Which place is cheaper, El Chalten or Santiago?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Santiago or El Chalten?
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 El Chalten. 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 El Chalten?
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.
El Chalten
El Chalten is probably one of the most beautiful areas of Patagonia, especially at the slightest ray of sunshine and one of your cheapest destination while you are travelling in Patagonia. Indeed, you will spend your days hiking and there are no park fees. There are restaurants, souvenir shops, and outdoor stores but most of them will not accept credit cards so before heading out, get cash in El Calafate or your previous stop. For the beginners, it will be long hikes in a magical setting and for the experts perhaps a week long expedition to the greatest glaciers of the world. To discover the way people live in the pampa, you may also decide to stay at an Estancia. In the stunning Estancia Santa Thelma, about 300km away from El Chalten, you will be able to explore the surroundings by horse, live a unique experience in the middle of the nature and its vast plains occupied by thousands of merino sheep and horses and of course eat a typical meal of the region.
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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina, and The Best Adventure Tours to Argentina.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySantiago $141El Chalten $9.93
The average daily cost (per person) in Santiago is $141, while the average daily cost in El Chalten is $9.93. 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 El Chalten in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSantiago $110El Chalten $4.42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSantiago $220El Chalten $8.84
Compare Hotels in Santiago and El Chalten
Looking for a hotel in Santiago or El Chalten? 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 El Chalten Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santiago $5.41El Chalten $2.37
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:
- Arturo Merino Benítez Intl Airport: Shared Transfer: $24
- Private Santiago Airport to Santiago Transfer: $25
- Santiago Airport (SCL) to Santiago hotels - Arrival Transfer: $27
- Private Transfer From The Hotel in Santiago City To the Airport: $29
- Private Transfer from the Airport to Santiago City: $29
- Private Transfer: $31
- Private Santiago Airport to Santiago Transfer: $35
- From Farellones/Valle Nevado Roundtrip Transfer: $35
- Departure Transfer - Hotel in Santiago to Santiago International Airport: $35
- Arrival Transfer - Santiago International Airport to Hotel in Santiago: $35
- Valle Nevado Ski Day Trip with Hotel Transfers: $39
- Santiago de Chile Airport Private Transfer: $40
Is it cheaper to fly into Santiago or El Chalten?
Prices for flights to both El Chalten 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 $13El Chalten $3.66
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 Winery Tour with Wine Tastings and Dinner: $45
- Sunset at Alyan Family Wines Winery with Dinner: $94
- Traditional Dinner Show in Santiago: $107
- Dinner Show in Bali Hai: $109
- Small-Group Night City Tour: San Cristobal Hill and Dinner Show: $120
- San Cristobal Hill Night Tour with Dinner Show: $129
- 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.Santiago $47El Chalten $2.66
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
- "Tour Tradicional" Viña Cousiño Macul Oficial español: $23
- Cousiño Macul Official Winery Tour with Tasting: $23
- A Fabulous Walking tour by the Old Santiago of Chile -small group: $25
- Skip the Line: Concha y Toro Traditional Tour Ticket: $25
- Walking tour through Santiago: $26
- From Valle Nevado and Farellones Small Group Tour: $29
- Small-Group Tour to Valle Nevado and Farellones from Santiago: $29
Tours and Activities in El Chalten
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for El Chalten are as follows:
- 3 Hours Grilled Lamb Experience in Estancia Bonanza: $55
- Rafting experience on the Rio de las Vueltas in Patagonia: $90
- Rio de las Vueltas Rafting Experience - El Chalten: $90
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySantiago $8.41El Chalten $1.22
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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santiago and El Chalten, we can see that Santiago is more expensive. And not only is El Chalten much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to El Chalten would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in El Chalten 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 El Chalten.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santiago Expensive? and Is El Chalten Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Santiago or El Chalten?
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 Santiago or El Chalten in the Summer?
Both El Chalten and Santiago are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities.
In January, Santiago is generally cooler than El Chalten. Daily temperatures in Santiago average around 21°C (70°F), and El Chalten fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in El Chalten. In January, Santiago usually receives less rain than El Chalten. Santiago gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JanuarySantiago 21°C (70°F)El Chalten 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Santiago or El Chalten in the Autumn?
Both El Chalten and Santiago during the autumn are popular places to visit.
Santiago is cooler than El Chalten in the autumn. The daily temperature in Santiago averages around 15°C (59°F) in April, and El Chalten fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
El Chalten gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Santiago usually gets less rain in April than El Chalten. Santiago gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures AprilSantiago 15°C (59°F)El Chalten 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Santiago or El Chalten in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Santiago and El Chalten.
In the winter, Santiago is much colder than El Chalten. Typically, the winter temperatures in Santiago in July average around 9°C (48°F), and El Chalten averages at about 16°C (61°F).
In July, Santiago usually receives more rain than El Chalten. Santiago gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JulySantiago 9°C (48°F)El Chalten 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Santiago or El Chalten in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Santiago as well as El Chalten.
In October, Santiago is generally cooler than El Chalten. Daily temperatures in Santiago average around 15°C (59°F), and El Chalten fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
It's quite rainy in El Chalten. Santiago usually gets less rain in October than El Chalten. Santiago gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures OctoberSantiago 15°C (59°F)El Chalten 22°C (72°F)
Typical Weather for El Chalten and Santiago
| Santiago | El Chalten | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Mar | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| May | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jun | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Aug | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Nov | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) |
| Dec | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 140 mm (5.5 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.