Which place is cheaper, Santiago or Sendai?
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 Sendai or Santiago?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Sendai or Santiago, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Sendai or Santiago?
Sendai
Sendai, Japan is located in the Toohoku region on the main Honshu island. It is often referred to as "Forest City" due to the large amount of green space throughout the city and the tree filled parks and public spaces. Sendai is a very pleasant city to visit; they are in close proximity to both mountains and the sea and have many large universities throughout the city, making it a popular college town.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo, The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, and The Best Luxury Tours to Chile.
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Sendai Prices
Japan PricesSantiago Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySendai $133Santiago $150
The average daily cost (per person) in Sendai is $133, while the average daily cost in Santiago is $150. 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 Sendai and Santiago in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSendai $61Santiago $109
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSendai $122Santiago $218
Compare Hotels in Sendai and Santiago
Looking for a hotel in Sendai or Santiago? 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: Sendai Hotel Prices and Santiago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sendai $18Santiago $5.41
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sendai
Also for Sendai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Sendai City: Private transfer to/from Sendai Airport: $88
- Odawara to Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) -Departure Private Transfer: $103
- Private Transfer from Sendai Airport to Sendai City: $187
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:
- Transfer to Valparaiso Cruise Terminal with Winery & Town Tour: $109
- Transfer to Snowy Valley fullday for skiers : $49
- Transfer to San Antonio port with Valparaiso & Casablanca tour: $87
- Transfer from Valparaiso or San Antonio Port + Condor Watching Tour: $230
- Transfer from Valle Nevado, Farellones, Colorado or La Parva ski to Santiago: $83
- Transfer from Santiago To Valle Nevado, Farellones, Colorado or La Parva ski: $100
- Transfer from Santiago Airport to Santiago Centro Commune: $52
- Transfer Santiago-Viña del Mar / Viña del Mar-Santiago: $220
- Transfer Santiago-Valparaiso / Valparaiso-Santiago: $220
- Transfer Santiago to Cruise Port in Valparaiso or San Antonio: $290
- Transfer Santiago de Chile airport: $40
- Transfer Santiago Airport to the commune of Providencia: $56
Is it cheaper to fly into Sendai or Santiago?
Prices for flights to both Santiago and Sendai 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 daySendai $58Santiago $23
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sendai
For Sendai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Local Food Tour in Shiogama, Japan Top Tuna and Sushi Town: $135
- Michinoku Coastal Trail Sake Tasting with Dinner: $143
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
- 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
- Bali Hai Polynesian Dinner Show with Transfer: $130
- Private Night City Tour with San Cristobal Hill And Dinner Show: $181
- Santiago Chilean and Peruvian Cooking Class with a Local Carol: $184
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sendai $19Santiago $47
Tours and Activities in Sendai
For Sendai, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Catch and Dine A Gourmet Fishing Experience in Miyagi: $24
- Sendai and Matsushima Private Tour with Licensed Guide: $101
- Local Foodie Tour, wander around the gourmet town: $120
- Afternoon Cycling Tour in Naruko: $151
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
- 6 Hour Tour of Culture, History and Flavors from Santiago: $75
- 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 & Santuario del Río Spa: $132
- Andean Horse Ride Yerba Loca Sanctuary - Private tour from Santiago: $240
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySendai $11Santiago $8.40
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
When comparing the travel costs between Sendai and Santiago, 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 Sendai is in Asia and Santiago is in South 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 Sendai Expensive? and Is Santiago Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sendai or Santiago?
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Sendai. When comparing the sizes of Sendai and Santiago, 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 Sendai or Santiago?
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 Sendai has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Sendai or Santiago in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Sendai as well as Santiago. Many travelers come to Sendai for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
Sendai is around the same temperature as Santiago in the summer. The daily temperature in Sendai averages around 23°C (73°F) in July, and Santiago fluctuates around 21°C (70°F)in January.
Sendai receives a lot of rain in the summer. Sendai usually gets more rain in July than Santiagoin January. Sendai gets 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuarySendai 23°C (73°F)Santiago 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Sendai or Santiago in the Autumn?
Both Santiago and Sendai are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Sendai in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
In the autumn, Sendai is around the same temperature as Santiago. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Sendai in October average around 15°C (59°F), and Santiago averages at about 15°C (59°F)in April.
It's quite rainy in Sendai. In October, Sendai usually receives more rain than Santiagoin April. Sendai gets 103 mm (4.1 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilSendai 15°C (59°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Sendai or Santiago in the Winter?
Both Santiago and Sendai during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Sendai for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Sendai can be very cold during winter. In January, Sendai is generally much colder than Santiagoin July. Daily temperatures in Sendai average around 2°C (35°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
Sendai usually gets less rain in January than Santiagoin July. Sendai gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulySendai 2°C (35°F)Santiago 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Sendai or Santiago in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Sendai and Santiago. The spring months attract visitors to Sendai because of the beaches and the activities around the city.
Sendai is cooler than Santiago in the spring. The daily temperature in Sendai averages around 10°C (51°F) in April, and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F)in October.
In April, Sendai usually receives more rain than Santiagoin October. Sendai gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberSendai 10°C (51°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Santiago and Sendai
| Sendai | Santiago | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 2°C (35°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 2°C (35°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 5°C (40°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 10°C (51°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 15°C (60°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 19°C (66°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (77°F) | 165 mm (6.5 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Sep | 21°C (69°F) | 187 mm (7.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 15°C (59°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Nov | 9°C (49°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (40°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 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.