Which place is cheaper, Punta Arenas 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 Punta Arenas?
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 Punta Arenas. 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 Punta Arenas?
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.
Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas is in the far south of Chile and has a long history of maritime commerce, oil extraction, and sheep farming. It's the most populated city on the Strait of Magellan and has all the facilities you might need as a traveler, including banks, markets, drugstores and equipment shops. With a population of about 130,000, the city is a comfortable place to spend time. It serves as a base for Antarctic expeditions, although many expeditions also start in Ushuaia, Argentina, and Christchurch New Zealand.
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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Santiago Prices
Chile PricesPunta Arenas Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySantiago $159Punta Arenas $83
The average daily cost (per person) in Santiago is $159, while the average daily cost in Punta Arenas is $83. 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 Punta Arenas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSantiago $116Punta Arenas $34
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSantiago $232Punta Arenas $68
Compare Hotels in Santiago and Punta Arenas
Looking for a hotel in Santiago or Punta Arenas? 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 Punta Arenas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santiago $5.72Punta Arenas $1.91
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$1.20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santiago
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santiago:
- Private Scenic Transfer to Mendoza.: $467
- Airport Transfer and Halfday City tour Santiago de Chile: $362
- Private Transfer from Santiago or Santiago Airport to Colchagua or Santa Cruz: $300
- Private Santiago Visit Haras de Pirque Winery & Transfer Hotel: $300
- Private Santiago, Visit Santa Rita Winery & Transfer to Hotel: $300
- Private Transfer Between Santiago and Cruise Port: $270
- City Tour Santiago with Exclusive Guide + Private Transfer: $270
- Santiago de Chile: Private Transfer to San Antonio / Port: $270
- Private Transfer to Sewell UNESCO Andes Town Tour with Lunch: $269
- Maipo Valley Wine Tour, Concha y Toro, Private Transfer from Santiago: $262
- Private cruise transfer: Puerto San Antonio or Valparaíso ↔ Santiago: $260
- Private Transfer from Arturo Merino Benítez (SCL) Airport to San Antonio: $253
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta Arenas
Also for Punta Arenas, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Punta Arenas Airport Transfer: $29
- Transfer Airport Punta Arenas: $30
- Oneway Private Transfer from Punta Arenas Airport to Punta Arenas: $36
- Transfer from Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales: $267
Is it cheaper to fly into Santiago or Punta Arenas?
Prices for flights to both Punta Arenas 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 $24Punta Arenas $38
Typical Food Prices in Santiago
Some typical examples of dining costs in Santiago are as follows:
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Empanada$1.99
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Hamburger$2.65
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Dinner$27
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: $56
- Street Food Tour in Santiago with a Local Guide: $57
- Mercado Meals Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $60
- 4h Cooking Class in 8 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $77
- 4h Cooking Class in Santiago : 8 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $85
- Local Food Tour with Tastings & Drinks: $99
- Food Tour STGO, Eat like Locals!: $99
- Traditional Dinner Show in Santiago: $107
- Santiago Food Tour: Bohemian Flavors and Local Gems: $109
- Lastarria Food Tour: Wine, Bites & Social Culinary Experience: $109
- Small-Group Tour: Night City Tour with Santa Lucia Hill and Dinner Show: $116
Typical Food Prices in Punta Arenas
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Punta Arenas:
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Donut$1.11
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Dinner$27
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Punta Arenas
For Punta Arenas, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Chilean Cooking Classes + Wine at a Local’s Home: $113
- Punta Arenas : Chilean cooking class. Relax and learn!: $120
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santiago $50Punta Arenas $6.81
Tours and Activities in Santiago
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santiago are as follows:
- 1 Day Tour of Isla Negra Algarrobo and Viña Undurraga from Santiago: $112
- 1 Day Tour of Viña Concha y Toro from Santiago: $120
- 1 Day Undurraga Vineyard Tour from Santiago: $120
- 3 Hours Santiago Blend Walking Tour: $30
- 6 Hour Tour of Culture, History and Flavors from Santiago: $75
- A City Tour Walking through the Unforgettable Santiago: $26
- A Fabulous Walking tour by the Old Santiago of Chile -: $25
- A Private Tour of Santiago with an Experienced Local Guide: $162
- A full Private Tour of Valparaiso from Santiago: $238
- Adega Montes Guided Tour with Private Transportation: $300
- Adventure in Portillo: Laguna del Inca and Mountain Picnic: $100
- All Santiago in One Day: Private Guided Tour: $250
Tours and Activities in Punta Arenas
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Punta Arenas.
