Which place is cheaper, Pucon or Santiago?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Santiago or Pucon?
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 Pucon. 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 Pucon?
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.
Pucon
A popular hub for adventure tourism, Pucon is a town in the Lake District of the South American nation of Chile. Located on Lake Villarirca with the snowcapped Villarrica volcano looming above and plenty of forested valleys below, the town has become a home base year-round for a full range of outdoor activities.
Check out our ultimate guide to Traveling in Patagonia.
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySantiago $144Pucon $102
The average daily cost (per person) in Santiago is $144, while the average daily cost in Pucon is $102. 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 Pucon in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSantiago $112Pucon $44
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSantiago $224Pucon $88
Compare Hotels in Santiago and Pucon
Looking for a hotel in Santiago or Pucon? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santiago $5.54Pucon $20
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$1.16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santiago
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santiago:
- Private Departure Transfer from Santiago- Santiago Airport (SCL): $28
- Arrival Private Transfers : Santiago Airport SCL to Santiago in Luxury Van: $86
- Arturo Merino Benítez Intl Airport: Shared Transfer: $24
- Departure Private Transfers : Santiago to Santiago Airport SCL in Business Car: $69
- Departure Private Transfers : Santiago to Santiago Airport SCL in Luxury Van: $86
- Departure Transfer - Hotel in Santiago to Santiago International Airport: $35
- From Farellones Roundtrip Transfer: $28
- From Valle Nevado and Farellones with Transfer: $72
- Ignacio P.García International Airport to Hermosillo - Arrival Private Transfer: $30
- Private Round Trip Transfer on Santiago Of Chile City: $55
- Private Transfer From Santiago airport to San Antonio Pier or Valparaiso Pier : $251
- Private Transfer San Antonio port to Hotel or Santiago Airport: $100
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pucon
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pucon:
- Private Transfer Pucon Thermal Resorts to Temuco Airport: $50
- Pucon Temuco Airport Private Transfer: $92
- Pucon to Puerto Montt El Tepual Airport (PMC) -Departure Transfer: $116
Is it cheaper to fly into Santiago or Pucon?
Prices for flights to both Pucon 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 $13Pucon $39
Typical Food Prices in Santiago
Some typical examples of dining costs in Santiago are as follows:
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Empanada$1.93
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Hamburger$2.56
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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.
- Bali Hai Dinner & Show, Transport and Wine refill: $106
- Traditional Chilean Show with Dinner and Private Transportation in Santiago: $107
- Traditional Dinner Show in Santiago: $107
- Dinner Show in Bali Hai with Wine refill and transportation: $109
- Small-Group Tour: Night City Tour with Santa Lucia Hill and Dinner Show: $116
- San Cristobal Hill Night Tour with Dinner Show: $129
- Sunset Alyan + 6 wines + savory board + rustic dinner + dessert: $130
- Sunset Winery Tour with Wine Tastings and Dinner: $130
- Private Tour: Santiago at Night with Dinner and Show: $131
- Viña Concha y Toro Nocturno: Dinner Show: $137
- 4-Hour Private Night Tour with Dinner and Show: $150
- Private Dinner and Show with Transfers: $158
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santiago $48Pucon $38
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
- Best of Santiago a Self-Guided Audio Tour in English: $7.98
- Santiago Cathedral's Bell Tower Official Tour: $10
- Cable Car Admission Ticket: $15
- Undurraga Sibaris Tour Ticket: $22
- "Tour Tradicional" Viña Cousiño Macul Oficial español: $23
- Cousiño Macul Official Winery Tour with Tasting: $23
- Santiago : Highlights Walking Tour With A Guide: $24
- Walking Tour in Portuguese of Santiago City: $25
- A Fabulous Walking tour by the Old Santiago of Chile -small group: $25
- Skip the Line: Concha y Toro Traditional Tour Ticket: $25
Tours and Activities in Pucon
Here are a few actual costs in Pucon for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 3-Hour Rafting Experience in Pucon: $60
- Private 3-Hour Canyoning Experience on the Correntoso River: $68
- Private Half Day Andean Lakes Experience with pickup: $110
- Half Day Tour to The Eyes Of Caburgua from Pucon: $110
- Sightseeing Tour in Pucon and Villarica: $110
- Full Day Private Tour Ascending Sollipulli Volcano: $140
- Local Chile-Bavarian Culinary Pretzel Baking Experience n Sausage: $149
- Full Day Excursion Tour to Quetrupillán Volcano: $177
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySantiago $8.61Pucon $27
Sample the Local Flavors in Santiago
Also in Santiago, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- 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: $70
- Valparaiso Port and Viña del Mar with wine tasting in Casablanca: $79
- Portillo Andes Mountain Range with Inca Lagoon and Wine Tasting: $79
- Inca Lagoon and Vineyard Visit with Wine Tasting: $85
- 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
- Portillo Andes Mountain Range Inca lagoon and wine tasting: $99
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santiago and Pucon, we can see that Santiago is more expensive. And not only is Pucon much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pucon would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pucon 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 Pucon.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santiago Expensive? and Is Pucon Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santiago or Pucon?
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 180 times larger than the population of Pucon. When comparing the sizes of Santiago and Pucon, 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 Pucon?
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 Pucon in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Santiago and Pucon.
In January, Santiago is generally a little warmer than Pucon. Daily temperatures in Santiago average around 21°C (70°F), and Pucon fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).
In January, Santiago usually receives less rain than Pucon. Santiago gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JanuarySantiago 21°C (70°F)Pucon 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Santiago or Pucon in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Santiago as well as Pucon.
Santiago is a little warmer than Pucon in the autumn. The daily temperature in Santiago averages around 15°C (59°F) in April, and Pucon fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).
It's quite rainy in Pucon. Santiago usually gets less rain in April than Pucon. Santiago gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 133 mm (5.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures AprilSantiago 15°C (59°F)Pucon 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Santiago or Pucon in the Winter?
Both Pucon and Santiago are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities.
In the winter, Santiago is a little warmer than Pucon. Typically, the winter temperatures in Santiago in July average around 9°C (48°F), and Pucon averages at about 7°C (45°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Pucon. In July, Santiago usually receives less rain than Pucon. Santiago gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 312 mm (12.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JulySantiago 9°C (48°F)Pucon 7°C (45°F)
Should I visit Santiago or Pucon in the Spring?
Both Pucon and Santiago during the spring are popular places to visit.
In October, Santiago is generally a little warmer than Pucon. Daily temperatures in Santiago average around 15°C (59°F), and Pucon fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).
Pucon gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Santiago usually gets less rain in October than Pucon. Santiago gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 109 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures OctoberSantiago 15°C (59°F)Pucon 11°C (52°F)
Typical Weather for Pucon and Santiago
| Santiago | Pucon | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Mar | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) |
| May | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 295 mm (11.6 in) |
| Jun | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 297 mm (11.7 in) |
| Jul | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 312 mm (12.3 in) |
| Aug | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 247 mm (9.7 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 162 mm (6.4 in) |
| Oct | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 109 mm (4.3 in) |
| Nov | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Dec | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 63 mm (2.5 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.