Which place is cheaper, Castro or Santiago?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Santiago or Castro?
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 Castro. 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 Castro?
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.
Castro
The capital of Chiloe, modern and dynamic, has succeeded in keeping its authenticity even though it now has many gigantic supermarkets, hotels and other touristic infrastructures. It is located on the island's eastern coast, halfway between Ancud in the north and Quellon in the south, and is a convenient base for exploring the stunning sites in the region of Chiloe Island. The tourist information is located on the town square in front of the church.
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 Bicycle Tours in Chile, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Chile.
-
Santiago Prices
Chile PricesCastro Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySantiago $159Castro $121
The average daily cost (per person) in Santiago is $159, while the average daily cost in Castro is $121. 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 Castro in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSantiago $116Castro $39
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSantiago $232Castro $78
Compare Hotels in Santiago and Castro
Looking for a hotel in Santiago or Castro? 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 and Castro Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santiago $5.72Castro $21
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Santiago
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Santiago:
-
Metro Ride$1.20
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: $104
- Airport Transfer: Santiago to Santiago Airport SCL by Luxury Van: $104
- Arrival Transfer from Santiago Airport SCL to Santiago de Chile: $82
- Arrival Transfer: Airport SCL to Santiago by Luxury Van: $104
- Casas del Bosque Winery + RE Wineries : Exclusive Tour + Transfer: $220
- City Tour Santiago with Exclusive Guide + Private Transfer: $270
- 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 de Chile to Santiago Airport SCL: $82
- Departure Transfer: Santiago to Airport SCL by Luxury Van: $104
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Castro
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Castro:
- Castro Airport Private Transfer in Chiloe: $74
Is it cheaper to fly into Santiago or Castro?
Prices for flights to both Castro 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
-
Food Meals for one daySantiago $24Castro $65
Typical Food Prices in Santiago
Some typical examples of dining costs in Santiago are as follows:
-
Empanada$1.99
-
Hamburger$2.65
-
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
- Street Food Tour in Santiago with a Local Guide: $57
- 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
- Food Tour STGO, Eat like Locals!: $99
- Traditional Dinner Show in Santiago: $107
- Santiago Food Tour: Bohemian Flavors and Local Gems: $109
- Lastarria Food Tour: Wine, Bites & Social Culinary Experience: $109
- Small-Group Tour: Night City Tour with Santa Lucia Hill and Dinner Show: $116
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santiago $50Castro $22
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
- Cable Car Admission Ticket: $18
- History Walking Tour with a Local Guide: $21
- A Fabulous Walking tour by the Old Santiago of Chile -: $25
- Santiago Sightseeing Tour: Living History and Local Food Tasting: $25
- Guided Walking Tour of the Historical Old Town: $25
- Santiago : Highlights Walking Tour With A Guide: $25
- Guided City Tour through the historic center of Santiago: $25
- A City Tour Walking through the Unforgettable Santiago: $26
- Roots and Tales of the Capital with City Tour of Santiago: $27
- La Moneda Palace, Plaza de Armas & Historic Santiago Walking Tour: $29
Tours and Activities in Castro
Here are a few actual costs in Castro for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Castro Sightseeing Tour in Chiloe: $96
- Bosque Piedra Reserve Tour: $106
- Coastal Nature Adventure in Chiloe: $118
- Penguins in Chiloé and Fort San Antonio Day Tour: $120
- Chiloé: UNESCO Wooden Churches Full-Day Tour: $171
- Lemuy Island Tour from Castro: $178
- Dalcahue and Quinchao Island Full Day Tour in Chiloe: $209
- Dock of Souls Trekking Tour in Chiloe: $268
- Lemuy Island in Chiloe Full Day Private Tour: $284
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one daySantiago $8.89Castro $18
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
- Cousiño Macul Heritage Wine Tour with Tastings: $25
- Pub Crawl with Unlimited Beer and Welcome Shots: $25
- Premium Wine Tour in Viña Cousiño Macul Spanish official: $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
- Half Day Trip to Undurraga Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $75
- Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, with Wine Tasting: $75
- Undurraga Wine Tasting Tour from Santiago: $75
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santiago and Castro, we can see that Santiago is more expensive. And not only is Castro much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Castro would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Castro 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 Castro.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santiago Expensive? and Is Castro Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santiago or Castro?
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 160 times larger than the population of Castro. When comparing the sizes of Santiago and Castro, 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.