Which place is cheaper, Santiago or Quepos?
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 Quepos 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 Quepos and Santiago can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Quepos or Santiago?
Quepos
Quepos is both a district and the capital of Aguirre canton in the Puntareanas Province of Costa Rica. The town is quite small, and the district has a population of about 22,000 people. Quepos is a popular tourist destination in Costa Rica due to its close proximity to Manuel Antonio National Park on the Pacific Coast. The town's economy is centered around tourism and there is no shortage of bars and restaurants in the area. The town also has a lively nightlife for such a small community.
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 Wildlife Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Costa Rica, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Chile.
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Quepos Prices
Costa Rica PricesSantiago Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayQuepos $155Santiago $146
The average daily cost (per person) in Quepos is $155, while the average daily cost in Santiago is $146. 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 Quepos and Santiago in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personQuepos $85Santiago $106
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomQuepos $170Santiago $212
Compare Hotels in Quepos and Santiago
Looking for a hotel in Quepos 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: Quepos Hotel Prices and Santiago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Quepos $11Santiago $5.24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quepos
Also for Quepos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Manuel Antonio: $88
- Puntarenas city to Juan Santamaria Intl Airport(SJO)-Departure Private Transfer: $100
- Private Transfer Manuel Antonio & Quepos to SJO Airport: $105
- Private One Way Transfer from Manuel Antonio to San José (Airport SJO): $110
- One-Way Private Transfer from Uvita to Quepos - Manuel Antonio: $140
- Transfer from Quepos Cruise Port to Juan Santamaria Airport (SJO): $159
- Private One Way Transfer from Manuel Antonio to Arenal La Fortuna: $195
- Private Transfer from Quepos Cruise Port to San Jose City Hotels: $198
- One-Way Private Transfer from Quepos - Manuel Antonio to the Sierpe: $213
- Private Transfer FROM or TO Manuel Antonio - Sierpe: $219
- Transfer from SJO Airport or Surrounding Areas to Manuel Antonio: $225
- Private Transfer from Quepos Port to Liberia Int Airport (LIR): $247
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$1.09
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santiago
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santiago:
- Villard Winery with exclusive guide + Premium Transfer: $220
- Transfer in/out cruise to/from Santiago plus tour Valparaiso: $135
- Transfer from Santiago To Valle Nevado, Farellones, Colorado or La Parva ski: $100
- Transfer from Santiago Airport to Viña del Mar by Car: $140
- Transfer from Santiago Airport to Santiago Centro Commune: $52
- Transfer Private hotel to Cruise ship in Puerto San Antonio or Valparaiso: $270
- Transfer Airport/Port - Hotel: $65
- Tour to Santiago and Valparaiso with Transfers included: $150
- Tarapacá Winery + Santa Ema Winery, Tour + Private Transfer: $180
- TRANSFER TRANSFER AIRPORT-VIÑA DEL MAR VALPARAISO: $190
- Sewell Tour Transfer: $165
- Valle Nevado Ski Day Trip with Hotel Transfers: $42
Is it cheaper to fly into Quepos or Santiago?
Prices for flights to both Santiago and Quepos 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 dayQuepos $57Santiago $22
Typical Food Prices in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch$17
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Seafood Dinner (for 1)$22
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking Class and Medical Plants Garden: $77
- Night Mangrove Safari Boat Tour with Dinner in Manuel Antonio: $79
- Cooking Class & Medicinal Plants Garden Manuel Antonio: $97
Typical Food Prices in Santiago
Some typical examples of dining costs in Santiago are as follows:
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Empanada$1.82
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Hamburger$2.42
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Dinner$25
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santiago
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Santiago.
