Which place is cheaper, Santiago or Coimbra?
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 Coimbra or Santiago?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Coimbra 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: Coimbra or Santiago?
Coimbra
Coimbra is located in Central Portugal in the Centro Region. It's the third largest city in the country with about 460,000 people living in the entire region. It is also where you'll find the University of Coimbra, which is one of the oldest universities in Europe and the oldest academic institution in the Portuguese speaking world. During the High Middle Ages, Coimbra served as the nation's capital and there are archaeological structures that date back to the Roman era.
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 Food and Culinary Tours in Portugal, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Portugal, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, and The Best Luxury Tours to Chile.
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Coimbra Prices
Portugal PricesSantiago Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCoimbra €138Santiago €128
The average daily cost (per person) in Coimbra is €138, 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 Coimbra and Santiago in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCoimbra €44Santiago €93
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCoimbra €88Santiago €186
Compare Hotels in Coimbra and Santiago
Looking for a hotel in Coimbra 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: Coimbra Hotel Prices and Santiago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Coimbra €11Santiago €4.60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Coimbra
Also for Coimbra, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private transfer in Coimbra City : $95
- Transfers Aveiro or Coimbra to Lisbon Airport: $159
- Fátima Private Transfer to/from Lisbon: $161
- Private Transfer Coimbra to Take Christ's Convent : $274
- Private Transfer Coimbra to Aveiro Costa Nova : $298
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:
- from Santiago airport private arrival transfer to the Valparaiso pier: $251
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Santiago APT-HTL (SCL): $30
- Transfer to Valparaiso Cruise Terminal with Winery & Town Tour: $98
- Transfer from Santiago Airport to Santiago Centro Commune: $52
- Transfer Santiago-Viña del Mar / Viña del Mar-Santiago: $220
- Transfer Santiago to Cruise Port in Valparaiso or San Antonio: $290
- Transfer Santiago de Chile airport: $40
- Transfer Santiago Airport to the commune of Providencia: $56
- Transfer Private hotel to Cruise ship in Puerto San Antonio or Valparaiso: $270
- TRANSFER TRANSFER AIRPORT-VIÑA DEL MAR VALPARAISO: $143
- Valle Nevado Ski Day Trip with Hotel Transfers: $45
- Transfer Airport/Hotel or Hotel/Airport: $65
Is it cheaper to fly into Coimbra or Santiago?
Prices for flights to both Santiago and Coimbra 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 dayCoimbra €83Santiago €19
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Coimbra
For Coimbra, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Tomar Cooking Class & Garden-to-Table Meal with Lake Views: $142
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
- 4-hour Boozy Chilean Cooking class in Santiago: $85
- Bali Hai Dinner & Show, Transport and Wine refill: $106
- Traditional Dinner Show in Santiago: $107
- 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
- San Cristobal Hill Night Tour with Dinner Show: $129
- Bali Hai Polynesian Dinner Show with Transfer: $130
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Coimbra €18Santiago €40
Tours and Activities in Coimbra
For Coimbra, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Coimbra Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $4.48
- Tomar Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $4.48
- Coimbra Top Attractions Walking Tour: $5.96
- Coimbra Downtown Walking Tour with uptown insights : $5.96
- Coimbra Downhill Tour Highlights History and Student Traditions: $5.96
- Coimbra Walking Tour with Audioguide on Your Smartphone: $8.34
- Tomar’s Historical Highlights: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- Self-Guided Tour of Fado Traditions in Coimbra: $9.99
- Coimbra City Tour : $24
- Cycle to Ancient Dolmens in Azenha. History, Theory & Folklore Guided Tour: $36
- Coimbra Adventure Discovery and Learning with a Local: $42
- Tomar and the Templars Convent of Christ Tour: A Historical Tale: $48
Tours and Activities in Santiago
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santiago are as follows:
- Private Adventure at 4200 meters above sea level in the Chilean Andes Cerro Pintor: $300
- Private Half-Day Guided Tour of the City of Santiago.: $280
- Private Sightseeing City Tour in Valparaíso and Viña del Mar: $240
- "Tour Tradicional" Viña Cousiño Macul Oficial español: $26
- 1 Day Tour of Isla Negra Algarrobo and Viña Undurraga from Santiago: $112
- 1 Day Undurraga Vineyard Tour from Santiago : $85
- 6 Hour Tour of Culture, History and Flavors from Santiago: $75
- A Private Tour of Santiago with an Experienced Local Guide: $180
- A full Private Tour of Valparaiso from Santiago : $240
- A historical tour of Santiago, Chile: $18
- An Architect's Tour of Downtown Santiago: $55
- Andean Adventure: Cajón del Maipo & Santuario del Río Spa: $132
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCoimbra €12Santiago €7.15
Sample the Local Flavors in Coimbra
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Coimbra:
- Port Wine Tasting in Coimbra: $72
- Self-drive Wine Tour in Bairrada Region: $251
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
- Santiago by Night: Funicular, Wine Tasting & Cueca Show: $69
- 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
- Inca Lagoon and Vineyard Visit with Wine Tasting: $80
- Half Day Trip to Concha y Toro Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $87
- Half Day Trip to Cousiño Macul 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 comparing the travel costs between Coimbra and Santiago, we can see that Coimbra is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Coimbra is in Europe and Santiago is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Coimbra Expensive? and Is Santiago Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Coimbra or Santiago?
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Coimbra. When comparing the sizes of Coimbra 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 Coimbra 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 Coimbra has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Coimbra or Santiago in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Coimbra as well as Santiago.
In July, Coimbra is generally around the same temperature as Santiagoin January. Daily temperatures in Coimbra average around 23°C (73°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
Coimbra usually gets more rain in July than Santiagoin January. Coimbra gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryCoimbra 23°C (73°F)Santiago 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Coimbra or Santiago in the Autumn?
Both Santiago and Coimbra are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.
Coimbra is a little warmer than Santiago in the autumn. The daily temperature in Coimbra averages around 18°C (65°F) in October, and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F)in April.
It's quite rainy in Coimbra. In October, Coimbra usually receives more rain than Santiagoin April. Coimbra gets 101 mm (4 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilCoimbra 18°C (65°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Coimbra or Santiago in the Winter?
Both Santiago and Coimbra during the winter are popular places to visit.
In the winter, Coimbra is a little warmer than Santiago. Typically, the winter temperatures in Coimbra in January average around 11°C (51°F), and Santiago averages at about 9°C (48°F)in July.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Coimbra. Coimbra usually gets more rain in January than Santiagoin July. Coimbra gets 139 mm (5.5 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyCoimbra 11°C (51°F)Santiago 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Coimbra or Santiago in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Coimbra and Santiago.
In April, Coimbra is generally around the same temperature as Santiagoin October. Daily temperatures in Coimbra average around 15°C (59°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
In April, Coimbra usually receives more rain than Santiagoin October. Coimbra gets 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberCoimbra 15°C (59°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Santiago and Coimbra
| Coimbra | Santiago | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 11°C (51°F) | 139 mm (5.5 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 12°C (53°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 13°C (56°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (59°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 17°C (63°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (69°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (73°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (71°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 18°C (65°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Nov | 14°C (57°F) | 128 mm (5 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | 11°C (52°F) | 130 mm (5.1 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.