Which place is cheaper, Santiago or Sydney?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Sydney or Santiago?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Sydney 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: Sydney or Santiago?
Sydney
Sydney, known as the harbour city, is the most famous and frequently visited city in Australia. It is at the economical and cultural heart of the country, and is one of the most beautiful and livable cities in the world. It's situated on the water with stunning views of the famous harbour throughout the city. It's most famous landmarks include the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It is also very close wonderful beaches, parks, and nature.
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 One Week (7-Day) Tours in Australia, The Best 10-Day Tours in Australia, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySydney $273Santiago $141
The average daily cost (per person) in Sydney is $273, while the average daily cost in Santiago is $141. 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 Sydney and Santiago in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSydney $102Santiago $110
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSydney $204Santiago $220
Compare Hotels in Sydney and Santiago
Looking for a hotel in Sydney 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: Sydney Hotel Prices and Santiago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sydney $15Santiago $5.41
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Sydney
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Sydney:
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Taxi Ride$13
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Taxi to Airport$16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sydney
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sydney:
- Transfer Between Airport & Hotels or Cruise Terminal: $13
- Sydney Airport to Sydney CBD shared ride seat in vehicle shuttle transfer: $13
- Shuttle Transfer from Sydney City Hotel or Cruise Port to Sydney Airport: $22
- Shuttle Transfer from Sydney City Hotel to Sydney Cruise Port: $22
- Sydney Arrival Transfer: Airport to City or Overseas Passenger Terminal: $22
- Sydney Airport to White Bay Port transfer: $27
- Sydney Port Private Departure Transfer: City Hotel to Cruise Port: $28
- Sydney Port Private Arrival Transfer: Cruise Port to City: $28
- Private Departure Transfer: Sydney Airport: $33
- Airport Shuttle Transfer to and from CBD Hotels: $35
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel or Cruise Port to Sydney Airport: $35
- Private Arrival Transfer: Sydney Airport to Hotel or Cruise Port: $38
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:
- Arrival Transfer - Santiago International Airport to Hotel in Santiago: $35
- Arturo Merino Benítez Intl Airport: Shared Transfer: $24
- Departure Private Transfers : Santiago to Santiago Airport SCL in Business Car: $67
- Departure Private Transfers : Santiago to Santiago Airport SCL in Luxury Van: $84
- Departure Transfer - Hotel in Santiago to Santiago International Airport: $35
- From Farellones/Valle Nevado Roundtrip Transfer: $35
- From Valle Nevado and Farellones with Transfer: $70
- Pick up Santiago Visit Haras de Pirque Winery & Transfer Hotel: $300
- Private Round Trip Transfer on Santiago Of Chile City: $55
- Private Santiago Hotel or Airport Arrival Transfer to Viña del Mar or Valparaiso: $95
- Private Transfer From Santiago airport to San Antonio Pier or Valparaiso Pier : $251
- Private Transfer From The Hotel in Santiago City To the Airport: $29
Is it cheaper to fly into Sydney or Santiago?
Prices for flights to both Santiago and Sydney 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 daySydney $44Santiago $13
Typical Food Prices in Sydney
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Sydney:
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Tea$2.60
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Lunch Special$9.73
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Food/Drink Coogie Beach$9.73
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Meat Pies$3.24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sydney
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Sydney.
- Vivid Lights Festival Pizza Cruise Tour in Vivid Sydney: $16
- Vivid Sydney Harbor Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $45
- Sydney's Little Italy Food Tour: $49
- Christmas in July Dinner Cruise on Sydney Harbour: $56
- Harbor Sunset Cruise with Dinner: $57
- Sydney Harbour: Tall Ship Vivid Dinner Cruise: $57
- Small Group Refugee Chef Dinner Banquet at Bohemian Cafe: $62
- Sydney Harbour: Latin Fiesta Dinner Cruise: $67
- Tall Ship Harbour Twilight Dinner Cruise: $70
- Sydney Harbour Tall Ship Twilight Dinner Cruise: $71
- Harbour Dinner Cruise with 3, 4 or 6-Course Menu: $74
- Sydney Harbour Sunset Dinner Cruise: $75
Typical Food Prices in Santiago
Some typical examples of dining costs in Santiago are as follows:
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Empanada$1.89
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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.
