Which place is cheaper, Santiago or San Fernando?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Fernando or Santiago?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Fernando 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.
Where Should I go: San Fernando or Santiago?
San Fernando
As the industrial capital of Trinidad & Tobago, San Fernando is an oil city which attracts more business visitors than tourists. While it is primarily focused on industry, the city has a certain charm with its old buildings and sloping streets that frame pretty views of the sea. It is the big city of Trinidad's southern half with plenty to offer in nightlife, especially during Carnival.
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 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 daySan Fernando $153Santiago $141
The average daily cost (per person) in San Fernando is $153, 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 San Fernando and Santiago in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Fernando $74Santiago $110
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Fernando $148Santiago $220
Compare Hotels in San Fernando and Santiago
Looking for a hotel in San Fernando 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: Santiago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Fernando $50Santiago $5.41
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$1.13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santiago
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santiago:
- Private Scenic Transfer to Mendoza.: $539
- Private Transfer from Santiago or Santiago Airport to Colchagua or Santa Cruz: $300
- Pick up Santiago Visit Haras de Pirque Winery & Transfer Hotel: $300
- Private Transfer From Santiago airport to San Antonio Pier or Valparaiso Pier : $251
- from Santiago airport private arrival transfer to the Valparaiso pier: $251
- Transfer Santiago to Cruise Port in Valparaiso or San Antonio: $250
- Private Transfer from Santiago Airport to Valparaíso,Viña del Mar or San Antonio: $250
- Private Transfer from Arturo Merino Benítez (SCL) Airport to Viña del Mar: $237
- City Tour with Lunch and Hotel Transfers: $234
- Transfer from Valparaiso or San Antonio Port + Condor Watching Tour: $230
- Santiago Private Transfer: Santiago Airport to San Antonio Cruise Port : $216
- Transfer Santiago - Viña del Mar: $210
Is it cheaper to fly into San Fernando or Santiago?
Prices for flights to both Santiago and San Fernando 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 daySan Fernando $48Santiago $13
Typical Food Prices in Santiago
Some typical examples of dining costs in Santiago are as follows:
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Empanada$1.89
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Hamburger$2.50
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Dinner$26
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santiago
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Santiago.
- Sunset at Alyan Family Wines Winery with Dinner: $94
- Traditional Dinner Show in Santiago: $107
- Dinner Show in Bali Hai: $109
- Sunset Winery Tour with Wine Tastings and Dinner: $117
- Small-Group Night City Tour: San Cristobal Hill and Dinner Show: $120
- 4-Hour Private Night Tour with Dinner and Show: $150
- Private Dinner and Show with Transfers: $158
- Traditional Chilean Cooking Class with a Local in Her Santiago Countryside Home: $168
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Fernando $28Santiago $47
Tours and Activities in Santiago
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santiago are as follows:
- Colchagua Valley Tour & Tasting: $270
- Private Half-Day Guided Tour of the City of Santiago.: $280
- "Tour Tradicional" Viña Cousiño Macul Oficial español: $23
- 2-Hour Walking Tour of Yungay The Coolest Neighborhood in Chile: $35
- 4 Hour Santa Rita Winery All inclusive Tour for Wine Lover: $269
- A Fabulous Walking tour by the Old Santiago of Chile -small group: $25
- A Private Tour of Valparaiso with an experienced local guide.: $195
- Adventure and Viewpoints in Cajón del Maipo: $255
- Andean Horse Ride Yerba Loca Sanctuary - Private tour from Santiago: $240
- Andean Tour: $158
- Andes Day Lagoon: Embalse El Yeso Tour from Santiago: $120
- Andes Half-Day Private Tour with Wine and Cheese Tasting: $190
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Fernando $22Santiago $8.41
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
- Concha y Toro Ticket and Tour with Wine Tasting: $50
- Undurraga Winery Tour with Entry and 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
- Maipo Valley Wine Tour with 4 vineyards from Santiago.: $99
- From Maipo Valley Wine Tour: $99
- Private Tour: Viña del Mar and Valparaíso Tour with Wine Tasting in Casablanca Valley: $143
- Premium Wine Tasting and Tour at Santa Rita with Transport: $145
- Santa Rita: Ultra Premium Wine Tasting, Tour and Transport: $145
When comparing the travel costs between San Fernando and Santiago, we can see that San Fernando 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 San Fernando is in Caribbean Islands 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 San Fernando Expensive? and Is Santiago Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Fernando or Santiago?
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 90 times larger than the population of San Fernando. When comparing the sizes of San Fernando 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 San Fernando or Santiago?
Santiago has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but San Fernando experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit San Fernando or Santiago in the Summer?
Both Santiago and San Fernando during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to San Fernando because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
San Fernando is a little warmer than Santiago in the summer. The daily temperature in San Fernando averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Santiago fluctuates around 21°C (70°F)in January.
It rains a lot this time of the year in San Fernando. San Fernando usually gets more rain in July than Santiagoin January. San Fernando gets 266 mm (10.5 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 JanuarySan Fernando 27°C (81°F)Santiago 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit San Fernando or Santiago in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both San Fernando and Santiago. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Fernando year-round.
In the autumn, San Fernando is much warmer than Santiago. Typically, the autumn temperatures in San Fernando in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Santiago averages at about 15°C (59°F)in April.
San Fernando gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, San Fernando usually receives more rain than Santiagoin April. San Fernando gets 199 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilSan Fernando 27°C (81°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit San Fernando or Santiago in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to San Fernando as well as Santiago. San Fernando attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, San Fernando is generally much warmer than Santiagoin July. Daily temperatures in San Fernando average around 26°C (78°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
San Fernando usually gets less rain in January than Santiagoin July. San Fernando gets 71 mm (2.8 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 JulySan Fernando 26°C (78°F)Santiago 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit San Fernando or Santiago in the Spring?
Both Santiago and San Fernando are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Fernando throughout the year.
San Fernando is much warmer than Santiago in the spring. The daily temperature in San Fernando averages around 27°C (81°F) in April, and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F)in October.
In April, San Fernando usually receives more rain than Santiagoin October. San Fernando gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberSan Fernando 27°C (81°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Santiago and San Fernando
| San Fernando | Santiago | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (78°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 117 mm (4.6 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 252 mm (9.9 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 266 mm (10.5 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 225 mm (8.9 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 203 mm (8 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 199 mm (7.8 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 155 mm (6.1 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.