Which place is cheaper, San Diego 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 San Diego?
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 San Diego. 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 San Diego?
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.
San Diego
For many visitors and locals alike, San Diego is a paradise. Located in southern California, not far from Los Angeles, it has the perfect climate, wonderful beaches, and a culturally rich environment. It's surrounded by beautiful landscape and has a strong focus on wildlife conservation and eco-friendly living. Home to about 1.3 million residents, it is California's second largest city. It also has many universities, a large tech industry, and a thriving economy. Despite its size, many people perceive San Diego as a slower, more relaxed city with a pleasant vibe away from the chaos of a large city.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, The Best Luxury Tours to Chile, The Best G Adventures Tours to United States of America, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas.
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Santiago Prices
Chile PricesSan Diego Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySantiago $150San Diego $233
The average daily cost (per person) in Santiago is $150, while the average daily cost in San Diego is $233. 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 San Diego in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSantiago $109San Diego $115
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSantiago $218San Diego $230
Compare Hotels in Santiago and San Diego
Looking for a hotel in Santiago or San Diego? 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 San Diego Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santiago $5.41San Diego $23
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:
- Private Scenic Transfer to Mendoza.: $467
- Airport Transfer and Halfday City tour Santiago de Chile: $362
- Private Santiago Visit Haras de Pirque Winery & Transfer Hotel: $300
- Transfer Santiago to Cruise Port in Valparaiso or San Antonio: $290
- Transfer Private hotel to Cruise ship in Puerto San Antonio or Valparaiso: $270
- Santiago de Chile : private transfer in SUV to Viña del mar or Valparaíso: $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 Transfer from Arturo Merino Benítez (SCL) Airport to Viña del Mar: $261
- Private Transfer From Santiago airport to San Antonio Pier or Valparaiso Pier : $251
- Santiago Airport (SCL) to Santo Domingo - Round-Trip Transfer: $240
- Transfer from Valparaiso or San Antonio Port + Condor Watching Tour: $230
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Diego
Also for San Diego, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Tijuana Airport (TIJ): $39
- Private Transfer to Tijuana Airport (TIJ): $39
- San Diego Airport (SAN) to San Marcos, CA - Arrival Private Transfer: $66
- San Diego Airport (SAN) to Carlsbad, CA - Arrival Private Transfer: $66
- San Diego Airport (SAN) to Hot Springs/Ocotillo, CA - Arrival Private Transfer: $66
- San Marcos, CA to San Diego Airport (SAN) - Departure Private Transfer: $66
- Tijuana International Airport (TIJ) to Tijuana hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $71
- Tijuana to Tijuana International Airport (TIJ) – Departure Private Transfer: $71
- Private Transfer from San Diego City Hotels to San Diego Port : $71
- Roundtrip Private Transfer from Tijuana Airport (TIJ): $77
- Private Transfer to San Diego International Airport from San Diego: $77
- Private Transfer from San Diego (SAN) Airport to San Diego City: $88
Is it cheaper to fly into Santiago or San Diego?
Prices for flights to both San Diego 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 $23San Diego $77
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
- Bali Hai Polynesian Dinner Show with Transfer: $117
- 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
- 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 San Diego
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to San Diego:
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Mexican Lunch for Two$27
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Breakfast at Starbucks$20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Diego
For San Diego, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 2 Hour Ravioli Cooking Class With Local Chef in San Diego : $75
- North Park San Diego Walking Food Tour: $85
- Little Italy Food and Drink Walking Tour: Pizza, Pasta & Piazzas: $90
- San Diego Gaslamp Food Tour with 6 Modern Californian Tastings: $95
- Gaslamp Quarter Downtown San Diego Food Tour: $99
- City Cruises Buffet Dinner Cruise: $110
- Walking food tour + Round trip ferry to Coronado Island : $125
- San Diego Harbor Dinner Cruise: $126
- City Cruises Gourmet Dinner Cruise & Skyline Views: $151
- Private Cooking Demonstration of Indian Fusion Cuisine in San Diego: $228
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santiago $47San Diego $48
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 & El Morado Lodge and 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 San Diego
For San Diego, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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San Diego Zoo$15
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Sea World Parking$12
Tours and Activities in San Diego
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Diego.
