Which place is cheaper, Koh Pha Ngan 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 Koh Pha Ngan?
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 Koh Pha Ngan. 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 Koh Pha Ngan?
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.
Koh Pha Ngan
Ko Phangan (or Pha Ngan) is best known for its full moon parties, attracting backpackers and budget travelers the world over for all-night parties on the beach. The clear, blue water, beautiful beaches, and tropical atmosphere bring the tourists to the island, and the low prices, diverse activities, and abundant amenities keep them here.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, The Best Luxury Tours to Chile, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand.
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Santiago Prices
Chile PricesKoh Pha Ngan Prices
Thailand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySantiago $150Koh Pha Ngan $61
The average daily cost (per person) in Santiago is $150, while the average daily cost in Koh Pha Ngan is $61. 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 Koh Pha Ngan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSantiago $109Koh Pha Ngan $27
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSantiago $218Koh Pha Ngan $54
Compare Hotels in Santiago and Koh Pha Ngan
Looking for a hotel in Santiago or Koh Pha Ngan? 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 Koh Pha Ngan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santiago $5.41Koh Pha Ngan $15
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:
- Airport Transfer and Halfday City tour Santiago de Chile: $362
- Airport Transfer: Santiago to Airport SCL by Business Car: $87
- Airport transfer between Santiago city center and Arturo Merino Benítez Airport: $51
- Arrival Transfer from Santiago Airport SCL to Santiago de Chile: $80
- City tour santiago with excursion to valparaiso and airport transfer: $150
- Departure Transfer: Santiago to Airport SCL by Business Car: $87
- From Viña Santa Rita Tour w/Transfer: $120
- Luxury Airport Private Transfer SCL: $90
- Maipo Valley Wine Tour, Concha y Toro, Private Transfer from Santiago: $262
- Private Round Trip Transfer from Santiago Airport SCL to Santiago: $96
- Private Round Trip Transfer on Santiago Of Chile City: $68
- Private Santiago Visit Haras de Pirque Winery & Transfer Hotel: $300
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Pha Ngan
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Koh Pha Ngan are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$9.42
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Ferry Ride$16
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Gas for Scooter$3.45
Is it cheaper to fly into Santiago or Koh Pha Ngan?
Prices for flights to both Koh Pha Ngan 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 $23Koh Pha Ngan $20
Typical Food Prices in Santiago
Some typical examples of dining costs in Santiago are as follows:
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Empanada$1.88
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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.
- Legacy Family Tour Lunch or Dinner Pairing 4 Strokes: $40
- Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $82
- 4-Hour Boozy Chilean Cooking Class in Santiago: $85
- Bali Hai Dinner & Show, Transport and Wine refill: $106
- Dinner Show in Bali Hai with Wine refill and transportation: $114
- Private Dinner & Chilean Folk Show with Transfers: $116
- Alyan Winery Sunset with Wine Tastings and Dinner: $117
- Private Market Tour and Traditional Chilean Cooking Class in a Local Home: $122
- San Cristobal Hill Night Tour with Dinner Show: $129
- Bali Hai Polynesian Dinner Show with Transfer: $130
- Private Night City Tour with San Cristobal Hill And Dinner Show: $181
- Santiago Chilean and Peruvian Cooking Class with a Local Carol: $184
Typical Food Prices in Koh Pha Ngan
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Koh Pha Ngan:
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Noodle Lunch (for One)$1.26
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Sit Down Dinner (for Two)$12
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Smoothies (for Two)$1.26
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Ice Cream$0.63
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Juice$1.88
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3 Spring Rolls$0.94
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2 Pancakes$1.88
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santiago $47Koh Pha Ngan $19
Tours and Activities in Santiago
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santiago are as follows:
- Official Tour of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Santiago: $9.00
- Santiago Cathedral's Bell Tower Official Tour: $9.00
- Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino Admission Ticket: $17
- A historical tour of Santiago, Chile: $18
- Cable Car Admission Ticket: $18
- Santiago City Tour: Living History and Local Food Tasting: $20
- Guided City Tour through the historic center of Santiago: $23
- Private Guided Walking Tour of the City Center: $24
- Yungay, Memory, Art, and Neighborhood Walking Tour: $25
- Guided Walking Tour of the Historical Old Town: $25
- A Fabulous Walking tour by the Old Santiago of Chile -small group: $25
- Santiago : Highlights Walking Tour With A Guide: $26
