Which place is cheaper, Washington 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 Washington?
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 Washington. 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 Washington?
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.
Washington
Washington, DC is the capital city of the United States of America. It is also a city rich in history and culture. The city dates back to 1791 when the states of Maryland and Virginia donated the land to create the capital. In 1846, Congress returned the land that was ceded by Virginia and in 1871 it created a single municipal government with the remaining area. Today, Washington, DC has a population of over 600,000 people. The metropolitan area includes suburbs in Maryland and Virginia and has a population of about 5.8 million.
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 United States of America, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America.
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Santiago Prices
Chile PricesWashington Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySantiago $145Washington $226
The average daily cost (per person) in Santiago is $145, while the average daily cost in Washington is $226. 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 Washington in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSantiago $105Washington $113
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSantiago $210Washington $226
Compare Hotels in Santiago and Washington
Looking for a hotel in Santiago or Washington? 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 Washington Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santiago $5.21Washington $47
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$1.09
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 Santa Rita Winery and Transfer to Hotel: $300
- Private Transfer from Arturo Merino Benítez (SCL) Airport to Valparaíso: $286
- Private Transfer Between Santiago and Cruise Port: $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 Santiago Airport SCL to Vina Concon Valparaiso: $250
- Portillo and Laguna Del Inca, Exclusive Guide and Private Transfer: $250
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Washington
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Washington are as follows:
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Metro Day Pass$9.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Washington
Also for Washington, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer to/from IAD or DCA Airport: $40
- Private Departure Transfer to Washington Reagan Airport DCA: $48
- Private Departure Transfer to Baltimore Washington Airport BWI: $60
- Washington R. Reagan Airport (DCA) to Washington - Arrival Private Transfer: $64
- Airport Transfer from Ronald Reagan Airport DCA - Washington DC: $75
- Private Transfer Washington DC to Ronald Reagan Airport DCA: $75
- Washington DC: One Way Airport Transfer Service: $80
- Washington to Baltimore Washington Airport (BWI) - Departure Private Transfer: $80
- Transfer Dulles Airport (IAD) to Washington City Center: $85
- Washington Dulles Airport (IAD) to Washington - Arrival Private Transfer: $85
- Private Airport Transfer from Ronald Reagan DCA to Washington DC: $85
- Washington DC to Reagan National Airport (DCA) Private Transfer: $90
Is it cheaper to fly into Santiago or Washington?
Prices for flights to both Washington 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 $22Washington $66
Typical Food Prices in Santiago
Some typical examples of dining costs in Santiago are as follows:
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Empanada$1.82
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Hamburger$2.41
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Dinner$25
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
- Best Santiago Street Food Tour with 4+ Tastings and Drink: $56
- Mercado Meals Santiago Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $59
- Mercado Meals Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $60
- 4h Cooking Class in 8 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $77
- Food Tour STGO, Eat like Locals!: $99
- Local Food Tour with Tastings & Drinks: $99
- Traditional Chilean Show with Dinner and Private Transportation in Santiago: $107
- Casillero del Diablo Night Experience – Cellars, Wine & Dinner: $110
- Barrio Italia Food Tour with Tastings & Drinks: $119
- San Cristobal Hill Night Tour with Dinner Show: $129
Typical Food Prices in Washington
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Washington:
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Water$2.00
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Snacks on Monuments Tour$6.15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Washington
For Washington, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- DC: City Cruises Buffet Brunch, Lunch, or Dinner Cruise: $59
- DC: City Cruises Gourmet Brunch, Lunch, or Dinner Cruise: $73
- Donuts, Lights & History: DC’s Holiday Walking Food Tour: $75
- Cobblestones & Croissants: A Morning Food Tour in Georgetown, DC: $79
- Washington D.C : Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $93
- Acquired Taste Food Tour in Georgetown: $95
- Washington D.C: Acquired Taste Food Tour in Georgetown: $95
- Washington DC: Food Tour with 6+ Locals Favorites Bites: $99
- City Cruises Washington DC: Buffet Dinner Cruise: $122
- Washington, DC: Downtown DC Food Tour: $125
- Washington D.C.: Taste of Georgetown Walking Food Tour: $129
- City Cruises DC: Christmas Eve Gourmet Brunch/Dinner Cruise: $146
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santiago $46Washington $23
Tours and Activities in Santiago
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santiago are as follows:
- 1 Day Tour of Viña Concha y Toro from Santiago: $120
- 1 Day Undurraga Vineyard Tour from Santiago: $120
- 1 Day Valparaiso and Vina del Mar Tour from Santiago: $51
- 3 Hours Santiago Blend Walking Tour: $30
- 6 Hour Tour of Culture, History and Flavors from Santiago: $75
- A full Private Tour of Valparaiso from Santiago (Standard): $290
- Adventure in Portillo: Laguna del Inca and Mountain Picnic: $85
- An Architect's Tour of Downtown Santiago: $60
- Andean Adventure: Cajón del Maipo & El Morado Lodge and Spa: $147
- Andes Day Lagoon: Embalse El Yeso Tour from Santiago: $120
- Andes Day Volcano 8k Private Tour: $270
- Andes Mountains Tour From Santiago with Appetizer: $180
Tours and Activities in Washington
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Washington.
