Which place is cheaper, Santiago or Bangkok?
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 Bangkok or Santiago?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Bangkok and Santiago can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Bangkok or Santiago?
Bangkok
Bangkok: a name synonymous with all things exotic. The vibrant and exciting capital of Thailand is not just a hub for Southeast Asia, but also a destination into itself. Known for an active nightlife and party scene, as well as great food, historic temples, and busy markets, Bangkok offers a diversity to entertain even the most experienced travelers.
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 Thailand, The Best Wildlife Tours to Thailand, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, and The Best Luxury Tours to Chile.
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Bangkok Prices
Thailand PricesSantiago Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBangkok $105Santiago $150
The average daily cost (per person) in Bangkok is $105, while the average daily cost in Santiago is $150. 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 Bangkok and Santiago in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBangkok $50Santiago $109
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBangkok $100Santiago $218
Compare Hotels in Bangkok and Santiago
Looking for a hotel in Bangkok 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: Bangkok Hotel Prices and Santiago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bangkok $6.57Santiago $5.41
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bangkok
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Bangkok are as follows:
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Tuk Tuk to bus station$2.51
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Skytrain Ticket$5.02
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Chao Phraya River Express Ticket$1.00
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Ferry Ride$0.82
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Taxi From Airport$7.85
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Short Taxi Ride$2.83
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Boat Taxi$1.57
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Trains to airport$5.02
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bangkok
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bangkok:
- Erawan Museum Admision Ticket with Transfer: $12
- Private Transfer from/to Suvarnabhumi Airport(BKK) : $12
- Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Departure Transfer (Shared or Private): $12
- Sedan Arrival Transfer Bangkok Airport BKK to Bangkok or Pattaya: $15
- Private Departure Transfer : Bangkok Hotel to BKK/DMK airport: $15
- Arrival Transfer from BKK Airport to Bangkok Hotel: $15
- Private transfer from Hotel in Bangkok to BKK Airport : $18
- Private Bangkok Airport Transfer by Comfortable SUV: $19
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Pattaya APT-HTL (DMK): $20
- Bangkok City Tour with Guided Temple Visits and Shared Transfers: $21
- Affordable Bangkok Airport Transfer: $22
- Budget-Friendly Shared Transfer to Suvarnabhumi Airport: $23
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:
- Airport Transfer and Halfday City tour Santiago de Chile: $362
- Airport Transfer: Santiago to Airport SCL by Business Car: $87
- Airport transfer between Santiago city center and Arturo Merino Benítez Airport: $51
- Arrival Transfer from Santiago Airport SCL to Santiago de Chile: $80
- City tour santiago with excursion to valparaiso and airport transfer: $150
- Departure Transfer: Santiago to Airport SCL by Business Car: $87
- From Viña Santa Rita Tour w/Transfer: $120
- Luxury Airport Private Transfer SCL: $90
- Maipo Valley Wine Tour, Concha y Toro, Private Transfer from Santiago: $262
- Private Round Trip Transfer from Santiago Airport SCL to Santiago: $96
- Private Round Trip Transfer on Santiago Of Chile City: $68
- Private Santiago Visit Haras de Pirque Winery & Transfer Hotel: $300
Is it cheaper to fly into Bangkok or Santiago?
Prices for flights to both Santiago and Bangkok 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 dayBangkok $36Santiago $23
Typical Food Prices in Bangkok
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Bangkok:
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Dinner at Hard Rock Cafe (for Two)$28
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Casual Lunch of Prawns (for Two)$6.28
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2 Rotis (Bread)$1.41
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Mango & Sticky Rice$0.94
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Lunch at KFC (for Two)$6.28
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Pad Thai$2.20
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Airport Lunch for 2$17
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Lunch for 2$23
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bangkok
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bangkok.
- Baiyoke Sky Hotel Observation Deck Ticket with Lunch or Dinner : $22
- Meridian Dinner and Sunset Cruise in Bangkok: $23
- Royal Princess Dinner Cruise in Bangkok: $25
- Chao Phraya Princess Sunset and Dinner Cruise: $27
- Twilight Dinner Cruise Along Chao Phraya River in Bangkok: $29
- Calypso Cabaret Show with Thai Set Dinner: $29
- Baiyoke Sky Dinner Experience with Observation Deck Access: $29
- Baiyoke Sky Observation Deck With Buffet Dinner or Lunch: $29
- Bangkok Amazing Chaophraya River Dinner Cruise with Live Music: $32
- Nopparat’s Traditional Thai Dinner & Dance: $32
- Chao Phraya River Serenade: VIVA Alangka Dinner Cruise, Bangkok: $32
- Riverside Bangkok Dinner Cruise with Buffet and City Views: $32
Typical Food Prices in Santiago
Some typical examples of dining costs in Santiago are as follows:
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Empanada$1.88
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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.