- Best Santiago Street Food Tour with 4+ Tastings and Drink: $56
- Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $56
- Mercado Meals Santiago Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $59
- Mercado Meals Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $60
- 4h Cooking Class in 8 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $77
- Local Food Tour with Tastings & Drinks: $99
- Traditional Chilean Show with Dinner and Private Transportation in Santiago: $107
- Small-Group Tour: Night City Tour with Santa Lucia Hill and Dinner Show: $116
- Barrio Italia Food Tour with Tastings & Drinks: $119
- Private Market Tour and Traditional Chilean Cooking Class in a Local Home: $125
- San Cristobal Hill Night Tour with Dinner Show: $129
- Dinner Show in Bali Hai with Wine refill and transportation: $129
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Quepos $19Santiago $46
Tours and Activities in Quepos
For Quepos, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Manuel Antonio National Park: Guided Tour with TICKET INCLUDED: $23
- Manuel Antonio Park Tour and its Amazing Wildlife and Beaches: $24
- Manuel Antonio Nature Experience with Jeremias: $25
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour With Ticket Option: $27
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour with ticket option: $27
- Manuel Antonio National Park : Guided tour with TICKET INCLUDED: $27
- Guided Tour in Manuel Antonio National Park!: $28
- Manuel Antonio National Park Tour - Wildlife & Sloths: $28
- Manuel Antonio Park Guided Tour with Ticket Included Option: $28
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour: $28
- Manuel Antonio National Guided Park tour: $29
- Guided Tour in Manuel Antonio National Park: $29
Tours and Activities in Santiago
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santiago are as follows:
- "Tour Tradicional" Viña Cousiño Macul Oficial español: $27
- "Tour Tradicional" Viña Cousiño Macul Oficial portugués: $27
- 1 Day Tour of Viña Concha y Toro from Santiago: $120
- 1 Day Valparaiso and Vina del Mar Tour from Santiago: $51
- 3 Hours Santiago Blend Walking Tour: $30
- All Santiago in One Day: Private Guided Tour: $250
- An Architect's Tour of Downtown Santiago: $60
- Andean Adventure: Cajón del Maipo & El Morado Lodge and Spa: $147
- Andes Day Lagoon in Cajón del Maipo & Embalse el Yeso Private Tour: $270
- Andes Day Lagoon: Embalse El Yeso Tour from Santiago: $120
- Andes Day Volcano 8k Private Tour: $270
- Andes Mountains Tour From Santiago with Appetizer: $180
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayQuepos $16Santiago $8.13
Sample the Local Flavors in Santiago
Also in Santiago, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- "Chile in Your Glass" Wine Tasting.: $22
- Pub Crawl with Unlimited Beer and Welcome Shots: $25
- Cousiño Macul Heritage Wine Tour with Tastings: $25
- Tour Viña Santa Carolina in Santiago with 3 wine tasting: $53
- Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, with Casablanca Wine Tasting: $55
- Valparaiso, Viña del Mar & Casablanca Wine Tour: $61
- Valparaiso, Viña del Mar & Casablanca Wine Tour: $65
- Undurraga Winery Tour with Entry and Wine Tasting: $70
- Valparaiso Port and Viña del Mar with Casablanca Wine Tasting: $75
- Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, with Wine Tasting: $75
- Half Day Trip to Undurraga Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $75
- Concha y Toro Tour with Wine Tasting and Transport: $87
When comparing the travel costs between Quepos and Santiago, we can see that Quepos 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 Quepos is in Central America 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 Quepos Expensive? and Is Santiago Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Quepos or Santiago?
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 620 times larger than the population of Quepos. When comparing the sizes of Quepos 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 Quepos or Santiago?
Santiago has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Quepos experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Quepos or Santiago in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Quepos as well as Santiago. Quepos attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Quepos is generally a little warmer than Santiagoin January. Daily temperatures in Quepos average around 28°C (82°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
Quepos receives a lot of rain in the summer. Quepos usually gets more rain in July than Santiagoin January. Quepos gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryQuepos 28°C (82°F)Santiago 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Quepos or Santiago in the Autumn?
Both Santiago and Quepos are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Quepos throughout the year.
Quepos is much warmer than Santiago in the autumn. The daily temperature in Quepos averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F)in April.
It's quite rainy in Quepos. In October, Quepos usually receives more rain than Santiagoin April. Quepos gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Quepos is December to April. The hurricane season in Quepos is May to November.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilQuepos 27°C (81°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Quepos or Santiago in the Winter?
Both Santiago and Quepos during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Quepos because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the winter, Quepos is much warmer than Santiago. Typically, the winter temperatures in Quepos in January average around 27°C (81°F), and Santiago averages at about 9°C (48°F)in July.
Quepos usually gets less rain in January than Santiagoin July. Quepos gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyQuepos 27°C (81°F)Santiago 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Quepos or Santiago in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Quepos and Santiago. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Quepos year-round.
In April, Quepos is generally much warmer than Santiagoin October. Daily temperatures in Quepos average around 29°C (85°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
In April, Quepos usually receives more rain than Santiagoin October. Quepos gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the spring. December to April in Quepos is the dry season. May to November is the hurricane season in Quepos.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberQuepos 29°C (85°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Santiago and Quepos
| Quepos | Santiago | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 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.