Which place is cheaper, Santiago or Recife?
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 Recife 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 Recife 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: Recife or Santiago?
Recife
One of the largest cities on Brazil's northeast coast, Recife is also the capital of the state of Pernambuco. The city gets its name from the Portuguese word for "reef," as it was built around a landscape of natural reef beaches. Many people visit to enjoy these beaches, experience the culture, and explore the history of this important Brazilian city.
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 Luxury Tours to Brazil, The Best Budget Tours to Brazil, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, and The Best Luxury Tours to Chile.
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Recife Prices
Brazil PricesSantiago Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRecife $209Santiago $150
The average daily cost (per person) in Recife is $209, 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 Recife and Santiago in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRecife $84Santiago $109
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRecife $168Santiago $218
Compare Hotels in Recife and Santiago
Looking for a hotel in Recife 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: Recife Hotel Prices and Santiago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Recife $8.13Santiago $5.41
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Recife
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Recife:
- Private Transfer from Olinda to Recife (REC) Airport: $50
- Departure Transfer from Olinda to Recife Airport: $100
- Private Transfer from Igarassu to Recife (REC) Airport : $111
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:
- Santiago Airport (SCL) Private Transfer to Multiple Destinations: $18
- Santiago de Chile Airport Private Transfer: $25
- Official Transfer to Concha y Toro Winery: $27
- Private Transfer to Santiago Airport (SCL): $28
- Private Transfer from Santiago Airport (SCL): $28
- Private Transfer From The Hotel in Santiago City To the Airport: $29
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Santiago APT-HTL (SCL): $30
- Private Santiago Airport to Santiago Transfer: $32
- Airport Private Transfer to/from Santiago de Chile: $40
- Transfer Santiago de Chile airport: $40
- Farellones Full Day Roundtrip Transfer: $40
- Santiago to Santiago Airport (SCL) - Departure Private Transfer: $44
Is it cheaper to fly into Recife or Santiago?
Prices for flights to both Santiago and Recife 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 dayRecife $117Santiago $23
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.Recife $11Santiago $47
Tours and Activities in Recife
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Recife are as follows:
- Olinda Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $4.48
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 dayRecife -Santiago $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
- 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 Recife and Santiago, we can see that Recife is more expensive. And not only is Santiago much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Recife would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Recife 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 Recife Expensive? and Is Santiago Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Recife or Santiago?
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Recife. When comparing the sizes of Recife 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 Recife or Santiago?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.
Should I visit Recife or Santiago in the Summer?
Both Santiago and Recife are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Recife this time of year.
Recife is a little warmer than Santiago in the summer. The daily temperature in Recife averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Santiago fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
It's quite rainy in Recife. In January, Recife usually receives more rain than Santiago. Recife gets 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the summer. The rainy season in Recife is March to August.
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Summer Average Temperatures JanuaryRecife 26°C (79°F)Santiago 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Recife or Santiago in the Autumn?
Both Santiago and Recife during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Recife for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
In the autumn, Recife is much warmer than Santiago. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Recife in April average around 26°C (79°F), and Santiago averages at about 15°C (59°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Recife. Recife usually gets more rain in April than Santiago. Recife gets 338 mm (13.3 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 AprilRecife 26°C (79°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Recife or Santiago in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Recife and Santiago. Many visitors come to Recife in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In July, Recife is generally much warmer than Santiago. Daily temperatures in Recife average around 24°C (76°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
Recife gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Recife usually receives more rain than Santiago. Recife gets 388 mm (15.3 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the winter. Also, March to August is the rainy season in Recife.
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Winter Average Temperatures JulyRecife 24°C (76°F)Santiago 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Recife or Santiago in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Recife as well as Santiago. Most visitors come to Recife for the beaches and the activities around the city during these months.
Recife is much warmer than Santiago in the spring. The daily temperature in Recife averages around 25°C (77°F) in October, and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
Recife usually gets more rain in October than Santiago. Recife gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, October to December in Recife is the dry season.
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Spring Average Temperatures OctoberRecife 25°C (77°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Santiago and Recife
| Recife | Santiago | |||
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| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 257 mm (10.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 338 mm (13.3 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 25°C (78°F) | 319 mm (12.5 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 378 mm (14.9 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (76°F) | 388 mm (15.3 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 205 mm (8.1 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (76°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (77°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 57 mm (2.2 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.