Which place is cheaper, Santiago or Florianopolis?
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 Florianopolis or Santiago?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Florianopolis 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: Florianopolis or Santiago?
Florianopolis
With a population of almost 500,000, Florianopolis is the capital city of the state of Santa Catarina in southern Brazil. The city is split between mainland Brazil and Santa Catarina Island.
Florianopolis has grown in popularity with tourists recently because of its wonderful scenery, beautiful beaches, and fascinating culture. Many Brazilians have also moved here, leaving behind the big cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
Florianopolis has a warm humid subtropical climate. There are summer, winter, spring and fall seasons. Frosts are rare but do occur occasionally. Highs during the warmest months are usually in the high 70s Fahrenheit. Rain is evenly distributed throughout the year and there is no distinct dry season.
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 Wildlife Tours to Brazil, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Brazil, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, and The Best Luxury Tours to Chile.
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Florianopolis Prices
Brazil PricesSantiago Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayFlorianopolis $74Santiago $150
The average daily cost (per person) in Florianopolis is $74, 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 Florianopolis and Santiago in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFlorianopolis $25Santiago $109
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFlorianopolis $50Santiago $218
Compare Hotels in Florianopolis and Santiago
Looking for a hotel in Florianopolis 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: Florianopolis Hotel Prices and Santiago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Florianopolis $13Santiago $5.41
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Florianopolis
Also for Florianopolis, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared Transfer: $13
- Hercilio Luz Airport - North Island Transfer: $13
- Private Transfer Florianópolis Airport to City Center: $31
- Shared transfer from Florianópolis airport to Balneário Camboriú: $56
- Transfer Hotels in Florianópolis/Airport - private: $67
- Private Transfer from FLN Airport to the City Balneario Camboriú : $81
- Private Transfer from Florianópolis Airport to Bombinhas: $115
- Roundtrip transfer from Florianópolis Airport to Bombinhas: $228
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:
- Transfer to Valparaiso Cruise Terminal with Winery & Town Tour: $109
- Transfer to Snowy Valley fullday for skiers : $49
- Transfer to San Antonio port with Valparaiso & Casablanca tour: $87
- Transfer from Valparaiso or San Antonio Port + Condor Watching Tour: $230
- Transfer from Valle Nevado, Farellones, Colorado or La Parva ski to Santiago: $83
- Transfer from Santiago To Valle Nevado, Farellones, Colorado or La Parva ski: $100
- Transfer from Santiago Airport to Santiago Centro Commune: $52
- Transfer Santiago-Viña del Mar / Viña del Mar-Santiago: $220
- Transfer Santiago-Valparaiso / Valparaiso-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
Is it cheaper to fly into Florianopolis or Santiago?
Prices for flights to both Santiago and Florianopolis 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 dayFlorianopolis $36Santiago $23
Typical Food Prices in Florianopolis
For Florianopolis, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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A Quick Snack$0.42
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.Florianopolis $25Santiago $47
Typical Entertainment Prices in Florianopolis
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Florianopolis's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Internet$0.56
Tours and Activities in Florianopolis
For Florianopolis, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Florianopolis Walking Tour - History, Art and Gastronomy: $17
- Bombinhas Beach and 4 Islands Tour: $21
- Florianópolis city tour (full day): $21
- Shared Shuttle between Florianópolis Airport and Hotel with optional City Tour: $26
- Discover Florianópolis: Full Day City Tour and Local Highlights: $27
- Rafting Adventure in Apuama - Rio Cubatão in Greater Florianópolis: $35
- Floripa City Tour by Bus - Whole Island - The Most Complete City Tour: $35
- Tour Balneario Camboriu and Laranjeiras Beach TELEFERICO INCLUDED: $36
- Balneário Camboriú tour and cable car ride from Florianópolis: $39
- Secret Island Adventure: Gravata Trail, Floripa: $39
- Blumenau City Tour - departing from Florianópolis: $40
- Blumenau City Tour from Florianópolis: $40
Tours and Activities in Santiago
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santiago are as follows:
- 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 Viña Concha y Toro from Santiago: $120
- 4 Hour Santa Rita Winery All inclusive Tour for Wine Lover: $269
- A Fabulous Walking tour by the Old Santiago of Chile -small group: $25
- 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
- Andean Horse Ride Yerba Loca Sanctuary - Private tour from Santiago: $240
- Andes Day Lagoon in Cajón del Maipo & Embalse el Yeso Private Tour: $200
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayFlorianopolis $8.34Santiago $8.40
Typical Alcohol Prices in Florianopolis
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Florianopolis from other travelers:
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Beer$0.56
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 Florianopolis and Santiago, we can see that Santiago is more expensive. And not only is Florianopolis much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Florianopolis would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Florianopolis 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 Florianopolis.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Florianopolis Expensive? and Is Santiago Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Florianopolis or Santiago?
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Florianopolis. When comparing the sizes of Florianopolis 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 Florianopolis or Santiago?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.
Should I visit Florianopolis or Santiago in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Florianopolis as well as Santiago. Most visitors come to Florianopolis for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Florianopolis is a little warmer than Santiago in the summer. The daily temperature in Florianopolis averages around 25°C (76°F) in January, and Santiago fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
Florianopolis receives a lot of rain in the summer. Florianopolis usually gets more rain in January than Santiago. Florianopolis gets 163 mm (6.4 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 JanuaryFlorianopolis 25°C (76°F)Santiago 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Florianopolis or Santiago in the Autumn?
Both Santiago and Florianopolis are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Florianopolis because of the hiking trails and the shopping scene.
In the autumn, Florianopolis is a little warmer than Santiago. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Florianopolis in April average around 22°C (71°F), and Santiago averages at about 15°C (59°F).
In April, Florianopolis usually receives more rain than Santiago. Florianopolis gets 93 mm (3.7 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 AprilFlorianopolis 22°C (71°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Florianopolis or Santiago in the Winter?
Both Santiago and Florianopolis during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Florianopolis this time of year.
In July, Florianopolis is generally much warmer than Santiago. Daily temperatures in Florianopolis average around 17°C (62°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
Florianopolis usually gets more rain in July than Santiago. Florianopolis gets 100 mm (3.9 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 JulyFlorianopolis 17°C (62°F)Santiago 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Florianopolis or Santiago in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Florianopolis and Santiago. Many travelers come to Florianopolis for the beaches.
Florianopolis is a little warmer than Santiago in the spring. The daily temperature in Florianopolis averages around 20°C (68°F) in October, and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
Florianopolis gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Florianopolis usually receives more rain than Santiago. Florianopolis gets 110 mm (4.3 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 OctoberFlorianopolis 20°C (68°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Santiago and Florianopolis
| Florianopolis | Santiago | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (76°F) | 163 mm (6.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 24°C (75°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 22°C (71°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 19°C (67°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 17°C (63°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (62°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 17°C (63°F) | 95 mm (3.8 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (65°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 20°C (68°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Nov | 22°C (71°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (74°F) | 137 mm (5.4 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.