Which place is cheaper, Santiago or Vilnius?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Vilnius or Santiago?
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 Vilnius and Santiago. 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: Vilnius or Santiago?
Vilnius
Vilnius is the capital and largest city in the country of Lithuania. It has a population of more than 500,000 residents and is located in the valley between the Neris River and the Vilnia River in the southeastern part of the country. Visitors come to the city for its beautiful Old Town, impressive architecture, and fascinating culture. In 2009 it was named the European Capital of Culture along with the city of Linz, in Austria.
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 from Vilnius, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Lithuania, 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 dayVilnius €94Santiago €133
The average daily cost (per person) in Vilnius is €94, while the average daily cost in Santiago is €133. 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 Vilnius and Santiago in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVilnius €42Santiago €103
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVilnius €84Santiago €206
Compare Hotels in Vilnius and Santiago
Looking for a hotel in Vilnius 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: Vilnius Hotel Prices and Santiago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Vilnius €8.30Santiago €5.09
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vilnius
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Vilnius:
- Airport Bus Transfer to/from Central Bus Station: $3.23
- Riga: Bus Transfer to/from Vilnius: $20
- Vilnius Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Riga: $24
- Private Vilnius Airport Arrival Transfer: $27
- Vilnius Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Warsaw: $36
- Arrival Transfer from Vilnius VNO Airport to Vilnius by Minivan: $46
- Vilnius Airport Transfer: $52
- Vilnius Airport (VNO): Bus Transfer to/from Gdansk: $52
- Vilnius Private 1-Way Airport Transfer: $54
- Jewish Heritage Sites Private Tour with Transfer: $215
- Hot Air Balloon Ride with Hotel Transfer: $215
- Transfer from Kaunas Airport to Vilnius: $215
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€1.06
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santiago
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santiago:
- Arturo Merino Benítez Intl Airport: Shared Transfer: $24
- Private Departure Transfer from Santiago- Santiago Airport (SCL): $27
- Private Transfer From The Hotel in Santiago City To the Airport: $29
- Departure Transfer - Hotel in Santiago to Santiago International Airport: $35
- Private Santiago Airport to Santiago Transfer: $35
- From Farellones Roundtrip Transfer: $35
- Arrival Transfer - Santiago International Airport to Hotel in Santiago: $35
- Valle Nevado Ski Day Trip with Hotel Transfers: $39
- Private Transfer between Santiago and the Airport: $51
- Airport transfer between Santiago city center and Arturo Merino Benítez Airport: $51
- Transfer Privado Entre Santiago Y El Aeropuerto: $52
- Transfer from Santiago Airport to Santiago Centro Commune: $52
Is it cheaper to fly into Vilnius or Santiago?
Prices for flights to both Santiago and Vilnius 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 dayVilnius €40Santiago €12
Typical Food Prices in Vilnius
Some typical examples of dining costs in Vilnius are as follows:
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Dinner for Two€13
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Vilnius
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Vilnius.
- Private National Dinner with Folk Show: $60
- Dinner in local family: $74
- Flavors of Vilnius - Private Walking Food Tour: $191
Typical Food Prices in Santiago
Some typical examples of dining costs in Santiago are as follows:
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Empanada€1.77
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Hamburger€2.35
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Dinner€24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santiago
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Santiago.
