Which place is cheaper, Santiago or Zadar?
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 Zadar or Santiago?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Zadar 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: Zadar or Santiago?
Zadar
You'll find Zadar in northern Dalmatia, Croatia. It is located on the Adriatic Sea and is the center of Zadar County. It is both the historic center for the region and the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Zadar. There are a handful of sights around town, most of which can be explored on foot.
The climate for the city is a mix between humid subtropical and a Mediterranean climate. The winters are usually mild and wet, and the summers are humid and warm. The hottest months are July and August when temperatures can exceed 30 degrees Celsius. Average yearly rainfall usually exceeds 917 mm. Fall months often remain warm and temperatures are often around 30 degrees Celsius as well. In general, the temperatures rarely drop below freezing, even during the coldest month of January. The rainiest months are October and November, although winter is considered the wet season. July is usually the driest month. Water temperatures are around 25 degrees Celsius in July and August and it may be possible to swim any time between May and October.
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 Tours for Seniors to Croatia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Croatia, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, and The Best Luxury Tours to Chile.
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Zadar Prices
Croatia PricesSantiago Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZadar €110Santiago €138
The average daily cost (per person) in Zadar is €110, while the average daily cost in Santiago is €138. 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 Zadar and Santiago in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZadar €51Santiago €101
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZadar €102Santiago €202
Compare Hotels in Zadar and Santiago
Looking for a hotel in Zadar 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: Zadar Hotel Prices and Santiago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zadar €9.53Santiago €4.98
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zadar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zadar:
- Modern bus transfer between Dubrovnik and Zadar: $52
- Plitvice Lakes from Round-Trip Transfer: $53
- Private Transfer from Zadar Hotels to Zadar Airport: $54
- Zadar Airport to Zadar City Private Transfer: $56
- Zrmanja River Kayaking, with optional transfer from Zadar: $65
- Private Transfer from Zadar Port to Zadar Airport (ZAD): $66
- Private Transfer from Zadar Airport (ZAD) to Borik Zadar: $66
- Private Transfer from Zadar City to Zadar Airport (ZAD): $66
- Private Transfer from Borik Zadar to Zadar Airport (ZAD): $66
- Transfer From Zadar Airport to Town Zadar: $67
- Transfer from Zadar airport to Vir: $68
- Private Transfer from Zadar Airport (ZAD) to Biograd Na Moru: $73
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€1.04
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santiago
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santiago:
- Official Transfer to Concha y Toro Winery: $27
- Private Transfer to Santiago Airport (SCL): $29
- Private Santiago Airport to Santiago Transfer: $32
- Private Arrival Transfer from Airport to Hotel in Santiago: $37
- Farellones Full Day Roundtrip Transfer: $40
- Transfer Santiago de Chile airport: $40
- Airport Private Transfer to/from Santiago de Chile: $40
- Private Transfer from Airport to Santiago, Chile: $43
- Valle Nevado Ski Day Trip with Hotel Transfers: $45
- Santiago to Santiago Airport (SCL) - Departure Private Transfer: $47
- Private Transfer from Santiago Hotel to Santiago Airport: $49
- Transfer from Santiago Airport to Santiago Centro Commune: $52
Is it cheaper to fly into Zadar or Santiago?
Prices for flights to both Santiago and Zadar 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 dayZadar €49Santiago €21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zadar
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zadar.
- Golden Hour Cruise RIB Tour Island Dinner Stop & Swim: $41
- Zadar City Market Food Tour: $51
- Zadar City Market Food Tour 2026 – A Taste of Local Life: $65
- Sunset Dinner Cruise with 3-Course Meal: $88
- Zadar Food Tour: Local Dishes & City Stories: $105
- Private Cooking Class: $140
Typical Food Prices in Santiago
Some typical examples of dining costs in Santiago are as follows:
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Empanada€1.74
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Hamburger€2.30
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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.