- Self-Guided San Diego Walking or Bicycle Tour App: $5.00
- Pies & Pickaxes: A Historic Walking Tour of Julian, CA: $7.99
- Tijuana Downtown Self Guided Walking Tour: $9.75
- Discover San Diego’s Little Italy on a Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- A Seaside Stroll: La Jolla's Hidden Treasures Self-Guided Tour: $9.99
- Discover UCSD: A Self-Guided Tour for Students, Parents and Staff: $9.99
- Sights of San Diego Harbor: a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $11
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in San Diego by Zombie Scavengers: $20
- Private Walking Tour and Gaslamp Adventure in San Diego: $20
- Ultimate La Jolla Self-Guided Driving & Walking Audio Tour Bundle: $21
- Gaslamp Quarter Ghost Tour in San Diego: $25
- Maritime Museum of San Diego Admission Ticket: $28
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySantiago $8.40San Diego $21
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 San Diego
Also in San Diego, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt: Slammin' San Diego Bar Crawl: $13
- Hillcrest: LGBTQ+ Pub Crawl with Local Drag Queen: $35
- $99 Valle de Guadalupe Wine Tours - DayTrip to baja from San Diego: $123
- Cruise & Booze Brewery tours : $149
- Baja Tour Guide wine tour: $169
- Valle de Guadalupe Wine Tour: $249
- Luxury Private Wine Tasting Tour to Guadalupe Valley from San Diego: $269
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santiago and San Diego, we can see that San Diego 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 San Diego 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 San Diego would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Diego 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 San Diego Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santiago or San Diego?
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of San Diego. When comparing the sizes of Santiago and San Diego, 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 San Diego?
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 San Diego has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Santiago or San Diego in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Santiago as well as San Diego. Also, the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to San Diego this time of year.
Santiago is around the same temperature as San Diego in the summer. The daily temperature in Santiago averages around 21°C (70°F) in January, and San Diego fluctuates around 71°F (22°C)in July.
Santiago usually gets more rain in January than San Diegoin July. Santiago gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while San Diego receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulySantiago 21°C (70°F)San Diego 71°F (22°C)
Should I visit Santiago or San Diego in the Autumn?
Both San Diego and Santiago are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to San Diego for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Santiago is cooler than San Diego. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Santiago in April average around 15°C (59°F), and San Diego averages at about 68°F (20°C)in October.
In April, Santiago usually receives more rain than San Diegoin October. Santiago gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while San Diego receives 0.4 inches (9 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberSantiago 15°C (59°F)San Diego 68°F (20°C)
Should I visit Santiago or San Diego in the Winter?
Both San Diego and Santiago during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many visitors come to San Diego in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In July, Santiago is generally much colder than San Diegoin January. Daily temperatures in Santiago average around 9°C (48°F), and San Diego fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).
Santiago usually gets more rain in July than San Diegoin January. Santiago gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while San Diego receives 1.8 inches (46 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuarySantiago 9°C (48°F)San Diego 57°F (14°C)
Should I visit Santiago or San Diego in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Santiago and San Diego. Furthermore, most visitors come to San Diego for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty during these months.
Santiago is cooler than San Diego in the spring. The daily temperature in Santiago averages around 15°C (59°F) in October, and San Diego fluctuates around 62°F (17°C)in April.
In October, Santiago usually receives less rain than San Diegoin April. Santiago gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while San Diego receives 0.8 inches (20 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilSantiago 15°C (59°F)San Diego 62°F (17°C)
Typical Weather for San Diego and Santiago
| Santiago | San Diego | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 1.8 inches (46 mm) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 59°F (15°C) | 1.5 inches (39 mm) |
| Mar | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 59°F (15°C) | 1.8 inches (45 mm) |
| Apr | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 62°F (17°C) | 0.8 inches (20 mm) |
| May | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 64°F (18°C) | 0.2 inches (5 mm) |
| Jun | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 67°F (19°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
| Jul | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 71°F (22°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) |
| Aug | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 73°F (23°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
| Sep | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 71°F (22°C) | 0.2 inches (6 mm) |
| Oct | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 0.4 inches (9 mm) |
| Nov | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 62°F (17°C) | 1.5 inches (37 mm) |
| Dec | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 1.6 inches (40 mm) |
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.