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

Should you visit Puerto Madryn or Santiago?

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

Should I visit Puerto Madryn 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: Puerto Madryn or Santiago?

Puerto Madryn

Puerto Madryn is mostly known as the gateway to Peninsula Valdes, welcoming tourists who come for whale watching. The Peninsula Valdes is a nature reserve designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site; 97 km long and 63 km wide, it is connected to the continent by an isthmus of 35 km from which we can see both gulfs, San Jose at north and the Nuevo at south.

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 2-Week Tours in Argentina, The Best 3-Week Tours in Argentina, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Chile.


Which place is cheaper, Santiago or Puerto Madryn?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Madryn is $14, while the average daily cost in Santiago is $139. 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 Puerto Madryn and Santiago in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Puerto Madryn $5.33
    Santiago $108
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Puerto Madryn $11
    Santiago $216
Compare Hotels in Puerto Madryn and Santiago

Looking for a hotel in Puerto Madryn 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 Puerto Madryn


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: Puerto Madryn Hotel Prices and Santiago Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Puerto Madryn $3.33
    Santiago $5.29

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Madryn

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Madryn:

  • Trelew Airport Shuttle Transfer To Puerto Madryn : $36
  • From Punta Tombo Day Trip with Hotel Transfer: $92

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Santiago

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


  • Metro Ride
    $1.11

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santiago

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santiago:

  • Private Santiago Airport to Santiago Transfer: $25
  • Santiago de Chile Airport Shuttle Transfer: $26
  • Santiago Airport (SCL) to Santiago hotels - Arrival Transfer: $28
  • Private Transfer from Santiago Airport to Santiago: $32
  • Private Transfer from Santiago Hotel to SCL Airport: $32
  • Transfer in Private Vehicle Santiago Airport (SCL) - Santiago de Chile City: $33
  • Private Santiago Airport to Santiago Transfer: $35
  • Arrival Transfer - Santiago International Airport to Hotel in Santiago: $35
  • From Farellones/Valle Nevado Roundtrip Transfer: $35
  • Transfer to Santiago or Santiago International Airport: $35
  • Departure Transfer - Hotel in Santiago to Santiago International Airport: $35
  • Valle Nevado Ski Day Trip with Hotel Transfers: $39

Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Madryn or Santiago?

Prices for flights to both Santiago and Puerto Madryn 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
    Puerto Madryn $5.78
    Santiago $13

Typical Food Prices in Santiago

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


  • Empanada
    $1.84
  • Hamburger
    $2.45
  • Dinner
    $25

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: $97
  • 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: $120
  • San Cristobal Hill Night Tour with Dinner Show: $129
  • 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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Puerto Madryn $5.86
    Santiago $46
Typical Entertainment Prices in Puerto Madryn

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Puerto Madryn are as follows:


  • Whale Watching for Two
    $0.35

Tours and Activities in Puerto Madryn

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

  • Kayaking adventure in Puerto Madryn: $60
  • Nautical tour with dolphin search in Puerto Madryn: $60
  • Excursion to Punta Loma and Puerto Madryn for Cruisers: $60
  • Private Diving Experience with Sea Lions in Punta Loma: $70
  • Shore Excursion: Punta Loma+City Tour, for cruise passengers: $70
  • From City Tour and Punta Loma Tour: $70
  • City Tour and Sea Lions at Punta Loma from Puerto Madryn: $75
  • Punta Loma Excursion for Cruise Passengers: $75
  • Punta Loma Shore Excursion with City tour: $75
  • Full Day Peninsula Valdes Experience - optional Whale Watching : $87
  • Full Day Punta Tombo - Walking Among Penguins Experience - Madryn: $87
  • Punta Tombo Full Day Tour, Walking among Penguins - Regular service SIB: $88