- Fort Bulnes Historical Tour: $46
- Half day traditional City Tour: $50
- Punta Arenas City Tour Shore Excursion: $60
- Sightseeing Tour: $60
- City Tour Shore Excursion for Cruisers: $60
- Fort Bulnes & Strait of Magellan Tour: $65
- Punta Arenas Highlights: Cruise Passengers: $70
- Bike Tour in Punta Arenas, 100% local tour.: $70
- Classic Guided Tour of Punta Arenas city: $72
- Punta Arenas & Bulnes Fort Sightseeing Tour: $72
- Fuerte Bulnes Shore Tour for Cruisers in Punta Arenas: $80
- Sightseeing tour in the world's southernmost city: $80
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySantiago $8.89Punta Arenas $5.14
Sample the Local Flavors in Santiago
Also in Santiago, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- "Chile in Your Glass" Wine Tasting.: $22
- Cousiño Macul Heritage Wine Tour with Tastings: $25
- Pub Crawl with Unlimited Beer and Welcome Shots: $25
- Premium Wine Tour in Viña Cousiño Macul Spanish official: $45
- Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, with Casablanca Wine Tasting: $59
- Wine Tasting + Cheeseboard + Gypsum Reservoir: $60
- Valparaiso, Viña del Mar & Casablanca Wine Tour: $61
- Valparaiso, Viña del Mar & Casablanca Wine Tour: $62
- Undurraga Winery Tour with Entry and Wine Tasting: $70
- Half Day Trip to Undurraga Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $75
- Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, with Wine Tasting: $75
- Undurraga Wine Tasting Tour from Santiago: $75
Typical Alcohol Prices in Punta Arenas
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Punta Arenas:
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Alcohol$7.76
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santiago and Punta Arenas, we can see that Santiago is more expensive. And not only is Punta Arenas much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Punta Arenas would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Punta Arenas 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 Punta Arenas.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santiago Expensive? and Is Punta Arenas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santiago or Punta Arenas?
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Punta Arenas. When comparing the sizes of Santiago and Punta Arenas, 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 Punta Arenas?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.
Should I visit Santiago or Punta Arenas in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Santiago as well as Punta Arenas.
In the summer, Santiago is much warmer than Punta Arenas. Typically, the summer temperatures in Santiago in January average around 21°C (70°F), and Punta Arenas averages at about 11°C (52°F).
Santiago usually gets less rain in January than Punta Arenas. Santiago gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JanuarySantiago 21°C (70°F)Punta Arenas 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Santiago or Punta Arenas in the Autumn?
Both Punta Arenas and Santiago are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.
In April, Santiago is generally much warmer than Punta Arenas. Daily temperatures in Santiago average around 15°C (59°F), and Punta Arenas fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).
In April, Santiago usually receives less rain than Punta Arenas. Santiago gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures AprilSantiago 15°C (59°F)Punta Arenas 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit Santiago or Punta Arenas in the Winter?
Both Punta Arenas and Santiago during the winter are popular places to visit.
Punta Arenas can be very cold during winter. Santiago is much warmer than Punta Arenas in the winter. The daily temperature in Santiago averages around 9°C (48°F) in July, and Punta Arenas fluctuates around 1°C (35°F).
Santiago usually gets more rain in July than Punta Arenas. Santiago gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JulySantiago 9°C (48°F)Punta Arenas 1°C (35°F)
Should I visit Santiago or Punta Arenas in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Santiago and Punta Arenas.
In the spring, Santiago is much warmer than Punta Arenas. Typically, the spring temperatures in Santiago in October average around 15°C (59°F), and Punta Arenas averages at about 7°C (44°F).
In October, Santiago usually receives less rain than Punta Arenas. Santiago gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures OctoberSantiago 15°C (59°F)Punta Arenas 7°C (44°F)
Typical Weather for Punta Arenas and Santiago
| Santiago | Punta Arenas | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Mar | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
| May | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Jun | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jul | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 1°C (35°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Aug | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) |
| Oct | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Nov | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Dec | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 29 mm (1.1 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.