- Sunset Winery Tour with Wine Tastings and Dinner: $45
- Sunset at Alyan Family Wines Winery with Dinner: $92
- Traditional Dinner Show in Santiago: $107
- Dinner Show in Bali Hai: $109
- Small-Group Tour: Night City Tour with Santa Lucia Hill and Dinner Show: $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
- San Cristobal Hill Night Tour with Dinner Show: $129
- Private Tour: Santiago at Night with Dinner and Show: $131
- Private Night City Tour with San Cristobal Hill And Dinner Show: $131
- 4-Hour Private Night Tour with Dinner and Show: $150
- Private Dinner and Show with Transfers: $158
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sydney $31Santiago $47
Typical Entertainment Prices in Sydney
Here are a few typical costs in Sydney for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Theatre Show$29
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Sydney Tower Visit (for 2)$30
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Blue Mountain Tour/Featherdale Park (for 2)$124
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Powerhouse Museum$9.76
Tours and Activities in Sydney
Here are a few actual costs in Sydney for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour: $2.13
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.20
- Sydney Harbour: A Self-Guided Audio Tour to Lavender Bay: $5.36
- Sydney Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Spirits of Sydney - Self Guided Ghost Tour of the Rocks Area: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Australia: Tourist eSIM Data Plan: $11
- Self-Guided Walking Tour with Audio Guide: $14
- Australian National Maritime Museum: All-Inclusive Ticket: $16
- Botanic Garden Self-Guided Adventure Hunt for Kids: $16
- Unlock The Rocks Scavenger Hunt Adventure Game: $16
- Secret Laneways Scavenger Hunt Adventure Game: $16
Tours and Activities in Santiago
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santiago are as follows:
- Explore Santiago's Soul: Walking In-App Audio Tour: $5.00
- Explore Santiago's Soul: Walking In-App Audio Tour: $5.00
- Santiago Cathedral's Bell Tower Official Tour: $9.00
- La Paz from the Heights: Down hill Walking tour & Cable Cars: $12
- Cable Car Admission Ticket: $15
- Cousiño Macul Official Winery Tour with Tasting: $23
- "Tour Tradicional" Viña Cousiño Macul Oficial español: $23
- Skip the Line: Concha y Toro Traditional Tour Ticket: $25
- Walking tour through Santiago: $26
- From Valle Nevado and Farellones Small Group Tour: $29
- History Walking Tour in Chile: $29
- Half Day tradicional city Tour: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySydney $15Santiago $8.41
Typical Alcohol Prices in Sydney
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Sydney:
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Wine$10
Sample the Local Flavors in Sydney
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Sydney:
- SYDNEY : Haunted Sydney Pub Tour: $20
- Sydney's Haunted Pub Tour with a Licensed Guide: $26
- Night Out Pub Crawl with Local Guide: $29
- Sydney Cellar Door - Old Vine Expressions Wine Tasting: $46
- Private Wine Tour and Tasting: $55
- Urban Winery Wine Tasting Tour with Cheese Platter: $55
- Balmain Pub Walking Tour: $76
- Luxury Hunter Valley Wildlife & Wine Tasting Tour from Sydney: $82
- Sydney Beer and Brewery Tour: $101
- Brewery, Winery, and Distillery Tasting Tour: $109
- Northern Beaches Brewery Tour and Tasting: $119
- From Hunter Valley Wine Tour with Cheese Tasting: $141
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
- Undurraga Winery Tour with Entry and Wine Tasting: $50
- Concha y Toro Ticket and Tour with Wine Tasting: $50
- Undurraga Wine Tasting Tour from Santiago: $62
- Undurraga Wine tour: $63
- Half Day Trip to Undurraga Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $70
- From Concha y Toro Marqués Half-Day Wine Tasting: $89
- Private Tour: Undurraga Vineyard Experience with Premium Wine Tasting: $92
- 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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sydney and Santiago, we can see that Sydney is more expensive. And not only is Santiago much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Sydney 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 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 Sydney would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sydney 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 Sydney Expensive? and Is Santiago Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sydney or Santiago?
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 10% larger than the population of Sydney. When comparing the sizes of Sydney 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 Sydney or Santiago?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.
Should I visit Sydney or Santiago in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Sydney and Santiago. Many travelers come to Sydney for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
In January, Sydney is generally around the same temperature as Santiago. Daily temperatures in Sydney average around 23°C (73°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
Sydney gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Sydney usually receives more rain than Santiago. Sydney gets 116 mm (4.6 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JanuarySydney 23°C (73°F)Santiago 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Sydney or Santiago in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Sydney as well as Santiago. Many visitors come to Sydney in the autumn for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Sydney is a little warmer than Santiago in the autumn. The daily temperature in Sydney averages around 19°C (65°F) in April, and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
Sydney receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Sydney usually gets more rain in April than Santiago. Sydney gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures AprilSydney 19°C (65°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Sydney or Santiago in the Winter?
Both Santiago and Sydney are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Sydney for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
In the winter, Sydney is a little warmer than Santiago. Typically, the winter temperatures in Sydney in July average around 12°C (53°F), and Santiago averages at about 9°C (48°F).
In July, Sydney usually receives less rain than Santiago. Sydney gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JulySydney 12°C (53°F)Santiago 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Sydney or Santiago in the Spring?
Both Santiago and Sydney during the spring are popular places to visit. The spring months attract visitors to Sydney because of the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.
In October, Sydney is generally a little warmer than Santiago. Daily temperatures in Sydney average around 18°C (64°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
Sydney usually gets more rain in October than Santiago. Sydney gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures OctoberSydney 18°C (64°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Santiago and Sydney
| Sydney | Santiago | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 23°C (73°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 23°C (73°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 21°C (70°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 19°C (65°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 15°C (60°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 13°C (55°F) | 128 mm (5 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 12°C (53°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 13°C (55°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Sep | 15°C (59°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 18°C (64°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Nov | 20°C (67°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | 22°C (71°F) | 81 mm (3.2 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.