Which place is cheaper, Santiago or Rome?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Rome 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 Rome 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: Rome or Santiago?
Rome
Rome is the capital and largest city in Italy. It is also a common entry point for most visitors flying into the country. Rome has been a center of power, culture, and religion for the last millenium, making it one of the most famous and popular destinations in not only Europe, but the world. The influence of the Roman Empire can be seen across continents.
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 Italy, The Best Budget Tours to Italy, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRome €170Santiago €132
The average daily cost (per person) in Rome is €170, while the average daily cost in Santiago is €132. 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 Rome and Santiago in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRome €89Santiago €103
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRome €178Santiago €206
Compare Hotels in Rome and Santiago
Looking for a hotel in Rome 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: Rome Hotel Prices and Santiago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Rome €21Santiago €5.07
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Rome
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Rome:
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Metro Ride (for Two)€2.00
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Train to the Airport€15
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Taxi to Airport€45
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Bicycle Rental (Full Day)€10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rome
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rome:
- Bus Transfer Between Airport and Rome Termini Station: $6.39
- Shuttle Bus Transfer to or from Ciampino Airport: $6.39
- Shuttle Bus Transfer to or from Fiumicino Airport: $7.46
- Transfer Fiumicino Airport - Rome center: $7.62
- Transfer Rome center - Fiumicino airport: $7.62
- Fiumicino Airport from/to Vaticano Transfer: $8.71
- Bus Transfer from Rome to Milan or Vice Versa: $11
- Civitavecchia Port to/from Vatican City Bus Transfer: $16
- Transfer between Fiumicino Airport and Rome Termini: $17
- Rome to Ciampino Airport Rome (CIA) - Departure Private Transfer: $26
- Ciampino Airport Rome (CIA) to Rome - Arrival Private Transfer: $26
- Skip the Line: Papal Audience Ticket (optional 1 way transfer): $28
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€1.06
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santiago
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santiago:
- Arrival Transfer - Santiago International Airport to Hotel in Santiago: $35
- Arturo Merino Benítez Intl Airport: Shared Transfer: $24
- Departure Private Transfers : Santiago to Santiago Airport SCL in Business Car: $67
- Departure Private Transfers : Santiago to Santiago Airport SCL in Luxury Van: $84
- Departure Transfer - Hotel in Santiago to Santiago International Airport: $35
- From Farellones/Valle Nevado Roundtrip Transfer: $35
- From Valle Nevado and Farellones with Transfer: $70
- Pick up Santiago Visit Haras de Pirque Winery & Transfer Hotel: $300
- Private Round Trip Transfer on Santiago Of Chile City: $55
- Private Santiago Hotel or Airport Arrival Transfer to Viña del Mar or Valparaiso: $95
- Private Transfer From Santiago airport to San Antonio Pier or Valparaiso Pier : $251
- Private Transfer From The Hotel in Santiago City To the Airport: $29
Is it cheaper to fly into Rome or Santiago?
Prices for flights to both Santiago and Rome 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 dayRome €47Santiago €12
Typical Food Prices in Rome
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Rome:
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Casual Lunch (for Two)€14
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4 Ice Cream Sandwiches€2.99
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Cafe e doce€4.00
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Pizza (Fast Food)€2.65
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Sitdown Lunch (for Two)€32
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Cheese and bread€10
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Espresso€2.00
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Dinner€58
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rome
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Rome.
- Award-Winning Roman Food Tours: $15
- Eat Pasta in Rome, Testaccio - Self-Guided Walking Food Tour: $16
- Rome Food Tour with Wine Tasting and Farmers Market in Prati Area: $32
- Food Tour of the Vatican with Farmers Market and Wine Tasting: $32
- Vatican and Trionfale Farmers Market Food tour and Wine tasting : $32
- Guided Food Tour with Food and Drink Tastings: $32
- Cooking Class with Wine - Become a Roman Master Chef: $36
- Painting & Pizza Party with Unlimited Wine: $40
- Pasta Making & Wine Tasting with Dinner in Frascati from Rome: $41
- Campo dei Fiori & Jewish Ghetto area Street Food Tour: $42
- Leonardo Da Vini, Wine and Pizza Painting Class: $42
- Vatican Street Food Tour and Wine Experience with Local Guide: $42
Typical Food Prices in Santiago
Some typical examples of dining costs in Santiago are as follows:
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Empanada€1.77
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Hamburger€2.35
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Dinner€24
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: $92
- Traditional Dinner Show in Santiago: $107
- Dinner Show in Bali Hai: $109
- Small-Group Tour: Night City Tour with Santa Lucia Hill and Dinner Show: $116
- Private Market Tour and Traditional Chilean Cooking Class in a Local Home: $117
- Small-Group Night City Tour: San Cristobal Hill and Dinner Show: $120
- San Cristobal Hill Night Tour with Dinner Show: $129
- Private Tour: Santiago at Night with Dinner and Show: $131
- 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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Rome €36Santiago €44
Typical Entertainment Prices in Rome
Here are a few typical costs in Rome for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Rome Museum Vaticano (for 2)€69
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Coliseum Tickets (for Two)€33
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Roma Pass€30
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Hop on Hop Off Bus (All Day)€20
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Segway Tour€75
Tours and Activities in Rome
Here are a few actual costs in Rome for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Piazza del Popolo and Historical Sights Walking Tour in Rome: $2.61
