Which place is cheaper, Torres del Paine National Park or Santiago?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Santiago or Torres del Paine National Park?
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 Torres del Paine National Park. 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 Torres del Paine National Park?
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.
Torres del Paine National Park
The Torres del Paine National Park is located in the extreme south of Patagonian Chile. Situated in the southern part of the Andes, the National Park is full of stunning mountains, lakes, rock formations, and glaciers, making it a hiker's paradise. The best time to visit is between November and April, which is their spring and summer. Be prepared though, as weather can change dramatically when traveling through the park, no matter the season!
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 $144Torres del Paine National Park $81
The average daily cost (per person) in Santiago is $144, while the average daily cost in Torres del Paine National Park is $81. 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 Torres del Paine National Park in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSantiago $112Torres del Paine National Park $31
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSantiago $224Torres del Paine National Park $62
Compare Hotels in Santiago and Torres del Paine National Park
Looking for a hotel in Santiago or Torres del Paine National Park? 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 $5.54Torres del Paine National Park $33
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:
- Transfer in Private Vehicle Santiago Airport (SCL) - Santiago de Chile City: $19
- Transfer in Private Minivan from Santiago Airport (SCL) - Santiago de Chile City: $24
- Transfer from Santiago To Valle Nevado, Farellones, Colorado or La Parva ski: $83
- Transfer from Santiago Airport to Santiago Centro Commune: $52
- Transfer To Valle Nevado Private for small groups: $250
- Transfer Santiago Airport to the commune of Providencia: $56
- Transfer Santiago - Viña del Mar: $210
- Transfer Privado Entre Santiago Y El Aeropuerto: $52
- Valle Nevado Ski Day Trip with Hotel Transfers: $31
- Private Transfer: $31
- Private Scenic Transfer to Mendoza.: $539
- Private Santiago Airport to Santiago Transfer: $32
Is it cheaper to fly into Santiago or Torres del Paine National Park?
Prices for flights to both Torres del Paine National Park 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 $13Torres del Paine National Park $25
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 $48Torres del Paine National Park $32
Tours and Activities in Santiago
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santiago are as follows:
- Private Adventure at 4200 meters above sea level in the Chilean Andes Cerro Pintor: $300
- Private Half-Day Guided Tour of the City of Santiago.: $280
- "Tour Tradicional" Viña Cousiño Macul Oficial español: $23
- "Ultimate Andes Adventure: Luxury Helicopter Ski Experience": $2,219
- 2-Hour Walking Tour of Yungay The Coolest Neighborhood in Chile: $35
- A Fabulous Walking tour by the Old Santiago of Chile -small group: $25
- A Private Tour of Santiago with an Experienced Local Guide: $134
- Andes Day Lagoon: Embalse El Yeso Tour from Santiago: $120
- Andes Half-Day Private Tour with Wine and Cheese Tasting: $190
- Andes Tour to Portillo Inca Lagoon with San Esteban Vineyard Empanada & Wine: $99
- Authentic Andes Adventure: Private Horse Riding and Cheese & Wine: $150
- Best of Santiago a Self-Guided Audio Tour in English: $7.98
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySantiago $8.61Torres del Paine National Park $5.52
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 Torres del Paine National Park, we can see that Santiago is more expensive. And not only is Torres del Paine National Park much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Torres del Paine National Park would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Torres del Paine National Park 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 Torres del Paine National Park.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santiago Expensive? and Is Torres del Paine National Park Expensive?.
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.