A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Santiago vs. New York City for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Santiago or New York City?

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 New York City. 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 New York City?

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.

New York City

The most populated city in the United States, New York City, sits at the mouth of the Hudson River and encompasses both the island of Manhattan as well as the surrounding land on Long Island, most of which is known as Brooklyn. It's a cultural, culinary, theatrical, and art center that has much to offer domestic and international travelers alike. The city covers an area of 305 square miles and has a population of about 8.2 million people in the city proper with 18.7 million in the metropolitan area.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, The Best Luxury Tours to Chile, The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage.


Which place is cheaper, New York City or Santiago?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Santiago Prices
    Chile Prices
    New York City Prices
    USA Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Santiago $150
    New York City $363

The average daily cost (per person) in Santiago is $150, while the average daily cost in New York City is $363. 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 New York City in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Santiago $109
    New York City $175
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Santiago $218
    New York City $350
Compare Hotels in Santiago and New York City

Looking for a hotel in Santiago or New York City? 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.

Hotels in Santiago


Hotels in New York City


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 New York City Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Santiago $5.41
    New York City $49
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Santiago

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Santiago:


  • Metro Ride
    $1.13

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santiago

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santiago:

  • Transfer to Valparaiso Cruise Terminal with Winery & Town Tour: $109
  • Transfer to Snowy Valley fullday for skiers : $49
  • Transfer to San Antonio port with Valparaiso & Casablanca tour: $87
  • Transfer from Valparaiso or San Antonio Port + Condor Watching Tour: $230
  • Transfer from Valle Nevado, Farellones, Colorado or La Parva ski to Santiago: $83
  • Transfer from Santiago To Valle Nevado, Farellones, Colorado or La Parva ski: $100
  • Transfer from Santiago Airport to Santiago Centro Commune: $52
  • Transfer Santiago-Viña del Mar / Viña del Mar-Santiago: $220
  • Transfer Santiago-Valparaiso / Valparaiso-Santiago: $220
  • Transfer Santiago to Cruise Port in Valparaiso or San Antonio: $290
  • Transfer Santiago de Chile airport: $40
  • Transfer Santiago Airport to the commune of Providencia: $56

Typical Local Transportation Prices in New York City

Some typical examples of transportation costs in New York City are as follows:


  • Subway
    $4.50
  • Taxi Ride
    $8.00
  • Subway
    $2.50

Hired Cars and Shuttles in New York City

Also for New York City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Manhattan to LGA: One Way Shared Departure Transfer: $35
  • JFK to Manhattan: One Way Shared Arrival Transfer : $35
  • Manhattan to JFK: One Way Shared Departure Transfer : $35
  • Private Transfer from Manhattan to NYC Airports (JFK/EWR/LGA): $38
  • Shared transfer EWR: $39
  • Manhattan to EWR: One Way Shared Departure Transfer: $39
  • Private Arrival Transfer: NYC Airports (JFK) (LGA) (EWR) to Brooklyn: $43
  • Private Departure Transfer Brooklyn to NYC Airports (JFK) (LGA) (EWR): $43
  • Private New York City Airport-to-Airport Transfer (JFK/LGA/EWR): $43
  • Private Transfer from Manhattan Port to New York Airport (LGA): $44
  • Private Transfer from Newark Airport (EWR) to Cape Liberty Port: $44
  • Private Transfer from New York to Cape Liberty Cruise Port: $44

Is it cheaper to fly into Santiago or New York City?

Prices for flights to both New York City 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 day
    Santiago $23
    New York City $87
Typical Food Prices in Santiago

Some typical examples of dining costs in Santiago are as follows:


  • Empanada
    $1.88
  • Hamburger
    $2.50
  • 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 New York City

For New York City, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Gelato
    $7.50
  • Snacks for Two at Yankees Game
    $34
  • Coffee
    $6.53
  • Smoothie
    $6.95

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in New York City

For New York City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • East Village Noho Food Tour: $32
  • The Chinatown, Little Italy, Food Tour: $35
  • The Lower East Side Food Tour: $35
  • Sweets and Slices Greenwich Village Walking Food Tour: $49
  • New York City's Best Pizza tour: $59
  • Made in Brooklyn Food Tour: $65
  • Greenwich Village Pizza Walk: $75
  • Brooklyn Pizza Walk: $75
  • New York's Classic Eats West Village Food Tour: $75
  • New York's Classic Eats Lower East Side Food Tour: $75
  • Union Square Donut Adventure and Walking Food Tour: $75
  • East Village Pizza Walk: $75

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Santiago $47
    New York City $180

Tours and Activities in Santiago

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santiago are as follows:

  • Private Half-Day Guided Tour of the City of Santiago.: $280
  • Private Sightseeing City Tour in Valparaíso and Viña del Mar: $240
  • "Tour Tradicional" Viña Cousiño Macul Oficial español: $26
  • 1 Day Tour of Viña Concha y Toro from Santiago: $120
  • 4 Hour Santa Rita Winery All inclusive Tour for Wine Lover: $269
  • A Fabulous Walking tour by the Old Santiago of Chile -small group: $25
  • A full Private Tour of Valparaiso from Santiago : $240
  • A historical tour of Santiago, Chile: $18
  • An Architect's Tour of Downtown Santiago: $55
  • Andean Adventure: Cajón del Maipo & Santuario del Río Spa: $132
  • Andean Horse Ride Yerba Loca Sanctuary - Private tour from Santiago: $240
  • Andes Day Lagoon in Cajón del Maipo & Embalse el Yeso Private Tour: $200