Tours and Activities in Santiago

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

  • Explore Santiago's Soul: Walking In-App Audio Tour: $5.00
  • Official Tour of Santiago Cathedral: $9.00
  • Santiago Cathedral's Bell Tower Official Tour: $9.00
  • Santiago Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
  • Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino Admission Ticket: $15
  • Undurraga Sibaris Tour Ticket: $22
  • Cousiño Macul Official Winery Tour with Tasting: $23
  • "Tour Tradicional" Viña Cousiño Macul Oficial español: $23
  • Walking tour through Santiago: $26
  • From Valle Nevado and Farellones Small Group Tour: $29
  • Private Custom Tour with a Local Guide in Santiago de Chile: $33
  • Viña Del Mar, Valparaiso, Casablanca & Reñaca Tour: $34

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Puerto Madryn $3.18
    Santiago $8.21

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
  • Half Day Trip to Concha y Toro Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $70
  • Undurraga Wine tour: $70
  • Premium Wine Tasting in Santiago de Chile: $77
  • 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
  • Maipo Valley Wine Tour with 4 vineyards from Santiago.: $99
  • From Maipo Valley Wine Tour: $99


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Madryn and Santiago, we can see that Santiago is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Madryn much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Puerto Madryn would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Madryn 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 Puerto Madryn.

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


Which is Bigger, Puerto Madryn or Santiago?

Santiago has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Puerto Madryn. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Madryn 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 Puerto Madryn or Santiago?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.

Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Santiago in the Summer?

Both Santiago and Puerto Madryn are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities.

In January, Puerto Madryn is generally around the same temperature as Santiago. Daily temperatures in Puerto Madryn average around 22°C (71°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).

In January, Puerto Madryn usually receives more rain than Santiago. Puerto Madryn gets 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures January
    Puerto Madryn 22°C (71°F) 
    Santiago 21°C (70°F)

Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Santiago in the Autumn?

Both Santiago and Puerto Madryn during the autumn are popular places to visit.

Puerto Madryn is around the same temperature as Santiago in the autumn. The daily temperature in Puerto Madryn averages around 14°C (58°F) in April, and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).

Puerto Madryn usually gets more rain in April than Santiago. Puerto Madryn gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures April
    Puerto Madryn 14°C (58°F) 
    Santiago 15°C (59°F)

Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Santiago in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Puerto Madryn and Santiago.

In the winter, Puerto Madryn is cooler than Santiago. Typically, the winter temperatures in Puerto Madryn in July average around 7°C (45°F), and Santiago averages at about 9°C (48°F).

In July, Puerto Madryn usually receives less rain than Santiago. Puerto Madryn gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures July
    Puerto Madryn 7°C (45°F) 
    Santiago 9°C (48°F)

Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Santiago in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Puerto Madryn as well as Santiago.

In October, Puerto Madryn is generally around the same temperature as Santiago. Daily temperatures in Puerto Madryn average around 14°C (58°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).

Puerto Madryn usually gets more rain in October than Santiago. Puerto Madryn gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures October
    Puerto Madryn 14°C (58°F) 
    Santiago 15°C (59°F)

Typical Weather for Santiago and Puerto Madryn

Puerto Madryn Santiago
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 22°C (71°F) 11 mm (0.4 in) 21°C (70°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
Feb 21°C (69°F) 18 mm (0.7 in) 20°C (68°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
Mar 18°C (64°F) 20 mm (0.8 in) 18°C (64°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
Apr 14°C (58°F) 14 mm (0.6 in) 15°C (59°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
May 10°C (51°F) 17 mm (0.7 in) 12°C (54°F) 50 mm (2 in)
Jun 7°C (45°F) 14 mm (0.6 in) 9°C (48°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)
Jul 7°C (45°F) 18 mm (0.7 in) 9°C (48°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)
Aug 9°C (48°F) 16 mm (0.6 in) 10°C (50°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)
Sep 11°C (53°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 12°C (54°F) 20 mm (0.8 in)
Oct 14°C (58°F) 20 mm (0.8 in) 15°C (59°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
Nov 18°C (64°F) 14 mm (0.6 in) 17°C (63°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
Dec 20°C (68°F) 12 mm (0.5 in) 20°C (68°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)