- Washington DC Scavenger Hunt & Self-Guided Walking Tour: $3.42
- National Mall Democracy Quest Experience in Washington DC: $4.85
- Capitol Hill Stroll Walking Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
- Private Dupont Circle Walking: Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
- The Pentagon 9/11 Memorial: A Self Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- The Kennedy Homes: A Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $7.99
- The Assassination of President Garfield: A Washington DC Tour: $7.99
- Washington Self Guided Walking Tour Landmarks with Audio and Quiz: $8.01
- Capitol Hill Self Guided Walking Tour: $8.99
- National Mall Washington DC Self Guided Audio Walking Tour: $8.99
- The Architecture of Argument: A DC Self-guided Walking Tour: $9.99
- Bureaucracy: Pillars of Policy in D.C Self-Guided Walking tour: $9.99
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySantiago $8.10Washington $19
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
- Tour Viña Santa Carolina in Santiago with 3 wine tasting: $45
- Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, with Casablanca Wine Tasting: $55
- Valparaiso, Viña del Mar & Casablanca Wine Tour: $61
- Valparaiso, Viña del Mar & Casablanca Wine Tour: $65
- Valparaíso and Vineyard of the Sea with Casablanca Wine Tasting: $68
- Undurraga Winery Tour with Entry and Wine Tasting: $70
- Undurraga Wine Tasting Tour from Santiago: $75
- Half Day Trip to Undurraga Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $75
- Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, with Wine Tasting: $75
Sample the Local Flavors in Washington
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Washington:
- App Guided Epic Washington DC Bar Crawl: $12
- Astounding Bar Crawl: Wildin' Out Washington DC: $15
- DC Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl By US Ghost Adventures: $29
- Washington DC: Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
- DC Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl By US Ghost Adventures: $36
- Washington, DC: History Tour Pub Crawl: $49
- Small-Group History Tour Pub Crawl of Washington, D.C.: $56
- DC: Guided Craft Brewery Tours with a Snack: $105
- All Inclusive DC Signature Brewery Tour: $120
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santiago and Washington, we can see that Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Washington 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 Washington Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santiago or Washington?
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Washington. When comparing the sizes of Santiago and Washington, 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 Washington?
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 Washington has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Santiago or Washington in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Santiago as well as Washington. Also, many visitors come to Washington in the summer for the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In January, Santiago is generally cooler than Washingtonin July. Daily temperatures in Santiago average around 21°C (70°F), and Washington fluctuates around 79°F (26°C).
Santiago usually gets less rain in January than Washingtonin July. Santiago gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Washington receives 3.5 inches (88 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulySantiago 21°C (70°F)Washington 79°F (26°C)
Should I visit Santiago or Washington in the Autumn?
Both Washington and Santiago are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Washington for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
Santiago is around the same temperature as Washington in the autumn. The daily temperature in Santiago averages around 15°C (59°F) in April, and Washington fluctuates around 60°F (15°C)in October.
In April, Santiago usually receives less rain than Washingtonin October. Santiago gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Washington receives 2.9 inches (73 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberSantiago 15°C (59°F)Washington 60°F (15°C)
Should I visit Santiago or Washington in the Winter?
Both Washington and Santiago during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Washington because of the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
The weather in Washington can be very cold. In the winter, Santiago is much warmer than Washington. Typically, the winter temperatures in Santiago in July average around 9°C (48°F), and Washington averages at about 35°F (1°C)in January.
Santiago usually gets more rain in July than Washingtonin January. Santiago gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Washington receives 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuarySantiago 9°C (48°F)Washington 35°F (1°C)
Should I visit Santiago or Washington in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Santiago and Washington. Furthermore, the activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Washington this time of year.
In October, Santiago is generally a little warmer than Washingtonin April. Daily temperatures in Santiago average around 15°C (59°F), and Washington fluctuates around 56°F (14°C).
In October, Santiago usually receives less rain than Washingtonin April. Santiago gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Washington receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilSantiago 15°C (59°F)Washington 56°F (14°C)
Typical Weather for Washington and Santiago
| Santiago | Washington | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 35°F (1°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 37°F (3°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
| Mar | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 47°F (8°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Apr | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 56°F (14°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) |
| May | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 66°F (19°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) |
| Jun | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 75°F (24°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
| Jul | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 79°F (26°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) |
| Aug | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 78°F (26°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) |
| Sep | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 71°F (22°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| Oct | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 60°F (15°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) |
| Nov | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 50°F (10°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Dec | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 39°F (4°C) | 3.2 inches (82 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.