- 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.Bangkok $18Santiago $47
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bangkok
Here are a few typical costs in Bangkok for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Movie Ticket$5.02
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Grand Palace Entrance Ticket$11
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Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha) Ticket$1.57
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Dusit Zoo Entrance Fee (for Two)$6.28
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Club Cover Charge$12
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Thai Boxing Tickets (for Two)$75
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Fish Pedicure$4.71
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Wat Pho entrance ticket$3.14
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Siriraj Museum (2)$13
Tours and Activities in Bangkok
Here are a few actual costs in Bangkok for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Road to Democracy: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Thailand's Modern Politics: $5.00
- Bangkok Noi Canal: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.20
- Bangkok's Old Town: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Bangkok City Session Walking Tour: $8.18
- Grand Palace Self-Guided Walking Tour (entry not incl.): $9.00
- Space and Time Cube Tickets in Bangkok: $9.66
- Ancient City Bangkok and Erawan Museum Tickets: $10
- Erawan Museum Ticket (NON THAI): $10
- Half Day Coral Island Tour from Pattaya With Lunch: $11
- Erawan Museum at Bangkok Admission Ticket: $13
- Explore Brilliant Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $14
- Bangkok Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha Tour: $14
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 dayBangkok $5.65Santiago $8.40
Typical Alcohol Prices in Bangkok
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Bangkok are as follows:
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Beer$1.26
Sample the Local Flavors in Bangkok
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Bangkok:
- Bangkok Pub Crawl: $17
- The Original Bangkok Pub Crawl: $32
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 Bangkok and Santiago, we can see that Santiago is more expensive. And not only is Bangkok much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bangkok is in Asia 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 Bangkok would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bangkok 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 Bangkok.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bangkok Expensive? and Is Santiago Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bangkok or Santiago?
Bangkok has a larger population, and is about 6% larger than the population of Santiago. When comparing the sizes of Bangkok 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 Bangkok or Santiago?
Santiago has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Bangkok experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Bangkok or Santiago in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Bangkok and Santiago. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Bangkok year-round.
In the summer, Bangkok is a little warmer than Santiago. Typically, the summer temperatures in Bangkok in July average around 29°C (84°F), and Santiago averages at about 21°C (70°F)in January.
Bangkok gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Bangkok usually receives more rain than Santiagoin January. Bangkok gets 155 mm (6.1 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 JanuaryBangkok 29°C (84°F)Santiago 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Bangkok or Santiago in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Bangkok as well as Santiago. Bangkok attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, Bangkok is generally much warmer than Santiagoin April. Daily temperatures in Bangkok average around 28°C (83°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
Bangkok receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Bangkok usually gets more rain in October than Santiagoin April. Bangkok gets 242 mm (9.5 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, November to February in Bangkok is the dry season. May to October in Bangkok is the rainy season.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilBangkok 28°C (83°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Bangkok or Santiago in the Winter?
Both Santiago and Bangkok are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Bangkok throughout the year.
Bangkok is much warmer than Santiago in the winter. The daily temperature in Bangkok averages around 27°C (80°F) in January, and Santiago fluctuates around 9°C (48°F)in July.
In January, Bangkok usually receives less rain than Santiagoin July. Bangkok gets 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the winter. The dry season in Bangkok is November to February.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyBangkok 27°C (80°F)Santiago 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Bangkok or Santiago in the Spring?
Both Santiago and Bangkok during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Bangkok because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the spring, Bangkok is much warmer than Santiago. Typically, the spring temperatures in Bangkok in April average around 31°C (87°F), and Santiago averages at about 15°C (59°F)in October.
Bangkok usually gets more rain in April than Santiagoin October. Bangkok gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year. May to October is the rainy season in Bangkok.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberBangkok 31°C (87°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Santiago and Bangkok
| Bangkok | Santiago | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (80°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (85°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 31°C (87°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 30°C (86°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (85°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (84°F) | 155 mm (6.1 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 344 mm (13.5 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (83°F) | 242 mm (9.5 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 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.