Which place is cheaper, Santiago or Punta del Este?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Punta del Este or Santiago, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Punta del Este with its many beaches, elegant seaside homes, yacht harbor, high-rise apartment buildings, pricey hotels, ardent night scene and glitzy restaurants is a chic beach resort town in Uruguay. Many tourists come from Brazil and Argentina, on the other side of the Rio de la Plata, to get some nice sun and lay on the beach for a weekend getaway. Punta del Este is more expensive than other areas in Uruguay and has been called the Monaco of South America. Tourist season varies wildly from totally deserted in the winter to very crowded in the summer.
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 One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Chile.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Punta del Este is $97, while the average daily cost in Santiago is $141. 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 Punta del Este and Santiago in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Punta del Este 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.
Also for Punta del Este, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Santiago:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santiago:
Prices for flights to both Santiago and Punta del Este 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.
Some typical examples of dining costs in Santiago are as follows:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Santiago.
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Punta del Este.
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santiago are as follows:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Punta del Este:
Also in Santiago, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Punta del Este and Santiago, we can see that Santiago is more expensive. And not only is Punta del Este much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Punta del Este would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Punta del Este 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 Punta del Este.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Punta del Este Expensive? and Is Santiago Expensive?.
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 670 times larger than the population of Punta del Este. When comparing the sizes of Punta del Este 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.
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.
Both Santiago and Punta del Este during the summer are popular places to visit.
In January, Punta del Este is generally around the same temperature as Santiago. Daily temperatures in Punta del Este average around 23°C (73°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
Punta del Este usually gets more rain in January than Santiago. Punta del Este gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Punta del Este and Santiago.
Punta del Este is a little warmer than Santiago in the autumn. The daily temperature in Punta del Este averages around 17°C (63°F) in April, and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
In April, Punta del Este usually receives more rain than Santiago. Punta del Este gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
The winter brings many poeple to Punta del Este as well as Santiago.
In the winter, Punta del Este is a little warmer than Santiago. Typically, the winter temperatures in Punta del Este in July average around 10°C (50°F), and Santiago averages at about 9°C (48°F).
Punta del Este usually gets more rain in July than Santiago. Punta del Este gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Santiago and Punta del Este are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
In October, Punta del Este is generally around the same temperature as Santiago. Daily temperatures in Punta del Este average around 16°C (61°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
In October, Punta del Este usually receives more rain than Santiago. Punta del Este gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Punta del Este | Santiago | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 23°C (73°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
Feb | 22°C (72°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
Mar | 20°C (68°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
Apr | 17°C (63°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
May | 14°C (57°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
Jun | 11°C (52°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
Jul | 10°C (50°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
Aug | 11°C (52°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
Sep | 13°C (55°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
Nov | 19°C (66°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
Dec | 21°C (70°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |