Which place is cheaper, Cabo San Lucas or Santiago?
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 Santiago or Cabo San Lucas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Santiago and Cabo San Lucas. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Santiago or Cabo San Lucas?
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.
Cabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas ("Cabo") is on the far southern end of the Baja Peninsula. It has countless resorts and activities for visitors. There are world class golf courses, fine dining options, and five star resorts. Prior to the 1980s, Cabo was a quiet fishing village but with the construction of a nearby airport in 1977, the city rapidly grew into one of Mexico's most popular resort vacation spots. Today, Cabo has one of the country's most vibrant nightlife scenes. It also has plenty of water sport activities, and a great beach scene.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile, The Best 2-Week Tours in Chile, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, and The Best Historical Tours in Mexico.
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Santiago Prices
Chile PricesCabo San Lucas Prices
Mexico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySantiago $154Cabo San Lucas $169
The average daily cost (per person) in Santiago is $154, while the average daily cost in Cabo San Lucas is $169. 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 Santiago and Cabo San Lucas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSantiago $112Cabo San Lucas $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSantiago $224Cabo San Lucas $122
Compare Hotels in Santiago and Cabo San Lucas
Looking for a hotel in Santiago or Cabo San Lucas? 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.Santiago $5.55Cabo San Lucas $27
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 Airport SCL to Santiago by Luxury Van: $99
- Airport Transfer: Santiago to Airport SCL by Business Car: $80
- Arrival Transfer - Santiago International Airport to Hotel in Santiago: $35
- Arrival Transfer: Airport SCL to Santiago by Luxury Van: $99
- City tour santiago with excursion to valparaiso and airport transfer: $150
- Cruise Ship Transfer to Valparaiso Port with 6 Hour tour + Winery: $89
- Cruise Terminal Transfer from Valparaíso & Wine Tasting: $129
- Departure Transfer: Santiago to Airport SCL by Luxury Van: $99
- Maipo Valley Wine Tour, Concha y Toro, Private Transfer from Santiago: $262
- Portillo and Laguna Del Inca, Exclusive Guide and Private Transfer: $250
- Private 15-Passenger Premium Airport Transfer – Santiago (SCL): $190
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cabo San Lucas
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cabo San Lucas:
- Shared Arrival Transfer: Los Cabos International Airport to Hotel: $27
- Los Cabos Airport Roundtrip Shuttle Transfer: $36
- Los Cabos Airport Private Transfer SJD to Multiple Destinations: $38
- San Jose del Cabo to Los Cabos Airport (SJD) Departure Transfer: $71
- Los Cabos Airport (SJD) to San Jose del Cabo hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $71
- Private Transfer from Cabo San Lucas City to Cabo San Lucas Port: $73
- Cabo San Lucas Cruise Port to Airport CSL Departure Transfer: $73
- Private Transfer from Cabo San Lucas Airport (CSL) to Cruise Port: $73
- Cabo San Lucas Cruise Port to Cabo San Lucas hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $73
- Cabo San Lucas Port to Cabo San Lucas Airport (CSL) - Departure Private Transfer: $73
- Cabo San Lucas to Cabo San Lucas Airport (CSL)-Departure Transfer: $79
- Cabo San Lucas Airport (CSL) to Cabo San Lucas -Arrival Transfer: $79
Is it cheaper to fly into Santiago or Cabo San Lucas?
Prices for flights to both Cabo San Lucas and Santiago 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 daySantiago $23Cabo San Lucas $84
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$26
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santiago
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Santiago.
- Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $56
- Best Santiago Street Food Tour with 4+ Tastings and Drink: $58
- Mercado Meals Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $60
- 4h Cooking Class in 8 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $77
- 4h Cooking Class in Santiago : 8 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $85
- Local Food Tour with Tastings & Drinks: $99
- Traditional Dinner Show 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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cabo San Lucas
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cabo San Lucas.
- Taste Tacos & Street Food Like a Local: Cabo San Lucas Food Tour: $64
- Seafood Galore, Los Cabos Food Tour: $80
- Flavors of Authentic Mexican Food Tour: $85
- Sunset Fajita Dinner Cruise in Cabo San Lucas: $89
- Sunset Tour of Everything Cabo! Includes dinner and open bar!: $89
- Catch of the day dinner in your private villa/condo in Cabo or San Jose del Cabo: $90
- San Jose del Cabo Tacos and Food Tour: $90
- Parrillada dinner with a Private Chef in your villa/condo in Cabo or San Jose: $95
- Sunset Mexican Dinner Cruise and Live Music in Cabo San Lucas: $95
- Cabo Sunset Dinner Cruise with Live Music & Open Bar on Cabo Wave: $99
- Yo Ho Pirate Sunset Dinner Cruise in Cabo San Lucas: $99
- Pirate Ship Sunset Dinner and Show in Los Cabos: $99
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santiago $49Cabo San Lucas $41
Tours and Activities in Santiago
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santiago are as follows:
- Santiago Cathedral's Bell Tower Official Tour: $11
- Historical Sights Walking Tour: $15
- Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino Admission Ticket: $17
- Cable Car Admission Ticket: $18
- History Walking Tour with a Local Guide: $21
- A Fabulous Walking tour by the Old Santiago of Chile -: $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 español: $27
- City Tour Santiago - Walking Tour: $29
Tours and Activities in Cabo San Lucas
Here are a few actual costs in Cabo San Lucas for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Tour to Arch in the only Clear Boat in Cabo Cruise Hotel PICKUP!: $11
- Tour to Arch in the only Clear Boat in Cabo Cruise Hotel PICKUP!: $15
- Glass Bottom Boat Tour to the Arch in Cabo San Lucas: $15
- Cabo Clear Boat Tour to the Arch: Hotel Pickup Available: $16
- Cabo Clear Boat Tour to the Arch: Hotel Pickup Available: $16
- Tour to Arch in the only Clear Boat in Cabo Cruise Hotel PICKUP!: $16
- ATV and Camel Experience Los Cabos: $17
- Ultimate Camel Safari Experience in Los Cabos: $17
- ATV Ride and Camel Experience A Double Adventure: $17
- Cabo San Lucas Arch and Lover's Beach Boat Tour: $19
- Cabo San Lucas Glass Bottom Boat Tour to the Arch with Beach Time: $19
- Side by Side UTV Adventure and Tequila Tasting in Cabo: $20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySantiago $8.62Cabo San Lucas $27
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: $55
- Valparaiso, Viña del Mar & Casablanca Wine Tour: $61
- Valparaiso, Viña del Mar & Casablanca Wine Tour: $62
- Valparaiso Port and Viña del Mar with Casablanca Wine Tasting: $68
- Valparaíso and Vineyard of the Sea with Casablanca Wine Tasting: $68
- Undurraga Winery Tour with Entry and Wine Tasting: $70
- Undurraga Wine Tasting Tour from Santiago: $75
Sample the Local Flavors in Cabo San Lucas
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cabo San Lucas:
- Cabo Bar Crawl to the Best Bars and Clubs in Cabo: $60
When comparing the travel costs between Santiago and Cabo San Lucas, we can see that Cabo San Lucas 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 Santiago is in South America and Cabo San Lucas is in North 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 Santiago Expensive? and Is Cabo San Lucas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santiago or Cabo San Lucas?
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 110 times larger than the population of Cabo San Lucas. When comparing the sizes of Santiago and Cabo San Lucas, 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.
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.