- Bergamo Old Town: Discovery Walk & Reading Walking Tour: $3.20
- Cambridge: Discovery Walk & Reading Walking Tour: $3.20
- From 1-Way Bus Ticket to Naples or Vice Versa: $5.30
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Rome: $5.32
- Bergamo Old Town: City Exploration Game and Tour: $5.33
- Vatican Night Tour - Rome: $5.43
- Rome Walking Tour Including the Pantheon and Trevi Fountain: $5.43
- Civitavecchia's Stories and Secrets: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.50
- Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Walking Tour: $5.54
- An insider's look at A Self-Guided Audio Tour : $5.61
- PANTHEON Rome Audio Tour Experience: $5.99
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
- Explore Santiago's Soul: Walking In-App Audio Tour: $5.00
- Santiago Cathedral's Bell Tower Official Tour: $9.00
- La Paz from the Heights: Down hill Walking tour & Cable Cars: $12
- Cable Car Admission Ticket: $15
- Cousiño Macul Official Winery Tour with Tasting: $23
- "Tour Tradicional" Viña Cousiño Macul Oficial español: $23
- Skip the Line: Concha y Toro Traditional Tour Ticket: $25
- Walking tour through Santiago: $26
- From Valle Nevado and Farellones Small Group Tour: $29
- History Walking Tour in Chile: $29
- Half Day tradicional city Tour: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRome €18Santiago €7.88
Typical Alcohol Prices in Rome
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Rome:
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Bottle of Wine€6.50
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Pint of Beer€6.34
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Beer€10
Sample the Local Flavors in Rome
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Rome:
- Trionfale and Prati Food and Wine Tasting Tour: $31
- Cabaret & Burlesque Show: $32
- Vatican Street Food and Wine Tour with Farmers Market: $37
- Bar Crawl with Local Guide & Drinks: $52
- Rome's Ultimate Party aka the Spanish Steps Pub Crawl: $52
- Tipsy Tour: Fun Bar Crawl In Rome With Local Guide : $53
- Roman Night Life and Burlesque Show Tour: $53
- Guided Wine Tasting Experience in a Roman Vineyard: $53
- Wine Tour in Historic Center of Rome: $54
- Small-Group Exclusive Winery and Wine Tasting Tour in Frascati: $60
- Pasta Making Class & Wine Tasting in a Trasteve Villa: $67
- E-Bike Night Tour with Food and Wine Tasting: $68
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
- Undurraga Wine tour: $63
- Half Day Trip to Undurraga Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $70
- 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
- From Maipo Valley Wine Tour: $99
- Maipo Valley Wine Tour with 4 vineyards from Santiago.: $99
- Private Tour: Viña del Mar and Valparaíso Tour with Wine Tasting in Casablanca Valley: $143
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rome and Santiago, we can see that Rome is more expensive. And not only is Santiago much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Rome is in Europe and Santiago is in South America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Santiago would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santiago 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 Rome would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rome than you might in Santiago.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Rome Expensive? and Is Santiago Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Rome or Santiago?
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 89% larger than the population of Rome. When comparing the sizes of Rome 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 Rome or Santiago?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Santiago is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Rome has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Rome or Santiago in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Rome and Santiago. The city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Rome this time of year.
In July, Rome is generally a little warmer than Santiagoin January. Daily temperatures in Rome average around 25°C (77°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
In July, Rome usually receives more rain than Santiagoin January. Rome gets 19 mm (0.7 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 July and JanuaryRome 25°C (77°F)Santiago 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Rome or Santiago in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Rome as well as Santiago. Many travelers come to Rome for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Rome is a little warmer than Santiago in the autumn. The daily temperature in Rome averages around 17°C (63°F) in October, and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F)in April.
Rome usually gets more rain in October than Santiagoin April. Rome gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilRome 17°C (63°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Rome or Santiago in the Winter?
Both Santiago and Rome are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Rome in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Rome is around the same temperature as Santiago. Typically, the winter temperatures in Rome in January average around 8°C (47°F), and Santiago averages at about 9°C (48°F)in July.
In January, Rome usually receives around the same amount of rain as Santiagoin July. Rome gets 81 mm (3.2 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 January and JulyRome 8°C (47°F)Santiago 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Rome or Santiago in the Spring?
Both Santiago and Rome during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Rome for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.
In April, Rome is generally around the same temperature as Santiagoin October. Daily temperatures in Rome average around 14°C (57°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
Rome usually gets more rain in April than Santiagoin October. Rome gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberRome 14°C (57°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Santiago and Rome
| Rome | Santiago | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 8°C (47°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 9°C (49°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 11°C (52°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 14°C (57°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 42 mm (1.6 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 22°C (71°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (77°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (71°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 17°C (63°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | 9°C (49°F) | 94 mm (3.7 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.