Which place is cheaper, Santiago or Surfers Paradise?
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 Surfers Paradise or Santiago?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Surfers Paradise 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: Surfers Paradise or Santiago?
Surfers Paradise
A tourist mecca, Surfers Paradise is one of the most popular travel destinations along Australia's famed Gold Coast. The beach stretches for miles and there is an endless supply of almost constant parties. You'll find high rise apartments lined up along the shore and plenty of shopping areas, restaurants, nightclubs, and bars. Travelers from around the world visit the area, and it's a right of passage for Australia's teens to vacation in or near Surfers Paradise. For many travelers, Surfers Paradise comes across as little more than a mass marketed, over commercialized, party destination, but for others it is a vacation dream. Prices are highly inflated so you have to keep your whits about you to avoid being ripped off. Surfers Paradise is a destination of extremes and it conjures up extreme emotions in many travelers, be it positive or negative.
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 Luxury Tours to Australia, The Best Adventure Tours to Australia, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Chile.
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Surfers Paradise Prices
Australia PricesSantiago Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySurfers Paradise $133Santiago $154
The average daily cost (per person) in Surfers Paradise is $133, while the average daily cost in Santiago is $154. 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 Surfers Paradise and Santiago in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSurfers Paradise $72Santiago $112
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSurfers Paradise $144Santiago $224
Compare Hotels in Surfers Paradise and Santiago
Looking for a hotel in Surfers Paradise 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: Surfers Paradise Hotel Prices and Santiago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Surfers Paradise $12Santiago $5.55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Surfers Paradise
Also for Surfers Paradise, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Gold Coast Theme Parks: Shared Hotel Transfers: $15
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:
- Villard Winery with exclusive guide + Premium Transfer: $220
- Valparaíso Cruise Port Transfer with Viña del Mar & Vineyard: $90
- Transfer to San Antonio port with Valparaiso & Casablanca tour: $95
- 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 by Electric Car SCL Airport Santiago, Chile: $61
- Transfer Private Airport SCL to Hotels and Airbnb in Santiago: $60
- Transfer Parque Farellones Fullday 50%OFF: $59
- Transfer From Portillo Ski center to Santiago Airport or Hotel: $97
- Transfer Airport/Port - Hotel: $65
- Tour to Santiago and Valparaiso with Transfers included: $150
Is it cheaper to fly into Surfers Paradise or Santiago?
Prices for flights to both Santiago and Surfers Paradise 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 daySurfers Paradise $49Santiago $23
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Surfers Paradise
For Surfers Paradise, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Buffet Dinner Sightseeing Cruise: $85
Typical Food Prices in Santiago
Some typical examples of dining costs in Santiago are as follows:
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Empanada$1.94
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Hamburger$2.57
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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: $56
- Best Santiago Street Food Tour with 4+ Tastings and Drink: $58
- Mercado Meals Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $60
- 4h Cooking Class in 8 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $77
- 4h Cooking Class in Santiago : 8 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $85
- Local Food Tour with Tastings & Drinks: $99
- Traditional Dinner Show in Santiago: $107
- Small-Group Tour: Night City Tour with Santa Lucia Hill and Dinner Show: $116
- Barrio Italia Food Tour with Tastings & Drinks: $119
- Private Market Tour and Traditional Chilean Cooking Class in a Local Home: $125
- San Cristobal Hill Night Tour with Dinner Show: $129
- Dinner Show in Bali Hai with Wine refill and transportation: $129
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Surfers Paradise $25Santiago $49
Typical Entertainment Prices in Surfers Paradise
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Surfers Paradise's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Surf Lesson$84
Tours and Activities in Surfers Paradise
For Surfers Paradise, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Surfers Paradise Sightseeing Midday River Cruise: $10
- Surfers Paradise Sightseeing City Lights Cruise: $14
- Surfers Paradise Sightseeing River Cruises: $20
- Gold Coast Afternoon River Cruise: $21
- Surfers Paradise - 2 Hour Gold Coast Sightseeing Cruise: $21
- Surfers Paradise Sightseeing Sunset River Cruise: $28
- Sandbox Virtual Reality Experience - Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast: $32
- Gold Coast Hop On Hop Off Sightseeing Cruise 1 Day Pass: $32
- Guided Gold Coast Amphibious Bus Tour: $38
- Gold Coast: 360-Degree High-Speed Jet Boat Adventure: $39
- Gold Coast JetBlast Jet Boat Ride – 40-Minute Thrill Experience: $40
- MANIAX Gold Coast Urban Axe Throwing Experience One Hour: $40
Tours and Activities in Santiago
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santiago are as follows:
- "Tour Tradicional" Viña Cousiño Macul Oficial español: $27
- 1 Day Tour of Viña Concha y Toro from Santiago: $120
