Which place is cheaper, Santiago or Rome?
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 Rome 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 Rome 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: Rome or Santiago?
Rome
Rome is the capital and largest city in Italy. It is also a common entry point for most visitors flying into the country. Rome has been a center of power, culture, and religion for the last millenium, making it one of the most famous and popular destinations in not only Europe, but the world. The influence of the Roman Empire can be seen across continents.
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 Italy, The Best Budget Tours to Italy, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, and The Best Luxury Tours to Chile.
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Rome Prices
Italy PricesSantiago Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRome €207Santiago €128
The average daily cost (per person) in Rome is €207, 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 Rome and Santiago in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRome €90Santiago €93
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRome €180Santiago €186
Compare Hotels in Rome and Santiago
Looking for a hotel in Rome 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: Rome Hotel Prices and Santiago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Rome €21Santiago €4.60
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Rome
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Rome:
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Metro Ride (for Two)€2.00
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Train to the Airport€15
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Taxi to Airport€45
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Bicycle Rental (Full Day)€10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rome
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rome:
- Bus Transfer from Fiumicino Airport to Vatican City: $7.17
- Transfer Fiumicino Airport - Rome City Centre : $8.36
- Transfer Ciampino Airport - Rome center: $8.36
- Transfer Rome center - Ciampino Airport: $8.36
- Bus Transfer from Rome to Milan or Vice Versa: $9.30
- Fiumicino Airport from/to Vaticano Transfer: $9.56
- Rome from Civitavecchia Transfer with Optional Open Bus: $36
- Transfer from Civitavecchia by train with Rome HopOnHopOff Option: $39
- Rome Ciampino Airport (CIA) Private Departure transfer from Rome Hotels: $41
- Ciampino Transfer: $44
- Transfer between Rome and the Fiumicino Airport FCO: $45
- Rome’s Bone Chapel with Panoramic Transfer: $45
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:
- 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 Rome or Santiago?
Prices for flights to both Santiago and Rome 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 dayRome €84Santiago €19
Typical Food Prices in Rome
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Rome:
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Casual Lunch (for Two)€14
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4 Ice Cream Sandwiches€2.99
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Cafe e doce€4.00
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Pizza (Fast Food)€2.65
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Sitdown Lunch (for Two)€32
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Cheese and bread€10
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Espresso€2.00
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Dinner€58
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rome
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Rome.
- Pizzas and Piazzas: A Self-Guided Walk of Rome’s Culinary Culture: $20
- Hard Rock Cafe Rome with Set Lunch or Dinner: $34
- Food Tour of the Vatican with Farmers Market and Wine Tasting: $35
- Rome City Center Largest Farmers Market and Street Food Tour : $35
- Vatican Street Food Tour around the Biggest Fresh Market in Rome: $35
- Street Food tour : Eat like a real local: $40
- Tasty Trionfale Farmers Market Food Tour and Local Wines Tasting: $42
- Vatican Street Food Tour and Wine Experience with Local Guide: $47
- Fettuccine Pasta Cooking Class in Rome City Center: $52
- Trastevere Ultimate Food Tour by Do Eat Better: $52
- Trastevere & Campo de' Fiori Street Food Tour, Eat Like a Local: $53
- Rome Street Food Tour Eat Like a Local: $53
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.Rome €36Santiago €40
Typical Entertainment Prices in Rome
Here are a few typical costs in Rome for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Rome Museum Vaticano (for 2)€69
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Coliseum Tickets (for Two)€33
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Roma Pass€30
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Hop on Hop Off Bus (All Day)€20
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Segway Tour€75
Tours and Activities in Rome
Here are a few actual costs in Rome for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Rome and Tuscany Secret Treasures Self Guided Walking Tour: $4.17
- Vatican Night Tour: $4.54
- Pantheon Entry Ticket or Guided Tour options: $4.78
- Colosseum and Roman Forum Sightseeing Area Night Walking Tour: $4.78
- Pantheon Entry Ticket and Optional Guided Tour: $4.78
- Pantheon Entry Ticket with Optional Guided Tour: $4.78
- Pantheon Entry Ticket and Optional Guided Tour: $4.78
- Tour of Rome to Visit the Most Iconic Monuments: $5.00
- Jewish Ghetto and Trastevere Tour Rome: $5.38
- Rome Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $5.84
- Rome Empress Mystery: Self-Guided Adventure Game: $5.96
- Rome Kid Quest Restore the Senses Self Guided Adventure: $5.96
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 dayRome €18Santiago €7.15
Typical Alcohol Prices in Rome
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Rome:
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Bottle of Wine€6.50
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Pint of Beer€6.34
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Beer€10
Sample the Local Flavors in Rome
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Rome:
- Unique Wine Tasting in Enoteca in Rome San Pietro Area: $33
- Trionfale Farmers Market and Vatican Quarter Food and Wine Tour: $35
- Rome’s Exclusive Wine Tasting: Sip Near the Colosseum!: $39
- Tour of Rome with wine tasting: $54
- Wine Tasting in Trastevere with Food and Gelato: $54
- Guided Wine Tasting Experience in a Roman Vineyard: $59
- Wine Tour in Historic Center of Rome: $60
- Dolce Vita Burlesque show: $60
- EAT AND DRINK LIKE A LOCAL - Wine Tasting in Trastevere w/ Gelato: $72
- Wine Tour in Romes Historic center: $82
- Devour Rome Food & Wine Tour of Trastevere: $84
- The greatest wine tour of Rome: $84
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 Rome and Santiago, we can see that Rome is more expensive. And not only is Santiago much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Rome 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 Rome would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rome 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 Rome Expensive? and Is Santiago Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Rome or Santiago?
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 89% larger than the population of Rome. When comparing the sizes of Rome 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 Rome 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 Rome has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Rome or Santiago in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Rome and Santiago. The city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Rome this time of year.
In July, Rome is generally a little warmer than Santiagoin January. Daily temperatures in Rome average around 25°C (77°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
In July, Rome usually receives more rain than Santiagoin January. Rome gets 19 mm (0.7 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 JanuaryRome 25°C (77°F)Santiago 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Rome or Santiago in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Rome as well as Santiago. Many travelers come to Rome for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Rome is a little warmer than Santiago in the autumn. The daily temperature in Rome averages around 17°C (63°F) in October, and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F)in April.
Rome usually gets more rain in October than Santiagoin April. Rome gets 94 mm (3.7 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 AprilRome 17°C (63°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Rome or Santiago in the Winter?
Both Santiago and Rome are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Rome in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Rome is around the same temperature as Santiago. Typically, the winter temperatures in Rome in January average around 8°C (47°F), and Santiago averages at about 9°C (48°F)in July.
In January, Rome usually receives around the same amount of rain as Santiagoin July. Rome gets 81 mm (3.2 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 JulyRome 8°C (47°F)Santiago 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Rome or Santiago in the Spring?
Both Santiago and Rome during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Rome for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.
In April, Rome is generally around the same temperature as Santiagoin October. Daily temperatures in Rome average around 14°C (57°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
Rome usually gets more rain in April than Santiagoin October. Rome gets 50 mm (2 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 OctoberRome 14°C (57°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Santiago and Rome
| Rome | Santiago | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 8°C (47°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 9°C (49°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 11°C (52°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 14°C (57°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 42 mm (1.6 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 22°C (71°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (77°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (71°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 17°C (63°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | 9°C (49°F) | 94 mm (3.7 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.