Which place is cheaper, Vancouver or Santiago?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Santiago or Vancouver?
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 Vancouver. 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 Vancouver?
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.
Vancouver
Vancouver is a beautiful and cosmopolitan city in Western Canada. It is also the largest city in British Columbia, and is dramatically positioned between the coast and mountains. It's a very international city, with a high level of energy and countless activites that you can enjoy while you're in town. In addition to offering all of the activities and entertainment of a modern city, it is also in jumping off distance to any number of outdoor activities.
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 10-Day Tours from Vancouver, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySantiago $143Vancouver $142
The average daily cost (per person) in Santiago is $143, while the average daily cost in Vancouver is $142. 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 Vancouver in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSantiago $111Vancouver $87
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSantiago $222Vancouver $174
Compare Hotels in Santiago and Vancouver
Looking for a hotel in Santiago or Vancouver? 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 Vancouver Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santiago $5.48Vancouver $12
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Santiago
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Santiago:
-
Metro Ride$1.15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santiago
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santiago:
- Private Scenic Transfer to Mendoza.: $539
- Pick up Santiago Visit Haras de Pirque Winery & Transfer Hotel: $300
- Visit Montes Winery (7th World Best Wine) & Transfer to Hotel: $300
- Private Transfer from Santiago or Santiago Airport to Colchagua or Santa Cruz: $300
- Private Transfer from Arturo Merino Benítez (SCL) Airport to Valparaíso: $273
- from Santiago airport private arrival transfer to the Valparaiso pier: $251
- Transfer To Valle Nevado Private for small groups: $250
- Private Transfer from Santiago Airport to Valparaíso,Viña del Mar or San Antonio: $250
- Transfer Santiago to Cruise Port in Valparaiso or San Antonio: $250
- Private Transfer from Arturo Merino Benítez (SCL) Airport to Viña del Mar: $237
- City Tour with Lunch and Hotel Transfers: $234
- Transfer Santiago - Valparaíso: $210
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Vancouver
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Vancouver are as follows:
-
SkyTrain from Airport$6.40
-
Taxi from Airport to Downtown$21
-
15 min Taxi Ride$8.78
-
SkyTrain DayPass$6.58
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vancouver
Also for Vancouver, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Departure Transfer to Vancouver Airport (YVR): $32
- Vancouver Airport-Cypress/Grouse Mountain Private Transfer: $38
- Vancouver Airport (YVR) to White Rock - Arrival Private Transfer: $46
- White Rock to Vancouver Airport (YVR) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- Canada Place Port to Vancouver Airport(YVR) - Departure Transfer : $55
- Vancouver Airport (YVR) to Canada Place Port - Arrival Transfer: $55
- City Highlights Tour with Hotel Transfers: $61
- Vancouver to Victoria: Ferry with Bus Transfer: $73
- Vancouver to Victoria, Coach Bus Transfer: $74
- Private Transfer from Canada Place Cruise Terminal to any Hotel: $74
- Vancouver Airport (YVR) to Whistler - Arrival Private Transfer: $76
- Vancouver to Victoria - Vancouver Hotel Pickup - Coach Bus Transfer: $83
Is it cheaper to fly into Santiago or Vancouver?
Prices for flights to both Vancouver 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
-
Food Meals for one daySantiago $13Vancouver $31
Typical Food Prices in Santiago
Some typical examples of dining costs in Santiago are as follows:
-
Empanada$1.91
-
Hamburger$2.54
-
Dinner$26
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santiago
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Santiago.
- Traditional Chilean Show with Dinner and Private Transportation in Santiago: $107
- Traditional Dinner Show in Santiago: $107
- Dinner Show in Bali Hai: $109
- Sunset at Alyan Family Wines Winery with Dinner: $116
- Private Market Tour and Traditional Chilean Cooking Class in a Local Home: $117
- Small-Group Night City Tour: San Cristobal Hill and Dinner Show: $120
- 4-Hour Private Night Tour with Dinner and Show: $150
- Private Dinner and Show with Transfers: $158
- Traditional Chilean Cooking Class with a Local in Her Santiago Countryside Home: $168
Typical Food Prices in Vancouver
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Vancouver:
-
All You Can Eat Sushi Lunch$8.87
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Vancouver
For Vancouver, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- A Wok Around Food Tour of the Granville Island Public Market: $84
- The Gastown Experience Walking Food Tour: $94
- Gastown Historic Walking Food Tour: $100
- Vancouver Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $100
- North Vancouver Shipyards Food Tour: $108
- Vancouver Authentic Chinese Food Tour: $134
- VIP Granville Island Market Vancouver - Walking Food Tour: $138
- Authentic Asian Eats Walking Food Tour: $142
- 3-Hour Bowen Island Boat Cruise with Dinner: $153
- Evening Cruise with Dinner Buffet: $153
- Vancouver Evening Dinner Cruise: $157
- Granville Island Uncorked Walking Food Tour: $161
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santiago $48Vancouver $36
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
- Private Adventure at 4200 meters above sea level in the Chilean Andes Cerro Pintor: $300
- 4 Hour Santa Rita Winery All inclusive Tour for Wine Lover: $269
- A Private Tour of Valparaiso with an experienced local guide.: $195
- Adventure and Viewpoints in Cajón del Maipo: $255
- Andean Horse Ride Yerba Loca Sanctuary - Private tour from Santiago: $240
- Andes Day Lagoon: Embalse El Yeso Tour from Santiago: $120
- Andes Day Volcano 8k Private Tour : $230
- Andes Half-Day Private Tour with Wine and Cheese Tasting: $190
- Andes Sunset: shared tour with Asado in the mountain: $90
- Andes Whitewater Rafting Adventure plus Winery Tour and Tasting: $199
- Authentic Andes Adventure: Private Horse Riding and Cheese & Wine: $150
Tours and Activities in Vancouver
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vancouver.
