Which place is cheaper, Santiago or Rio de Janeiro?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Rio de Janeiro and Santiago can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Rio de Janeiro is the most popular travel destination in Brazil. It is the second largest city in Brazil and the sixth largest in the Americas. A portion of the city has been designated a World Heritage Site. It's also famous for Carnival, it's gorgeous beaches, and world-famous landmarks. Rio's appeal as a travel destination is apparent year round due to the great weather and plenty of fun activities. The city has a wonderful natural harbor that is surrounded by Sugar Loaf Mountain, Corcovado Peak, and the hills of Tijuca, creating an absolutely breathtaking and awe-inspiring setting.
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 Luxury Tours to Brazil, The Best Budget Tours to Brazil, 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 Rio de Janeiro is $108, 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 Rio de Janeiro and Santiago in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Rio de Janeiro 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.
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Rio de Janeiro:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rio de Janeiro:
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 Rio de Janeiro 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.
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Rio de Janeiro:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Rio de Janeiro.
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.
Here are a few actual costs in Rio de Janeiro for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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 Rio de Janeiro:
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 Rio de Janeiro and Santiago, we can see that Santiago is more expensive. And not only is Rio de Janeiro much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Rio de Janeiro would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Rio de Janeiro 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 Rio de Janeiro.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Rio de Janeiro Expensive? and Is Santiago Expensive?.
Rio de Janeiro has a larger population, and is about 25% larger than the population of Santiago. When comparing the sizes of Rio de Janeiro 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 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.
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Rio de Janeiro and Santiago.
In January, Rio de Janeiro is generally a little warmer than Santiago. Daily temperatures in Rio de Janeiro average around 26°C (79°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
Rio de Janeiro gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Rio de Janeiro usually receives more rain than Santiago. Rio de Janeiro gets 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
The autumn brings many poeple to Rio de Janeiro as well as Santiago.
Rio de Janeiro is much warmer than Santiago in the autumn. The daily temperature in Rio de Janeiro averages around 25°C (77°F) in April, and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
Rio de Janeiro receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Rio de Janeiro usually gets more rain in April than Santiago. Rio de Janeiro gets 137 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Santiago and Rio de Janeiro are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities.
In the winter, Rio de Janeiro is much warmer than Santiago. Typically, the winter temperatures in Rio de Janeiro in July average around 21°C (70°F), and Santiago averages at about 9°C (48°F).
In July, Rio de Janeiro usually receives less rain than Santiago. Rio de Janeiro gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
Both Santiago and Rio de Janeiro during the spring are popular places to visit.
In October, Rio de Janeiro is generally much warmer than Santiago. Daily temperatures in Rio de Janeiro average around 23°C (73°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
Rio de Janeiro usually gets more rain in October than Santiago. Rio de Janeiro gets 88 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
Rio de Janeiro | Santiago | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
Mar | 26°C (79°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
Apr | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
May | 23°C (73°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
Jun | 22°C (72°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
Jul | 21°C (70°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
Aug | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
Nov | 24°C (75°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |