Which place is cheaper, Torres del Paine National Park 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 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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, The Best Luxury Tours to Chile, The Best Budget Tours to Chile, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Chile.
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Santiago Prices
Chile PricesTorres del Paine National Park Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySantiago $150Torres del Paine National Park $96
The average daily cost (per person) in Santiago is $150, while the average daily cost in Torres del Paine National Park is $96. 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 $109Torres del Paine National Park $31
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSantiago $218Torres 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 $5.41Torres del Paine National Park $32
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:
- from Santiago airport private arrival transfer to the Valparaiso pier: $251
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Santiago APT-HTL (SCL): $51
- Transfer to Valparaiso Cruise Terminal with Winery & Town Tour: $109
- Transfer to Snowy Valley fullday for skiers : $49
- Transfer in-out a Puerto de San Antonio o Valparaiso / Santiago: $110
- Transfer from Valle Nevado, Farellones, Colorado or La Parva ski to Santiago: $83
- Transfer from Santiago to Portillo Ski Center: $160
- Transfer from Santiago Airport to Santiago Centro Commune: $52
- Transfer Santiago to Cruise Port in Valparaiso or San Antonio: $220
- Transfer Santiago de Chile airport: $40
- Transfer Santiago Airport to the commune of Providencia: $56
- Transfer Private hotel to Cruise ship in Puerto San Antonio or Valparaiso: $270
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 $23Torres del Paine National Park $42
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.
- Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $80
- Street Food Tour in Santiago with a Local Guide: $81
- Bali Hai Dinner & Show, Transport and Wine refill: $106
- Traditional Dinner Show in Santiago: $107
- Sunset at Alyan Family Wines Winery with Dinner: $111
- Dinner Show in Bali Hai with Wine refill and transportation: $114
- Private Dinner & Chilean Folk Show with Transfers: $116
- Small-Group Night City Tour: San Cristobal Hill and Dinner Show: $120
- San Cristobal Hill Night Tour with Dinner Show: $129
- Sunset Alyan + 6 wines + individual snack + rustic dinner : $130
- Dinner at a Typical Chilean Restaurant with a Traditional Dance Show in Santiago: $150
- Concha y Toro Wine Tour with Dinner at the Winery: $172
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santiago $47Torres del Paine National Park $31
Tours and Activities in Santiago
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santiago are as follows:
- Experience Wildlife Encounter in Provincia Mountain of Chile.: $235
- Tour Tasting Colchagua Valley: $300
- 1 Day Tour of Isla Negra Algarrobo and Viña Undurraga from Santiago: $112
- 1 Day Valparaiso and Vina del Mar Tour from Santiago : $51
- 2-Hour Walking Tour of Yungay The Coolest Neighborhood in Chile: $35
- 3 Hours Santiago Blend Walking Tour: $20
- A full Private Tour of Valparaiso from Santiago : $240
- An Architect's Tour of Downtown Santiago: $55
- Andean Adventure: Cajón del Maipo & El Morado Lodge and Spa: $123
- Andean Horse Ride Yerba Loca Sanctuary - Private tour from Santiago: $240
- Andean Tour: $200
- Andes Day Lagoon: Embalse El Yeso Tour from Santiago: $120
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySantiago $8.40Torres del Paine National Park $5.38
Sample the Local Flavors in Santiago
Also in Santiago, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Traditional Wine Tour in Viña Cousiño Macul Official English: $26
- Premium Wine Tour in Viña Cousiño Macul Spanish official: $40
- Undurraga Winery Tour with Entry and Wine Tasting: $58
- Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, with Wine Tasting: $60
- Undurraga Wine tour: $70
- Undurraga Wine Tasting Tour from Santiago: $75
- Premium Wine Tasting in Santiago de Chile: $77
- Half Day Trip to Concha y Toro Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $87
- From Concha y Toro Marqués Half-Day Wine Tasting: $93
- Kross Brewery Tour: A Craft Beer Tasting Experience: $93
- Maipo Valley Wine Tour with 4 vineyards from Santiago.: $99
- Inca Lagoon and Vineyard Visit with Wine Tasting: $100
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.