- Legacy Family Tour Lunch or Dinner Pairing 4 Strokes: $40
- Street Food Tour in Santiago with a Local Guide: $58
- Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $82
- 4-Hour Boozy Chilean Cooking Class in Santiago: $85
- Food Tour STGO, Eat like Locals!: $99
- Traditional Dinner Show in Santiago: $107
- Lastarria Food Tour: Wine, Bites & Social Culinary Experience: $109
- Santiago Food Tour: Bohemian Flavors and Local Gems: $109
- Dinner Show in Bali Hai with Wine refill and transportation: $114
- Small-Group Tour: Night City Tour with Santa Lucia Hill and Dinner Show: $116
- Private Dinner & Chilean Folk Show with Transfers: $116
- Alyan Winery Sunset with Wine Tastings and Dinner: $117
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zadar €19Santiago €44
Tours and Activities in Zadar
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Zadar are as follows:
- Zadar city tour: Be Local by Šušur: $5.83
- Zadar Old Town Guided Walking Tour by Šušur: $5.87
- TOP Zadar : Private Guided Tour with your mobile: $12
- A Self-Guided Tour of Zadar's Medieval Heart: $12
- Zadar Walking Tour sponsored by Gligora Cheese and deli: $18
- From Plitvice Lakes Day Tour: $18
- Old Town Walking Tour: $18
- Zadar highlights - Zadar discovery Short tour: $18
- Guided Beer Tasting Experience in Bibinje: $18
- Zadar Old Town Walking Tour: $18
- Sunset boat tour with champagne: $19
- Sunset Cruise & unlimited champagne: $19
Tours and Activities in Santiago
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santiago are as follows:
- Santiago Cathedral's Bell Tower Official Tour: $9.00
- 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
- Santiago : Highlights Walking Tour With A Guide: $26
- "Tour Tradicional" Viña Cousiño Macul Oficial español: $27
- Guided Walking Tour through the Historic Center: $29
- Andes Snow Experience Farellones Valle Nevado and from Santiago: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZadar €12Santiago €7.73
Sample the Local Flavors in Zadar
Also in Zadar, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Guided Speedboat Tour with Food, Oil & Wine Tasting: $41
- Guided Speedboat Tour with Food, Oil & Wine Tasting: $41
- NEW Dalmatian Wine Tasting & Tapas Experience: $59
- Guided Pub Crawl with Welcome Shots and VIP Entry: $61
- Craft Gin and exclusive brandies in unique distillery: $77
- City Tour with Brewery Visit and Beer Tasting: $92
- City Tour with Educational Beer Tour in Brlog Brewery: $94
- City and Wine Tour in Zadar with Eco Tuk Tuk: $106
- Private Island Hopping & Wine Tasting with Canapés: $350
Sample the Local Flavors in Santiago
Also in Santiago, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Traditional Wine Tour in Viña Cousiño Macul Official English: $27
- Ludwig's Original Pub Crawl with VIP Club Entry: $34
- "Premium Wine Tour" Viña Cousiño Macul Official english: $45
- Premium Wine Tour in Viña Cousiño Macul Spanish official: $45
- Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, with Casablanca Wine Tasting: $59
- Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, with Wine Tasting: $60
- Undurraga Winery Tour with Entry and Wine Tasting: $63
- Undurraga Wine tour: $70
- Santa Carolina History and Wine Tasting in Santiago: $70
- Undurraga Wine Tasting Tour from Santiago: $75
- Valparaiso Port and Viña del Mar with Casablanca Wine Tasting: $75
- Half Day Trip to Undurraga Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $75
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zadar and Santiago, we can see that Santiago is more expensive. And not only is Zadar much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Zadar 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 Zadar would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Zadar 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 Zadar.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Zadar Expensive? and Is Santiago Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zadar or Santiago?
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Zadar. When comparing the sizes of Zadar 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 Zadar 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 Zadar has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Zadar or Santiago in the Summer?
Both Santiago and Zadar are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Zadar for the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Zadar is a little warmer than Santiago in the summer. The daily temperature in Zadar averages around 26°C (80°F) in July, and Santiago fluctuates around 21°C (70°F)in January.
In July, Zadar usually receives more rain than Santiagoin January. Zadar gets 28 mm (1.1 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 JanuaryZadar 26°C (80°F)Santiago 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Zadar or Santiago in the Autumn?
Both Santiago and Zadar during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Zadar because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Zadar is a little warmer than Santiago. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Zadar in October average around 18°C (64°F), and Santiago averages at about 15°C (59°F)in April.
Zadar usually gets more rain in October than Santiagoin April. Zadar 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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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilZadar 18°C (64°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Zadar or Santiago in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Zadar and Santiago. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Zadar this time of year.
In January, Zadar is generally around the same temperature as Santiagoin July. Daily temperatures in Zadar average around 8°C (47°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
In January, Zadar usually receives around the same amount of rain as Santiagoin July. Zadar gets 83 mm (3.3 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 JulyZadar 8°C (47°F)Santiago 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Zadar or Santiago in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Zadar as well as Santiago. Many travelers come to Zadar for the beaches and the natural beauty.
Zadar is around the same temperature as Santiago in the spring. The daily temperature in Zadar averages around 15°C (59°F) in April, and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F)in October.
Zadar usually gets more rain in April than Santiagoin October. Zadar gets 66 mm (2.6 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 OctoberZadar 15°C (59°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Santiago and Zadar
| Zadar | Santiago | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 8°C (47°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 9°C (48°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 11°C (52°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (59°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 20°C (67°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 23°C (74°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 26°C (80°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 61 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 | 13°C (56°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | 10°C (49°F) | 100 mm (3.9 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.