- Traditional Chilean Show with Dinner and Private Transportation in Santiago: $107
- Traditional Dinner Show in Santiago: $107
- Dinner Show in Bali Hai: $109
- Sunset at Alyan Family Wines Winery with Dinner: $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
- 4-Hour Private Night Tour with Dinner and Show: $150
- Private Dinner and Show with Transfers: $158
- Traditional Chilean Cooking Class with a Local in Her Santiago Countryside Home: $168
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Vilnius €9.72Santiago €44
Typical Entertainment Prices in Vilnius
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Vilnius are as follows:
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Walking Tour€5.79
Tours and Activities in Vilnius
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Vilnius are as follows:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.46
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $6.46
- Vilnius Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.56
- Secrets of Old Vilnius Smartphone App GPS Audio Walking Tour: $7.50
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Skip the Line: Europos Parkas, Open-Air Museum Ticket Vilnius, Lithuania: $12
- Vibrant Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $14
- Regular walking tour of Jewish Vilnius: $19
- Regular walking tour of Soviet Vilnius: $19
- Private Europos Parkas Tour with Entrance Ticket: $19
- Regular walking tour of Jewish Vilnius: $19
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
- Skip the Line: Concha y Toro Traditional Tour Ticket: $25
- Walking tour through Santiago: $26
- From Valle Nevado and Farellones Small Group Tour: $29
- The Essentials City Tour & Optional Concha y Toro: $30
- Half Day tradicional city Tour: $30
- TOUR PANORAMICO VALLE NEVADO Y FARELLONES: $32
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVilnius €6.38Santiago €7.90
Typical Alcohol Prices in Vilnius
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Vilnius from other travelers:
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Beer€4.34
Sample the Local Flavors in Vilnius
Also in Vilnius, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Beer degustation at Bear & Boar Brewery Taproom: $43
- Vilnius Private Pub & Bar Crawl Tour & Hidden Gems: $46
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
- Concha y Toro Ticket and Tour with Wine Tasting: $50
- Undurraga Winery Tour with Entry and Wine Tasting: $50
- Undurraga Wine tour: $63
- Half Day Trip to Undurraga Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $70
- Private Tour: Santa Rita Vineyard with Wine Tastings: $72
- From Concha y Toro Marqués Half-Day Wine Tasting: $89
- 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
- Premium Wine Tasting and Tour at Santa Rita with Transport: $145
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Vilnius and Santiago, we can see that Santiago is more expensive. And not only is Vilnius much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Vilnius 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 Vilnius would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Vilnius 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 Vilnius.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Vilnius Expensive? and Is Santiago Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Vilnius or Santiago?
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Vilnius. When comparing the sizes of Vilnius 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 Vilnius 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 Vilnius has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Vilnius or Santiago in the Summer?
Both Santiago and Vilnius are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Vilnius because of the family-friendly experiences.
Vilnius is cooler than Santiago in the summer. The daily temperature in Vilnius averages around 18°C (65°F) in July, and Santiago fluctuates around 21°C (70°F)in January.
In July, Vilnius usually receives more rain than Santiagoin January. Vilnius gets 78 mm (3.1 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 JanuaryVilnius 18°C (65°F)Santiago 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Vilnius or Santiago in the Autumn?
Both Santiago and Vilnius during the autumn are popular places to visit. The shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Vilnius this time of year.
In the autumn, Vilnius is much colder than Santiago. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Vilnius in October average around 8°C (46°F), and Santiago averages at about 15°C (59°F)in April.
Vilnius usually gets more rain in October than Santiagoin April. Vilnius gets 53 mm (2.1 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 AprilVilnius 8°C (46°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Vilnius or Santiago in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Vilnius and Santiago. Many travelers come to Vilnius for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Vilnius. In January, Vilnius is generally much colder than Santiagoin July. Daily temperatures in Vilnius average around -5°C (23°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
In January, Vilnius usually receives less rain than Santiagoin July. Vilnius gets 41 mm (1.6 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 JulyVilnius -5°C (23°F)Santiago 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Vilnius or Santiago in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Vilnius as well as Santiago. Many visitors come to Vilnius in the spring for the natural beauty.
Vilnius is much colder than Santiago in the spring. The daily temperature in Vilnius averages around 7°C (45°F) in April, and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F)in October.
Vilnius usually gets more rain in April than Santiagoin October. Vilnius gets 46 mm (1.8 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 OctoberVilnius 7°C (45°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Santiago and Vilnius
| Vilnius | Santiago | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -5°C (23°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | -4°C (26°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 1°C (33°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 7°C (45°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 14°C (57°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 17°C (63°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 18°C (65°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 18°C (64°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Sep | 13°C (56°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 8°C (46°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Nov | 2°C (36°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | -2°C (29°F) | 55 mm (2.2 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.