Which place is cheaper, Santiago or Geneva?
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 Geneva 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 Geneva 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: Geneva or Santiago?
Geneva
Geneva is the second largest city in Switzerland and was previously the home for the United Nations Headquarters. The UN is now housed in New York City, but there is still a very strong presence in Geneva. Geneva is not known to be as energetic as some other European cities, but if you search it out, then you're sure to find some interesting places and lively nightlife. It's a very international city, in part because of the heavy UN presence, giving it an interesting feel. It is a French speaking city, and advertisements, signs, and television are all done in French.
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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Switzerland, The Best Adventure Tours to Switzerland, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, and The Best Luxury Tours to Chile.
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Geneva Prices
Switzerland PricesSantiago Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGeneva $288Santiago $150
The average daily cost (per person) in Geneva is $288, 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 Geneva and Santiago in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGeneva $168Santiago $109
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGeneva $336Santiago $218
Compare Hotels in Geneva and Santiago
Looking for a hotel in Geneva 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: Geneva Hotel Prices and Santiago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Geneva $11Santiago $5.41
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Geneva
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Geneva:
- Transfer from Geneva to Chamonix: $18
- From One-Way Transfer from Geneva Airport to Morzine: $23
- Geneva Airport (GVA) Private Transfer to Geneva/Lausanne/Chamonix: $48
- Transfer from Geneva airport to hotel or home: $50
- VIP Transfer: $82
- Geneva Airport (GVA) to Geneva - Arrival Private Transfer: $93
- Geneva to Geneva Airport (GVA)- Departure Private Transfer: $93
- Private Transfer from Geneva Hotels to Geneva Airport: $102
- Private Transfer from Geneva Airport to Geneva Hotels : $104
- Private Transfer from Geneva Cornavin station CFF to Hotels: $106
- Geneva hotel to Geneva Gare Cornavinof Station CFF Transfer: $106
- Airport Transfer: Geneva to Geneva Airport GVA by Luxury Van: $112
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: Airport SCL to Santiago by Business Car: $81
- Airport Transfer: Santiago to Airport SCL by Business Car: $86
- Airport transfer between Santiago city center and Arturo Merino Benítez Airport: $51
- Arrival Transfer from Santiago Airport SCL to Santiago de Chile: $80
- Arrival Transfer: Airport SCL to Santiago by Luxury Van: $106
- City Tour Santiago with Exclusive Guide + Private Transfer: $213
- City tour santiago with excursion to valparaiso and airport transfer: $150
- Departure Transfer Santiago de Chile to Santiago Airport SCL: $80
- Departure Transfer: Santiago to Airport SCL by Business Car: $86
- Departure Transfer: Santiago to Airport SCL by Luxury Van: $106
- From Viña Santa Rita Tour w/Transfer: $120
Is it cheaper to fly into Geneva or Santiago?
Prices for flights to both Santiago and Geneva 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 dayGeneva $105Santiago $23
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Geneva
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Geneva.
- City Tour and Fondue Cooking Class, Swiss Folklore: $223
- Taste Geneva – A Full Food Tour of Swiss Flavors by Do Eat Better: $226
- Geneva City Tour with Cooking Class: $227
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
- 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.Geneva $35Santiago $47
Tours and Activities in Geneva
Here are a few actual costs in Geneva for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- From Brunswick Monument to the Botanical Garden: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $8.99
- The Many Faces of Self-Guided Audio City Tour: $13
- Geneva (International District) City Sights Self-Guided Tour: $18
- Guided Tour of Capital of Peace ( Outside ): $20
- 50-Minute Lake Geneva Cruise: $24
- Audioguided sightseeing cruise of Geneva: $24
- Unusual Audio Tour of Geneva: $30
- Open-Top Sightseeing Bus Tour: $33
- International & Panoramic Tours Geneva: $33
- Scenic Lake Cruise with Snacks and Wine: $36
- (STTG04) - Sightseeing Cruise at Geneva with Wine and Aperitif: $37
- Hop-on Hop-Off Bus & Scenic Mini-Train Tour: $42
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
- Official Tour of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Santiago: $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
- Santiago : Highlights Walking Tour With A Guide: $26
- "Tour Tradicional" Viña Cousiño Macul Oficial español: $26
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGeneva $26Santiago $8.40
Sample the Local Flavors in Geneva
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Geneva:
- Geneva Countryside Wine tasting, Aperitif, Castle By E-bike: $175
- Swiss Vineyard Wine Tasting Tour in Vaud: $263
- Lavaux, Chexbres, and Valais Wine Tasting Tour: $450
- Vineyard Tour & Wine Tasting by TukTuk: $541
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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Geneva and Santiago, we can see that Geneva is more expensive. And not only is Santiago much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Geneva 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 Santiago would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santiago 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 Geneva would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Geneva than you might in Santiago.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Geneva Expensive? and Is Santiago Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Geneva or Santiago?
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Geneva. When comparing the sizes of Geneva 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 Geneva 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 Geneva has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Geneva or Santiago in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Geneva and Santiago. The summer months attract visitors to Geneva because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Geneva is around the same temperature as Santiago. Typically, the summer temperatures in Geneva in July average around 22°C (71°F), and Santiago averages at about 21°C (70°F)in January.
In July, Geneva usually receives more rain than Santiagoin January. Geneva gets 61 mm (2.4 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 JanuaryGeneva 22°C (71°F)Santiago 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Geneva or Santiago in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Geneva as well as Santiago. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Geneva this time of year.
In October, Geneva is generally around the same temperature as Santiagoin April. Daily temperatures in Geneva average around 14°C (56°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
Geneva usually gets more rain in October than Santiagoin April. Geneva gets 78 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 AprilGeneva 14°C (56°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Geneva or Santiago in the Winter?
Both Santiago and Geneva are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Geneva for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Geneva. Geneva is much colder than Santiago in the winter. The daily temperature in Geneva averages around 4°C (39°F) in January, and Santiago fluctuates around 9°C (48°F)in July.
In January, Geneva usually receives less rain than Santiagoin July. Geneva gets 55 mm (2.1 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 JulyGeneva 4°C (39°F)Santiago 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Geneva or Santiago in the Spring?
Both Santiago and Geneva during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Geneva in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Geneva is cooler than Santiago. Typically, the spring temperatures in Geneva in April average around 11°C (53°F), and Santiago averages at about 15°C (59°F)in October.
Geneva usually gets more rain in April than Santiagoin October. Geneva gets 65 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 OctoberGeneva 11°C (53°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Santiago and Geneva
| Geneva | Santiago | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 4°C (39°F) | 55 mm (2.1 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (42°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (47°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 11°C (53°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 15°C (60°F) | 85 mm (3.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 19°C (66°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 22°C (71°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 21°C (70°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (65°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 14°C (56°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Nov | 8°C (46°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (40°F) | 57 mm (2.3 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.