Which place is cheaper, Pucon or Santiago?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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.
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.
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.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Santiago is $139, while the average daily cost in Pucon is $98. 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.
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.
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Santiago:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santiago:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in 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.
Some typical examples of dining costs in Santiago are as follows:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Santiago.
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santiago are as follows:
Here are a few actual costs in Pucon for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Also in Santiago, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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?.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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) |