Which place is cheaper, Santiago or Utrecht?
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 Utrecht or Santiago?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Utrecht or Santiago? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Utrecht or Santiago?
Utrecht
Utrecht is both a province and a city in the Netherlands. The city is a unique university city with a lively atmosphere. Imagine Amsterdam but smaller, and with fewer tourists. Utrecht has the same underlying historical/magical feel as Amsterdam, but is full of locals rather than crowds of tourists. It has a population of about 300,000 making it the fourth largest city in the Netherlands.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to Netherlands, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Netherlands, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, and The Best Luxury Tours to Chile.
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Utrecht Prices
Netherlands PricesSantiago Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayUtrecht €231Santiago €128
The average daily cost (per person) in Utrecht is €231, while the average daily cost in Santiago is €128. 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 Utrecht and Santiago in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personUtrecht €106Santiago €93
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomUtrecht €212Santiago €186
Compare Hotels in Utrecht and Santiago
Looking for a hotel in Utrecht 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: Utrecht Hotel Prices and Santiago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Utrecht €23Santiago €4.60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Utrecht
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Utrecht:
- Train Transfer Utrecht from/to Rotterdam: $17
- Private taxi transfer from Utrecht to Amsterdam: $111
- Private transfer from Utrecht to AMS Schiphol Airport: $131
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€0.96
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santiago
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santiago:
- Santiago Airport (SCL) Private Transfer to Multiple Destinations: $18
- Santiago de Chile Airport Private Transfer: $25
- Official Transfer to Concha y Toro Winery: $27
- Private Santiago Airport to Santiago Transfer: $32
- Airport Private Transfer to/from Santiago de Chile: $40
- Transfer Santiago de Chile airport: $40
- Farellones Full Day Roundtrip Transfer: $40
- Private Transfer from Airport to Santiago, Chile : $43
- Santiago Int Airport (SCL) to Santiago - Arrival Private Transfer: $44
- Santiago to Santiago Airport (SCL) - Departure Private Transfer: $44
- Valle Nevado Ski Day Trip with Hotel Transfers: $45
- Transfer to Snowy Valley fullday for skiers : $49
Is it cheaper to fly into Utrecht or Santiago?
Prices for flights to both Santiago and Utrecht 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 dayUtrecht €100Santiago €19
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Utrecht
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Utrecht.
- Utrecht Food Tour on a Bicycle with local guide: $81
- Utrecht Food Tour with local guide: $83
Typical Food Prices in Santiago
Some typical examples of dining costs in Santiago are as follows:
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Empanada€1.60
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Hamburger€2.13
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Dinner€22
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.Utrecht €44Santiago €40
Tours and Activities in Utrecht
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Utrecht are as follows:
- Utrecht 2-Hour Walking Tour | Discover The City With A Local: $3.58
- A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Utrecht's Charming City Centre: $5.99
- Discover Utrecht's Highlights: Your Self-Guided GPS Tour: $8.29
- Castles, Canals and Good Folk: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Utrecht: $8.99
- Utrecht Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $9.53
- Utrecht Historic City: a Self-Guided Augmented Reality Tour: $12
- Pub Trail an adventure full of surprises: $13
- Pub Trail Utrecht An Adventure Full of Surprises: $13
- Cultural and Historical Audio Guided Walking Tour of Utrecht: $16
- Utrecht Guided Highlights Walking Tour: $19
- Utrecht Walking Tour with a local comedian as guide: $23
- Escape Tours Utrecht; find the secret exit and win! : $24
Tours and Activities in Santiago
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santiago are as follows:
- Official Tour of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Santiago: $9.00
- Santiago Cathedral's Bell Tower Official Tour: $9.00
- Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino Admission Ticket: $17
- A historical tour of Santiago, Chile: $18
- Cable Car Admission Ticket: $18
- Santiago City Tour: Living History and Local Food Tasting: $20
- Guided City Tour through the historic center of Santiago: $23
- Private Guided Walking Tour of the City Center: $24
- Guided Walking Tour of the Historical Old Town: $25
- Yungay, Memory, Art, and Neighborhood Walking Tour: $25
- A Fabulous Walking tour by the Old Santiago of Chile -small group: $25
- Santiago : Highlights Walking Tour With A Guide: $26
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayUtrecht €24Santiago €7.15
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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Utrecht and Santiago, we can see that Utrecht is more expensive. And not only is Santiago much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Utrecht is in Europe 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 Utrecht would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Utrecht 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 Utrecht Expensive? and Is Santiago Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Utrecht or Santiago?
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Utrecht. When comparing the sizes of Utrecht 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 Utrecht 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 Utrecht has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Utrecht or Santiago in the Summer?
Both Santiago and Utrecht are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Utrecht for the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Utrecht is cooler than Santiago. Typically, the summer temperatures in Utrecht in July average around 17°C (62°F), and Santiago averages at about 21°C (70°F)in January.
In July, Utrecht usually receives more rain than Santiagoin January. Utrecht gets 75 mm (3 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 July and JanuaryUtrecht 17°C (62°F)Santiago 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Utrecht or Santiago in the Autumn?
Both Santiago and Utrecht during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Utrecht because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Utrecht is generally cooler than Santiagoin April. Daily temperatures in Utrecht average around 11°C (51°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
Utrecht usually gets more rain in October than Santiagoin April. Utrecht gets 72 mm (2.8 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 October and AprilUtrecht 11°C (51°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Utrecht or Santiago in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Utrecht and Santiago. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Utrecht this time of year.
It's quite cold in Utrecht in the winter. Utrecht is much colder than Santiago in the winter. The daily temperature in Utrecht averages around 2°C (36°F) in January, and Santiago fluctuates around 9°C (48°F)in July.
In January, Utrecht usually receives less rain than Santiagoin July. Utrecht gets 66 mm (2.6 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 January and JulyUtrecht 2°C (36°F)Santiago 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Utrecht or Santiago in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Utrecht as well as Santiago. Many travelers come to Utrecht for the natural beauty.
In the spring, Utrecht is much colder than Santiago. Typically, the spring temperatures in Utrecht in April average around 8°C (46°F), and Santiago averages at about 15°C (59°F)in October.
Utrecht usually gets more rain in April than Santiagoin October. Utrecht gets 52 mm (2 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 April and OctoberUtrecht 8°C (46°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Santiago and Utrecht
| Utrecht | Santiago | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 2°C (36°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 3°C (37°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 5°C (41°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 8°C (46°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 12°C (54°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 17°C (62°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Sep | 14°C (57°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (51°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Nov | 6°C (43°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | 3°C (38°F) | 80 mm (3.1 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.