Which place is cheaper, Santiago or Montanita?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Montanita or Santiago?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Montanita or Santiago, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Montanita or Santiago?
Montanita
Montanita is a small village located on Manglaralto parish along the southern coast of Ecuador. The Pacific Coast of Ecuador is lined with beach towns, either small villages with local fisherman or larger towns more set up for foreign travellers like Montanita. With one of the best beaches in Ecuador, one of the best surf breaks in the region, and a great laid-back atmosphere Montanita is a great little getaway, especially for the hippies of the world. It has also become a popular weekend destination for English teachers and Spanish students coming from Guayaquil and Quito. The beachfront village of Montanita has a laid-back atmosphere and steady stream of cosmopolitan backpackers, with as many South Americans as gringos.
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 G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, and The Best Luxury Tours to Chile.
-
Montanita Prices
Ecuador PricesSantiago Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontanita $117Santiago $150
The average daily cost (per person) in Montanita is $117, 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 Montanita and Santiago in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontanita $41Santiago $109
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontanita $82Santiago $218
Compare Hotels in Montanita and Santiago
Looking for a hotel in Montanita 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: Santiago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Montanita $39Santiago $5.41
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Santiago
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Santiago:
-
Metro Ride$1.13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santiago
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santiago:
- Private Scenic Transfer to Mendoza.: $467
- Airport Transfer and Halfday City tour Santiago de Chile: $362
- Private Santiago Visit Haras de Pirque Winery & Transfer Hotel: $300
- Private Transfer San Antonio Cruise from Santiago to Valparaiso: $300
- Transfer Santiago to Cruise Port in Valparaiso or San Antonio: $290
- Transfer Private hotel to Cruise ship in Puerto San Antonio or Valparaiso: $270
- Santiago de Chile : private transfer in SUV to Viña del mar or Valparaíso: $270
- Private Transfer to Sewell UNESCO Andes Town Tour with Lunch: $269
- Maipo Valley Wine Tour, Concha y Toro, Private Transfer from Santiago: $262
- Private Transfer from Arturo Merino Benítez (SCL) Airport to Viña del Mar: $261
- Private Transfer From Santiago airport to San Antonio Pier or Valparaiso Pier : $251
- Santiago Airport (SCL) to Santo Domingo - Round-Trip Transfer: $240
Is it cheaper to fly into Montanita or Santiago?
Prices for flights to both Santiago and Montanita 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
-
Food Meals for one dayMontanita $48Santiago $23
Typical Food Prices in Santiago
Some typical examples of dining costs in Santiago are as follows:
-
Empanada$1.88
-
Hamburger$2.50
-
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
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Montanita $31Santiago $47
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
- 6 Hour Tour of Culture, History and Flavors from Santiago: $75
- 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
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayMontanita $7.86Santiago $8.40
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 Montanita and Santiago, we can see that Santiago is more expensive. And not only is Montanita much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Montanita would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Montanita 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 Montanita.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Montanita Expensive? and Is Santiago Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Montanita or Santiago?
Santiago has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Montanita experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Montanita or Santiago in the Summer?
Both Santiago and Montanita during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Montanita because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In July, Montanita is generally a little warmer than Santiagoin January. Daily temperatures in Montanita average around 25°C (78°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
Montanita usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Santiagoin January. Montanita gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryMontanita 25°C (78°F)Santiago 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Montanita or Santiago in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Montanita and Santiago. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montanita year-round.
Montanita is much warmer than Santiago in the autumn. The daily temperature in Montanita averages around 26°C (78°F) in October, and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F)in April.
In October, Montanita usually receives less rain than Santiagoin April. Montanita gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilMontanita 26°C (78°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Montanita or Santiago in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Montanita as well as Santiago. Montanita attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the winter, Montanita is much warmer than Santiago. Typically, the winter temperatures in Montanita in January average around 27°C (80°F), and Santiago averages at about 9°C (48°F)in July.
Montanita usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Santiagoin July. Montanita gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyMontanita 27°C (80°F)Santiago 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Montanita or Santiago in the Spring?
Both Santiago and Montanita are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Montanita throughout the year.
In April, Montanita is generally much warmer than Santiagoin October. Daily temperatures in Montanita average around 27°C (81°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
In April, Montanita usually receives more rain than Santiagoin October. Montanita gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberMontanita 27°C (81°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Santiago and Montanita
| Montanita | Santiago | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (80°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 27°C (80°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 26°C (79°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (78°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (78°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Sep | 26°C (78°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (78°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 15 mm (0.6 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.