might expect, with a population of only about 300,000 residents, but the metropolitan area has a population of about 2.5 million. This includes nearby cities such as Gaia, Matosinhos, Maia and Gondomar.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to Portugal, The Best 10-Day Tours in Portugal, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, and The Best Luxury Tours to Chile.
-
Porto Prices
Portugal PricesSantiago Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPorto €160Santiago €128
The average daily cost (per person) in Porto is €160, 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 Porto and Santiago in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPorto €72Santiago €93
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPorto €144Santiago €186
Compare Hotels in Porto and Santiago
Looking for a hotel in Porto 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: Porto Hotel Prices and Santiago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Porto €21Santiago €4.60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Porto
Also for Porto, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Porto Airport: Transfer to/from Valenca Do Minho Station: $12
- Madeira: Vereda do Larano Trail One-Way Transfer Service: $23
- Porto Airport Transfer: $24
- Transfer Oporto - Aeroport / Up to 4 passengers: $30
- Madeira: Porto da Cruz to Machico Hiking Tour with Transfer: $39
- Service Transfer Airport to Porto or Vila Nova de Gaia: $64
- Funchal to Porto Moniz: Volcanic Pools Day Transfer: $70
- Private Transfer to Porto from Tarouca: $135
- Private Transfer to Lisbon from Tarouca: $293
- Private transfer between Porto and Algarve with 1 stop: $558
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Santiago
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Santiago:
-
Metro Ride€0.96
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 Porto or Santiago?
Prices for flights to both Santiago and Porto 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 dayPorto €63Santiago €19
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Porto
For Porto, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Porto Food & Wine Tasting Tour with Lunch or Dinner Option: $94
Typical Food Prices in Santiago
Some typical examples of dining costs in Santiago are as follows:
-
Empanada€1.60
-
Hamburger€2.13
-
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
- 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.Porto €25Santiago €40
Tours and Activities in Porto
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Porto.
- Porto Six Bridges Panoramic Cruise on the Douro River: $21
- Experience Porto's Charm: 3-Hour Guided Walking Tour: $35
- Porto Sunset River Cruise: Douro Magic at Dusk: $35
- Douro River Boat Cruise with Port Wine and Snacks: $48
- Porto Douro River Sightseeing Sailing Cruise at Sunset or Daytime: $48
- 3-Hour Porto Highlights on a Electric Bike Guided Tour: $52
- Tour on the Douro River in a Classic Boat: $54
- Sunset or Daytime, Charming Sailboat Cruise on the Douro River: $54
- 6 Bridges cruise , Douro river with sunset option: $54
- Aveiro and Costa Nova Half Day Tour from Porto with Boat Ride: $55
- Luxury Yacht Tour on the Douro River - Sunset or Daytime: $58
- Fun Private Tuk Tuk Tour: $66
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
- 6 Hour Tour of Culture, History and Flavors from Santiago: $75
- 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
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayPorto €19Santiago €7.15
Sample the Local Flavors in Porto
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Porto:
- Luxury Yacht Cruise with Wine Tasting & Snacks: $54
- Port Wine Tour | 3 Cellars | 7 Tastings | 12 Participants Maximum: $60
- Port Wine Lodges Tour Including 7 Port Wine Tastings (English): $62
- Authentic Food and Wine Tour in Porto by Food Lover Tour: $81
- Douro Valley Tour: Wine Tasting, Cruise and Lunch from Porto : $96
- Douro Valley Wine Tour: 3 Vineyard Visits, Wine Tastings, Lunch: $113
- Complete Douro Valley Wine Tour with Lunch, Wine Tastings and River Cruise: $118
- Douro Valley Half-Day Wine Tour with Winery and Lunch From Porto: $131
- Authentic Small Group Douro Wine Tour with Lunch & River Cruise: $131
- Small Group Douro Valley Wine Tour with Lunch and Cruise: $149
- Douro Valley Small-Group Tour with Wine Tasting, Lunch and Boat: $150
- Douro Valley Tour - 3 Wine tastings, Lunch & river Cruise: $152
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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Porto and Santiago, we can see that Porto is more expensive. And not only is Santiago much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Porto 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 Porto would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Porto 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 Porto Expensive? and Is Santiago Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Porto or Santiago?
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Porto. When comparing the sizes of Porto 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 Porto 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 Porto has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Porto or Santiago in the Summer?
Both Santiago and Porto during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Porto in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Porto is around the same temperature as Santiago. Typically, the summer temperatures in Porto in July average around 21°C (69°F), and Santiago averages at about 21°C (70°F)in January.
Porto usually gets more rain in July than Santiagoin January. Porto gets 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryPorto 21°C (69°F)Santiago 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Porto or Santiago in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Porto and Santiago. Most visitors come to Porto for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In October, Porto is generally a little warmer than Santiagoin April. Daily temperatures in Porto average around 17°C (62°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
Porto gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Porto usually receives more rain than Santiagoin April. Porto gets 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilPorto 17°C (62°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Porto or Santiago in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Porto as well as Santiago. The winter months attract visitors to Porto because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Porto is around the same temperature as Santiago in the winter. The daily temperature in Porto averages around 10°C (50°F) in January, and Santiago fluctuates around 9°C (48°F)in July.
Porto receives a lot of rain in the winter. Porto usually gets more rain in January than Santiagoin July. Porto gets 171 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyPorto 10°C (50°F)Santiago 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Porto or Santiago in the Spring?
Both Santiago and Porto are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Porto this time of year.
In the spring, Porto is around the same temperature as Santiago. Typically, the spring temperatures in Porto in April average around 14°C (56°F), and Santiago averages at about 15°C (59°F)in October.
It's quite rainy in Porto. In April, Porto usually receives more rain than Santiagoin October. Porto gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberPorto 14°C (56°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Santiago and Porto
| Porto | Santiago | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 10°C (50°F) | 171 mm (6.7 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 11°C (51°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 12°C (54°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 14°C (56°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 16°C (60°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 19°C (66°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 21°C (69°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 20°C (69°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Sep | 20°C (67°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 17°C (62°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Nov | 13°C (55°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | 11°C (51°F) | 176 mm (6.9 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.