Which place is cheaper, Houston or Santiago?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Santiago or Houston?
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 Houston. 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 Houston?
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.
Houston
The largest city in Texas and the fourth largest in the United States, Houston is a sprawling urban center that has grown from its wealth in the oil industry. Visitors today are drawn to its cultural diversity which has additionally made Houston a foodie destination. Other attractions to Houston include its proximity to NASA's Space Center Houston on the Gulf coast, and its Downtown which features a vibrant museum and arts scene, shopping, and dining.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySantiago $143Houston $262
The average daily cost (per person) in Santiago is $143, while the average daily cost in Houston is $262. 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 Houston in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSantiago $111Houston $142
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSantiago $222Houston $284
Compare Hotels in Santiago and Houston
Looking for a hotel in Santiago or Houston? 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 Houston Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santiago $5.48Houston $72
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$1.15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santiago
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santiago:
- Private Departure Transfer from Santiago- Santiago Airport (SCL): $27
- Airport transfer between Santiago city center and Arturo Merino Benítez Airport: $51
- Arrival Private Transfers : Santiago Airport SCL to Santiago in Luxury Van: $85
- 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: $68
- Departure Private Transfers : Santiago to Santiago Airport SCL in Luxury Van: $85
- Departure Transfer - Hotel in Santiago to Santiago International Airport: $35
- From Farellones Roundtrip Transfer: $35
- From Valle Nevado and Farellones with Transfer: $72
- Luxury Airport Private Transfer SCL: $90
- Pick up Santiago Visit Haras de Pirque Winery & Transfer Hotel: $300
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Houston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Houston:
- Private Arrival Transfer from Houston William P. Hobby Airport HOU: $48
- Private Departure Transfer to Houston William P. Hobby Airport HOU: $48
- Private Arrival Transfer from Houston George Bush Airport (IAH): $51
- Round-Trip Shuttle Transfer to NASA Space Center: $54
- Transfer in private vehicle from Houston George Bush Airport to Houston Downtown: $60
- Private One-way George Bush Airport Transfer To/From Houston: $71
- Houston William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) to Houston - Arrival Private Transfer: $81
- Houston to Houston William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) - Departure Private Transfer: $81
- Transfer in private minivan from Houston George Bush Airport to Houston Downtown: $88
- Transfer in private minivan from Houston City Center to George Bush Airport: $88
- Departure Private Transfer: Houston to George Bush Airport IAH in Business Car: $106
- Arrival Private Transfer: George Bush Airport IAH to Houston in Business Car: $108
Is it cheaper to fly into Santiago or Houston?
Prices for flights to both Houston 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 $13Houston $35
Typical Food Prices in Santiago
Some typical examples of dining costs in Santiago are as follows:
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Empanada$1.91
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Hamburger$2.54
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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.
- Traditional Chilean Show with Dinner and Private Transportation in Santiago: $107
- Traditional Dinner Show in Santiago: $107
- Dinner Show in Bali Hai: $109
- Sunset at Alyan Family Wines Winery with Dinner: $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
- 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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Houston
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Houston.