Typical Entertainment Prices in New York City

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for New York City's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Comedy Show Tickets
    $56
  • City Map
    $8.00
  • Broadway Musical
    $111
  • Broadway Show Program
    $10
  • Magazine
    $6.99

Tours and Activities in New York City

For New York City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • New York's Hidden Gems: Self-Guided City Tour: $3.56
  • Central Park Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $4.75
  • Self Guided Central Park Bike or Walking Tour Application: $5.00
  • Broadway: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of the World's Iconic Theatre District: $5.39
  • Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in New York: $5.94
  • Brooklyn, NY Street Art Puzzle Quest: Self-Guided Tour: $5.94
  • New York City Audio Tour: $6.41
  • Self Guided "Central Park Movie Tour" Solo Walking Tour in New York City: $6.75
  • Private Haunted and Historic Audio Tour in Greenwich Village: $6.95
  • Luxury Horse and Carriage Tours in Central Park: $6.99
  • Central Park Outdoor Escape Adventure: $7.00
  • Movie Magic in Central Park: Self-Guided Puzzle Adventure: $7.09

For more ideas for your next trip, check out The Best Things to do in New York City with Kids, Things to Do in Central Park in NYC, and The Best Museums in New York City.


Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Santiago $8.40
    New York City $29

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

Sample the Local Flavors in New York City

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in New York City:

  • Brooklyn Distillery Tour : $22
  • NYC Pub Crawl Experience: $24
  • Distillery Tour and Tasting: $25
  • NYC Pub Crawl Tour: $30
  • NYC Pub Crawl with Rooftop Clubbing Experience: $33
  • Top Shelf Distillery Tour: $33
  • New York Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $36
  • Cheers to Chinatown Tour and Bar Crawl: $40
  • Brooklyn Literary Pub Crawl: $49
  • Greenwich Village Piano Bar Crawl: $50
  • Broadway Prohibition Pub Crawl: $64
  • Little Italy Prohibition Pub Crawl: $64


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santiago and New York City, we can see that New York City 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 New York City 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 New York City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in New York City 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 New York City Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Santiago or New York City?

New York City has a larger population, and is about 66% larger than the population of Santiago. When comparing the sizes of Santiago and New York City, 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 New York City?

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 New York City has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Santiago or New York City in the Summer?

Both New York City and Santiago during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to New York City this time of year.

In January, Santiago is generally cooler than New York Cityin July. Daily temperatures in Santiago average around 21°C (70°F), and New York City fluctuates around 77°F (25°C).

New York City gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Santiago usually gets less rain in January than New York Cityin July. Santiago gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while New York City receives 4.5 inches (114 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures January and July
    Santiago 21°C (70°F) 
    New York City 77°F (25°C)

Should I visit Santiago or New York City in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Santiago and New York City. Furthermore, many travelers come to New York City for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

Santiago is around the same temperature as New York City in the autumn. The daily temperature in Santiago averages around 15°C (59°F) in April, and New York City fluctuates around 57°F (14°C)in October.

In April, Santiago usually receives less rain than New York Cityin October. Santiago gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures April and October
    Santiago 15°C (59°F) 
    New York City 57°F (14°C)

Should I visit Santiago or New York City in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Santiago as well as New York City. Additionally, many visitors come to New York City in the winter for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.

New York City can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Santiago is much warmer than New York City. Typically, the winter temperatures in Santiago in July average around 9°C (48°F), and New York City averages at about 31°F (-1°C)in January.

Santiago usually gets less rain in July than New York Cityin January. Santiago gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures July and January
    Santiago 9°C (48°F) 
    New York City 31°F (-1°C)

Should I visit Santiago or New York City in the Spring?

Both New York City and Santiago are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to New York City for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.

In October, Santiago is generally a little warmer than New York Cityin April. Daily temperatures in Santiago average around 15°C (59°F), and New York City fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).

In October, Santiago usually receives less rain than New York Cityin April. Santiago gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.8 inches (98 mm) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures October and April
    Santiago 15°C (59°F) 
    New York City 52°F (11°C)

Typical Weather for New York City and Santiago

Santiago New York City
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 21°C (70°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 31°F (-1°C) 3.4 inches (86 mm)
Feb 20°C (68°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 33°F (1°C) 3 inches (77 mm)
Mar 18°C (64°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 42°F (6°C) 3.9 inches (98 mm)
Apr 15°C (59°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 52°F (11°C) 3.8 inches (98 mm)
May 12°C (54°F) 50 mm (2 in) 63°F (17°C) 4.1 inches (105 mm)
Jun 9°C (48°F) 40 mm (1.6 in) 72°F (22°C) 3.2 inches (82 mm)
Jul 9°C (48°F) 80 mm (3.1 in) 77°F (25°C) 4.5 inches (114 mm)
Aug 10°C (50°F) 40 mm (1.6 in) 76°F (24°C) 3.9 inches (99 mm)
Sep 12°C (54°F) 20 mm (0.8 in) 68°F (20°C) 3.7 inches (93 mm)
Oct 15°C (59°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 57°F (14°C) 3.1 inches (78 mm)
Nov 17°C (63°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 47°F (8°C) 3.9 inches (99 mm)
Dec 20°C (68°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 36°F (2°C) 3.4 inches (88 mm)