- 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: $30
- A Fabulous Walking tour by the Old Santiago of Chile -: $25
- Adventure in Portillo: Laguna del Inca and Mountain Picnic: $100
- All Santiago in One Day: Private Guided Tour: $250
- An Architect's Tour of Downtown Santiago: $60
- Andean Adventure: Cajón del Maipo & El Morado Lodge and Spa: $147
- Andes Day Lagoon in Cajón del Maipo & Embalse el Yeso Private Tour: $270
- Andes Day Lagoon: Embalse El Yeso Tour from Santiago: $120
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySurfers Paradise $12Santiago $8.62
Sample the Local Flavors in Surfers Paradise
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Surfers Paradise:
- Tamborine Mountain Food & Wine Tour from the Gold Coast: $165
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
- Pub Crawl with Unlimited Beer and Welcome Shots: $25
- Cousiño Macul Heritage Wine Tour with Tastings: $25
- Traditional Wine Tour in Viña Cousiño Macul Official English: $27
- "Premium Wine Tour" Viña Cousiño Macul Official english: $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: $62
- Valparaiso Port and Viña del Mar with Casablanca Wine Tasting: $68
- 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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Surfers Paradise and Santiago, we can see that Santiago is more expensive. And not only is Surfers Paradise much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Surfers Paradise is in Pacific and Santiago is in South 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 Surfers Paradise would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Surfers Paradise 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 Surfers Paradise.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Surfers Paradise Expensive? and Is Santiago Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Surfers Paradise or Santiago?
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 260 times larger than the population of Surfers Paradise. When comparing the sizes of Surfers Paradise 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 Surfers Paradise or Santiago?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.
Should I visit Surfers Paradise or Santiago in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Surfers Paradise as well as Santiago. Many travelers come to Surfers Paradise for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
In January, Surfers Paradise is generally a little warmer than Santiago. Daily temperatures in Surfers Paradise average around 25°C (77°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
Surfers Paradise receives a lot of rain in the summer. Surfers Paradise usually gets more rain in January than Santiago. Surfers Paradise gets 167 mm (6.6 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 JanuarySurfers Paradise 25°C (77°F)Santiago 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Surfers Paradise or Santiago in the Autumn?
Both Santiago and Surfers Paradise are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Surfers Paradise in the autumn for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.
Surfers Paradise is a little warmer than Santiago in the autumn. The daily temperature in Surfers Paradise averages around 22°C (71°F) in April, and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
It's quite rainy in Surfers Paradise. In April, Surfers Paradise usually receives more rain than Santiago. Surfers Paradise gets 101 mm (4 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 AprilSurfers Paradise 22°C (71°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Surfers Paradise or Santiago in the Winter?
Both Santiago and Surfers Paradise during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Surfers Paradise for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
In the winter, Surfers Paradise is much warmer than Santiago. Typically, the winter temperatures in Surfers Paradise in July average around 15°C (59°F), and Santiago averages at about 9°C (48°F).
Surfers Paradise usually gets less rain in July than Santiago. Surfers Paradise gets 70 mm (2.8 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 JulySurfers Paradise 15°C (59°F)Santiago 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Surfers Paradise or Santiago in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Surfers Paradise and Santiago. The spring months attract visitors to Surfers Paradise because of the beaches.
In October, Surfers Paradise is generally a little warmer than Santiago. Daily temperatures in Surfers Paradise average around 21°C (69°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
Surfers Paradise gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Surfers Paradise usually receives more rain than Santiago. Surfers Paradise gets 103 mm (4 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 OctoberSurfers Paradise 21°C (69°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Santiago and Surfers Paradise
| Surfers Paradise | Santiago | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 157 mm (6.2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 24°C (75°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 22°C (71°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 19°C (66°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 16°C (61°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 15°C (59°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (61°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (65°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 21°C (69°F) | 103 mm (4 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Nov | 23°C (73°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (76°F) | 129 mm (5.1 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.