- Astroville Food Tour of Downtown Houston with Tunnel Access: $70
- Astroville Food Tour of Downtown Houston with Tunnel Access: $70
- Downtown Houston Food Tour: $76
- Houston Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $85
- Houston Downtown: Secret Food Tours: $87
- Howdy H-Town EADO Food Tour: $90
- East Downtown Food Tour: $90
- Montrose Food Tour: $97
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santiago $48Houston $14
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
- Skip the Line: Concha y Toro Traditional Tour Ticket: $25
- Walking tour through Santiago: $26
- From Valle Nevado and Farellones Small Group Tour: $29
- The Essentials City Tour & Optional Concha y Toro: $30
- Half Day tradicional city Tour: $30
- TOUR PANORAMICO VALLE NEVADO Y FARELLONES: $32
Tours and Activities in Houston
Here are a few actual costs in Houston for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Sights of Downtown Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $7.31
- Houston Museum of Natural Sciences: Planetarium Ticket: $9.00
- Downtown In App Audio Walking Tour: $9.00
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Houston by Operation City Quest: $10
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Houston by Wacky Walks: $10
- Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern History Tour: $12
- Sightseeing Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $14
- Houston Astros Baseball Game Ticket at Minute Maid Park: $16
- Austin & Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $17
- Children's Museum Houston Entry Ticket: $17
- Experience the season with a scavenger hunt in Houston with Holly Jolly Hunt: $20
- Family Guy Experience - Houston: $25
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySantiago $8.51Houston $13
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 tour: $63
- Half Day Trip to Undurraga Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $70
- Private Tour: Santa Rita Vineyard with Wine Tastings: $72
- From Concha y Toro Marqués Half-Day Wine Tasting: $89
- 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
- Premium Wine Tasting and Tour at Santa Rita with Transport: $145
Sample the Local Flavors in Houston
Also in Houston, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Brewery Pass with Beer Tastings: $50
- Private Houston Brewery Tour by Cart: $57
- 2-Hour Downtown Brewery Tour by Electric Cart: $70
- Downtown Houston Brewery Bike Tour : $71
- Private 3-in-1 Sightseeing, Brewery, and Mural Tour of Houston by Cart: $115
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santiago and Houston, we can see that Houston is more expensive. And not only is Santiago much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Santiago is in South America and Houston is in North 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 Houston would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Houston 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 Santiago Expensive? and Is Houston Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santiago or Houston?
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Houston. When comparing the sizes of Santiago and Houston, 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 Santiago or Houston?
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 Houston has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Santiago or Houston in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Santiago and Houston. Also, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Houston this time of year.
Santiago is cooler than Houston in the summer. The daily temperature in Santiago averages around 21°C (70°F) in January, and Houston fluctuates around 84°F (29°C)in July.
Houston receives a lot of rain in the summer. In January, Santiago usually receives less rain than Houstonin July. Santiago gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Houston receives 4.8 inches (122 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulySantiago 21°C (70°F)Houston 84°F (29°C)
Should I visit Santiago or Houston in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Santiago as well as Houston. Also, many travelers come to Houston for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.
In the autumn, Santiago is cooler than Houston. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Santiago in April average around 15°C (59°F), and Houston averages at about 71°F (22°C)in October.
It's quite rainy in Houston. Santiago usually gets less rain in April than Houstonin October. Santiago gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Houston receives 4.2 inches (107 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberSantiago 15°C (59°F)Houston 71°F (22°C)
Should I visit Santiago or Houston in the Winter?
Both Houston and Santiago are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Houston in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In July, Santiago is generally cooler than Houstonin January. Daily temperatures in Santiago average around 9°C (48°F), and Houston fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).
In July, Santiago usually receives less rain than Houstonin January. Santiago gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Houston receives 3.6 inches (91 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuarySantiago 9°C (48°F)Houston 52°F (11°C)
Should I visit Santiago or Houston in the Spring?
Both Houston and Santiago during the spring are popular places to visit. Furthermore, most visitors come to Houston for the activities around the city during these months.
Santiago is cooler than Houston in the spring. The daily temperature in Santiago averages around 15°C (59°F) in October, and Houston fluctuates around 70°F (21°C)in April.
Santiago usually gets less rain in October than Houstonin April. Santiago gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Houston receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilSantiago 15°C (59°F)Houston 70°F (21°C)
Typical Weather for Houston and Santiago
| Santiago | Houston | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 52°F (11°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 55°F (13°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) |
| Mar | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Apr | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 70°F (21°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) |
| May | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 76°F (25°C) | 5.2 inches (132 mm) |
| Jun | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 81°F (27°C) | 6.4 inches (163 mm) |
| Jul | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 84°F (29°C) | 4.8 inches (122 mm) |
| Aug | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 83°F (29°C) | 4.4 inches (113 mm) |
| Sep | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 80°F (27°C) | 5.6 inches (143 mm) |
| Oct | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 71°F (22°C) | 4.2 inches (107 mm) |
| Nov | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 4.1 inches (104 mm) |
| Dec | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 55°F (13°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) |
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.