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySantiago $8.40Koh Pha Ngan $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Santiago
Also in Santiago, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Ludwig's Original Pub Crawl with VIP Club Entry: $34
- Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, with Wine Tasting: $60
- Undurraga Winery Tour with Entry and Wine Tasting: $63
- Undurraga Wine tour: $70
- Half Day Trip to Undurraga Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $70
- Valparaiso Port and Viña del Mar with Casablanca Wine Tasting: $79
- Valparaiso Port and Viña del Mar with wine tasting in Casablanca: $79
- Inca Lagoon and Vineyard Visit with Wine Tasting: $80
- Half Day Trip to Cousiño Macul Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $87
- Half Day Trip to Concha y Toro Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $87
- Maipo Valley Wine Tour with 4 vineyards from Santiago.: $89
- Kross Brewery Tour: A Craft Beer Tasting Experience: $93
Typical Alcohol Prices in Koh Pha Ngan
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Koh Pha Ngan are as follows:
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Drinks at Irish Pub (for Two)$8.16
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santiago and Koh Pha Ngan, we can see that Santiago is more expensive. And not only is Koh Pha Ngan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Santiago is in South America and Koh Pha Ngan is in Asia, 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 Koh Pha Ngan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Pha Ngan 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 Koh Pha Ngan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santiago Expensive? and Is Koh Pha Ngan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santiago or Koh Pha Ngan?
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 410 times larger than the population of Koh Pha Ngan. When comparing the sizes of Santiago and Koh Pha Ngan, 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 Koh Pha Ngan?
Santiago has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Koh Pha Ngan experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Santiago or Koh Pha Ngan in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Santiago and Koh Pha Ngan. Koh Pha Ngan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Santiago is generally cooler than Koh Pha Nganin July. Daily temperatures in Santiago average around 21°C (70°F), and Koh Pha Ngan fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
Koh Pha Ngan receives a lot of rain in the summer. In January, Santiago usually receives less rain than Koh Pha Nganin July. Santiago gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulySantiago 21°C (70°F)Koh Pha Ngan 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Santiago or Koh Pha Ngan in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Santiago as well as Koh Pha Ngan. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Pha Ngan throughout the year.
Santiago is much colder than Koh Pha Ngan in the autumn. The daily temperature in Santiago averages around 15°C (59°F) in April, and Koh Pha Ngan fluctuates around 24°C (75°F)in October.
It's quite rainy in Koh Pha Ngan. Santiago usually gets less rain in April than Koh Pha Nganin October. Santiago gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 240 mm (9.5 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, December to March in Koh Pha Ngan is the dry season. October and November in Koh Pha Ngan is the rainy season.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberSantiago 15°C (59°F)Koh Pha Ngan 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Santiago or Koh Pha Ngan in the Winter?
Both Koh Pha Ngan and Santiago are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Pha Ngan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the winter, Santiago is much colder than Koh Pha Ngan. Typically, the winter temperatures in Santiago in July average around 9°C (48°F), and Koh Pha Ngan averages at about 22°C (72°F)in January.
In July, Santiago usually receives more rain than Koh Pha Nganin January. Santiago gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the winter. The dry season in Koh Pha Ngan is December to March.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuarySantiago 9°C (48°F)Koh Pha Ngan 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Santiago or Koh Pha Ngan in the Spring?
Both Koh Pha Ngan and Santiago during the spring are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Pha Ngan year-round.
In October, Santiago is generally much colder than Koh Pha Nganin April. Daily temperatures in Santiago average around 15°C (59°F), and Koh Pha Ngan fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
Santiago usually gets less rain in October than Koh Pha Nganin April. Santiago gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilSantiago 15°C (59°F)Koh Pha Ngan 24°C (76°F)
Typical Weather for Koh Pha Ngan and Santiago
| Santiago | Koh Pha Ngan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Jun | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) |
| Jul | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| Aug | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) |
| Oct | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 240 mm (9.5 in) |
| Nov | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 335 mm (13.2 in) |
| Dec | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 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.