Which place is cheaper, Santiago or Rio de Janeiro?
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 Rio de Janeiro or Santiago?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
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.
Where Should I go: Rio de Janeiro or Santiago?
Rio de Janeiro
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
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.
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Rio de Janeiro Prices
Brazil PricesSantiago Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRio de Janeiro $120Santiago $155
The average daily cost (per person) in Rio de Janeiro is $120, while the average daily cost in Santiago is $155. 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.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRio de Janeiro $66Santiago $113
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRio de Janeiro $132Santiago $226
Compare Hotels in Rio de Janeiro and Santiago
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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Rio de Janeiro Hotel Prices and Santiago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Rio de Janeiro $7.98Santiago $5.56
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Rio de Janeiro
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Rio de Janeiro:
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Taxi Ride$2.93
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rio de Janeiro
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rio de Janeiro:
- Private Transfer to Rio de Janeiro Airport (SDU): $20
- Private Transfer from Rio de Janeiro Airport (SDU): $20
- Transfer from Santos Dumont Airport to Zona Sul Rio: $26
- One Way Shared Transfer from Airport to hotels in Rio de Janeiro: $27
- Private transfer Minivan GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 6 pax to Zona Sul: $28
- Transfer from Rio de Janeiro Galeao International Airport: $31
- Round Trip Tom Jobim Airport Private Transfer to Rio de Janeiro: $33
- Roundtrip Private Transfer Rio de Janeiro Airport (GIG): $35
- Private One Way Airport Transfer Rio to Galeao Airport: $35
- Private One-way Airport Transfer From Galeao Airport To Rio: $35
- Roundtrip Private Transfer Rio de Janeiro Airport (SDU): $41
- Rio de Janeiro Private Transfer One Way: $44
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$1.16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santiago
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santiago:
- Airport Transfer and Halfday City tour Santiago de Chile: $362
- Airport Transfer: Santiago to Santiago Airport SCL by Luxury Van: $104
- City tour santiago with excursion to valparaiso and airport transfer: $150
- Clos Apalta Winery - Tour with Private Transfer: $300
- Cruise Terminal Transfer from Valparaíso & Wine Tasting: $129
- Departure Transfer Santiago de Chile to Santiago Airport SCL: $82
- Departure Transfer: Santiago to Airport SCL by Business Car: $84
- Departure Transfer: Santiago to Airport SCL by Luxury Van: $104
- Portillo and Laguna Del Inca, Exclusive Guide and Private Transfer: $250
- Private 15-Passenger Premium Transfer – Santiago to Valparaíso: $149
- Private Airport Transfer Santiago Arrival or Departure 4pax SUV: $64
- Private Arrival Transfer from Airport to Hotel in Santiago: $37
Is it cheaper to fly into Rio de Janeiro or 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayRio de Janeiro $35Santiago $23
Typical Food Prices in Rio de Janeiro
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Rio de Janeiro:
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Popcorn$0.59
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Corn on the Cob$0.78
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Hamburger$0.98
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rio de Janeiro
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Rio de Janeiro.
- Vegan Rio Cooking Class: Hands-On Moqueca & Caipirinhas: $55
- Guided Dinner in Rio at a Restaurant of Your Choice: $70
- Brazilian Breakfast Cooking Class in Rio: Bake and Blend: $75
- Roxy Dinner Show: That Embrace Show: $79
- Rio de Janeiro Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $81
- Rio: Copacabana Food Tour with 7 Tastings and Local Flavors: $81
- Hands-On Cooking Class in Rio: Iconic Street Foods & Caipirinhas: $85
- Brazilian Churrascaria Guided Dinner in Rio with Wine Pairing: $89
- Rio Roots Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $89
- Food Tour Rio de Janeiro - The Best Typical Brazilian Dishes: $92
- Rio Historic Downtown & Lapa Street Food Tour (Full Meal): $94
- Carioca Kitchens Rio de Janeiro Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $95
Typical Food Prices in Santiago
Some typical examples of dining costs in Santiago are as follows:
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Empanada$1.94
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Hamburger$2.57
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Dinner$27
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: $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
- Lastarria Food Tour: Wine, Bites & Social Culinary Experience: $98
- Local Food Tour with Tastings & Drinks: $99
- Traditional Chilean Show with Dinner and Private Transportation in Santiago: $107
- Traditional Dinner Show in Santiago: $107
- Santiago Food Tour: Bohemian Flavors and Local Gems: $109
- Small-Group Tour: Night City Tour with Santa Lucia Hill and Dinner Show: $116