- Vancouver self-guided tour App - multilingual AudioGuide: $4.31
- Self-Guided Smartphone Walking Tour of Gastown: $4.75
- Self-Guided Smartphone Walking Tour of Gastown: $4.82
- Discover Stanley Park with a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $5.11
- Fort Langley: a Film & Television Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $5.19
- Discover Stanley Park with a Smartphone Audio Tour: $5.19
- Cycling the Seawall: A Self-Guided Audio Tour Along the Stanley Park Seawall: $5.46
- Historic Walking Tours of Vancouver with Then & Now Images!: $6.68
- Walking Tour Along Stanley Park's Seawall: $6.68
- Vancouver Downtown: Espionage Adventure Outdoor Escape Game: $6.99
- Self-Guided Smartphone Tour of Stanley Park: $7.31
- Self-Guided Smartphone Walking Tours of Stanley Park: $7.42
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one daySantiago $8.51Vancouver $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Santiago
Also in Santiago, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Premium Wine Tour in Viña Cousiño Macul Spanish official: $37
- Concha y Toro Ticket and Tour with Wine Tasting: $50
- Undurraga Winery Tour with Entry and Wine Tasting: $50
- Undurraga Wine tour: $63
- Half Day Trip to Undurraga Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $70
- Private Tour: Santa Rita Vineyard with Wine Tastings: $72
- 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
- Private Tour: Viña del Mar and Valparaíso Tour with Wine Tasting in Casablanca Valley: $143
- Premium Wine Tasting and Tour at Santa Rita with Transport: $145
Sample the Local Flavors in Vancouver
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Vancouver:
- Vancouver - Granville Pub Crawl ROUTE B: $18
- Gastown Pub Crawl: $22
- Vancouver - Granville Pub Crawl: $26
- 3.5-Hour Craft Brewery Tour: $88
- Fraser Valley Wine Tour with a light Lunch from Vancouver: $134
- Vancouver Wine Tour (Fraser Valley): $134
- From Half-Day Fraser Valley Wine Tour: $138
- From Fraser Valley Wine Tour with Local Tastings: $139
- Taste of the Valley Wine Tour: $148
- Stawamus Chief Hike and Local Brewery Tasting: $165
- Fraser Valley & White Rock Premium Public Wine Tour: $166
- Stawamus Chief Hike & Local Brewery Tasting : $167
When comparing the travel costs between Santiago and Vancouver, we can see that Santiago is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Santiago is in South America and Vancouver is in North America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santiago Expensive? and Is Vancouver Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santiago or Vancouver?
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Vancouver. When comparing the sizes of Santiago and Vancouver, 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 Vancouver?
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 Vancouver has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Santiago or Vancouver in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Santiago as well as Vancouver.
In January, Santiago is generally a little warmer than Vancouverin July. Daily temperatures in Santiago average around 21°C (70°F), and Vancouver fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
Santiago usually gets less rain in January than Vancouverin July. Santiago gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures January and JulySantiago 21°C (70°F)Vancouver 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Santiago or Vancouver in the Autumn?
Both Vancouver and Santiago are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.
Santiago is a little warmer than Vancouver in the autumn. The daily temperature in Santiago averages around 15°C (59°F) in April, and Vancouver fluctuates around 11°C (51°F)in October.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Vancouver. In April, Santiago usually receives less rain than Vancouverin October. Santiago gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberSantiago 15°C (59°F)Vancouver 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Santiago or Vancouver in the Winter?
Both Vancouver and Santiago during the winter are popular places to visit.
Vancouver can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Santiago is much warmer than Vancouver. Typically, the winter temperatures in Santiago in July average around 9°C (48°F), and Vancouver averages at about 4°C (40°F)in January.
Vancouver gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Santiago usually gets less rain in July than Vancouverin January. Santiago gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuarySantiago 9°C (48°F)Vancouver 4°C (40°F)
Should I visit Santiago or Vancouver in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Santiago and Vancouver.
In October, Santiago is generally much warmer than Vancouverin April. Daily temperatures in Santiago average around 15°C (59°F), and Vancouver fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).
Vancouver receives a lot of rain in the spring. In October, Santiago usually receives less rain than Vancouverin April. Santiago gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilSantiago 15°C (59°F)Vancouver 9°C (49°F)
Typical Weather for Vancouver and Santiago
| Santiago | Vancouver | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 179 mm (7.1 in) |
| Mar | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| May | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jun | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jul | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Aug | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Oct | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Nov | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 234 mm (9.2 in) |
| Dec | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 198 mm (7.8 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.