- Barrio Italia Food Tour with Tastings & Drinks: $119
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Rio de Janeiro $22Santiago $49
Tours and Activities in Rio de Janeiro
Here are a few actual costs in Rio de Janeiro for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Ipanema Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $4.98
- Rio de Janeiro Urca Self-Guided Walking Tour: $4.98
- Salvador Pelourinho Self-Guided Walking Tour: $4.98
- Rio de Janeiro Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.00
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - Santa Teresa: the staircase: $6.49
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - Imperial Rio: $6.72
- Self-Guided Audio Tour-Story of Bossanova: Rhythm and soul of Rio: $6.72
- Discover A Guided Tour: $8.13
- A Self-Guided Black History Audio Tour of Rio de Janeiro’s Little Africa: $12
- Electric Bike Tour: $16
- Private guided tour in Rio de Janeiro: $20
- Self-Guided Tour of Rio's Journey from Colonialism to Democracy: $20
Tours and Activities in Santiago
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santiago are as follows:
- Official Tour of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Santiago: $11
- Santiago Cathedral's Bell Tower Official Tour: $11
- Historical Sights Walking Tour: $15
- Cable Car Admission Ticket: $18
- History Walking Tour with a Local Guide: $21
- Tour of Santiago with Professional Photography: $25
- Guided Walking Tour of the Historical Old Town: $25
- Santiago Sightseeing Tour: Living History and Local Food Tasting: $25
- Santiago : Highlights Walking Tour With A Guide: $25
- Guided City Tour through the historic center of Santiago: $25
- "Tour Tradicional" Viña Cousiño Macul Oficial portugués: $27
- City Tour Santiago - Walking Tour: $29
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRio de Janeiro $12Santiago $8.64
Sample the Local Flavors in Rio de Janeiro
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Rio de Janeiro:
- Lapa by Night: Samba, Cachaça & The Ultimate Rio Pub Crawl: $30
- Dance the Night Away at a Pedra do Sal Bar Crawl: $38
- More than a Pub Crawl: An Authentic Night Experience in Rio: $40
- Petropolis City Tour with Imperial Museum and Optional Lunch & Bohemia Brewery: $47
- Botafogo Bar Crawl Eat and Drink Like a Local: $50
- Rio Pub Crawl with Caipirinhas & Bar Bites: $95
- Petrópolis City and Brewery Bohemia Tour - Best of Rio's Mountains: $110
- Brazilian Wine Tasting Evening: $123
- Rio: Sitio Burle Marx and Cachaça Distillery Private Tour: $177
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
- Traditional Wine Tour in Viña Cousiño Macul Official English: $27
- "Premium Wine Tour" Viña Cousiño Macul Official english: $45
- Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, with Casablanca Wine Tasting: $59
- Wine Tasting + Cheeseboard + Gypsum Reservoir: $60
- Valparaiso, Viña del Mar & Casablanca Wine Tour: $61
- Valparaiso, Viña del Mar & Casablanca Wine Tour: $62
- Undurraga Winery Tour with Entry and Wine Tasting: $70
- Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, with Wine Tasting: $75
- Valparaiso Port and Viña del Mar with Casablanca Wine Tasting: $75
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?.
Which is Bigger, Rio de Janeiro or Santiago?
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.
When is the best time to visit Rio de Janeiro 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 Rio de Janeiro or Santiago in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Rio de Janeiro and Santiago. The beaches, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Rio de Janeiro this time of year.
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.
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Summer Average Temperatures JanuaryRio de Janeiro 26°C (79°F)Santiago 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or Santiago in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Rio de Janeiro as well as Santiago. Many travelers come to Rio de Janeiro for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
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. Also, May to November in Rio de Janeiro is the dry season. December to April in Rio de Janeiro is the rainy season.
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Autumn Average Temperatures AprilRio de Janeiro 25°C (77°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or Santiago in the Winter?
Both Santiago and Rio de Janeiro are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Rio de Janeiro in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
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.
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Winter Average Temperatures JulyRio de Janeiro 21°C (70°F)Santiago 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or Santiago in the Spring?
Both Santiago and Rio de Janeiro during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Rio de Janeiro for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty during these months.
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. May to November is the dry season in Rio de Janeiro. December to April is the rainy season in Rio de Janeiro.
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Spring Average Temperatures OctoberRio de Janeiro 23°C (73°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Santiago and Rio de Janeiro
| 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) |
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.