Which place is cheaper, Mazatlan or Santiago?
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 Santiago or Mazatlan?
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 Santiago and Mazatlan. 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: Santiago or Mazatlan?
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.
Mazatlan
Mazatlan is located on the Pacific coast in the Mexican state of Sinaloa. The city has a population of almost 500,000, making it the second largest city in the state. It is a popular tourist destination because of its beautiful beaches and resort hotels. Most people head to Mazatlan specifically for its beaches, but the city itself is somewhat large and diverse with many different cultures and ethnicities represented. Many foreigners come here not only to vacation, but also to retire. You'll meet people from all over Europe, as well as Canada and the United States.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, The Best Luxury Tours to Chile, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Mexico, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Mexico.
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Santiago Prices
Chile PricesMazatlan Prices
Mexico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySantiago $150Mazatlan $94
The average daily cost (per person) in Santiago is $150, while the average daily cost in Mazatlan is $94. 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 Santiago and Mazatlan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSantiago $109Mazatlan $29
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSantiago $218Mazatlan $58
Compare Hotels in Santiago and Mazatlan
Looking for a hotel in Santiago or Mazatlan? 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 and Mazatlan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santiago $5.41Mazatlan $19
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: Santiago to Airport SCL by Business Car: $87
- Airport transfer between Santiago city center and Arturo Merino Benítez Airport: $51
- Arrival Transfer from Santiago Airport SCL to Santiago de Chile: $80
- City tour santiago with excursion to valparaiso and airport transfer: $150
- Departure Transfer: Santiago to Airport SCL by Business Car: $87
- From Viña Santa Rita Tour w/Transfer: $120
- Luxury Airport Private Transfer SCL: $90
- Maipo Valley Wine Tour, Concha y Toro, Private Transfer from Santiago: $262
- Private Round Trip Transfer from Santiago Airport SCL to Santiago: $96
- Private Round Trip Transfer on Santiago Of Chile City: $68
- Private Santiago Visit Haras de Pirque Winery & Transfer Hotel: $300
Is it cheaper to fly into Santiago or Mazatlan?
Prices for flights to both Mazatlan and Santiago 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 daySantiago $23Mazatlan $54
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.Santiago $47Mazatlan $8.67
Tours and Activities in Santiago
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santiago are as follows:
- Official Tour of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Santiago: $9.00
- Santiago Cathedral's Bell Tower Official Tour: $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
- Yungay, Memory, Art, and Neighborhood Walking Tour: $25
- Guided Walking Tour of the Historical Old Town: $25
- A Fabulous Walking tour by the Old Santiago of Chile -small group: $25
- Santiago : Highlights Walking Tour With A Guide: $26
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySantiago $8.40Mazatlan $16
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 Santiago and Mazatlan, we can see that Santiago is more expensive. And not only is Mazatlan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Santiago is in South America and Mazatlan is in North 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 Mazatlan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mazatlan 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 Mazatlan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santiago Expensive? and Is Mazatlan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santiago or Mazatlan?
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Mazatlan. When comparing the sizes of Santiago and Mazatlan, 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 Santiago or Mazatlan?
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 Mazatlan has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Santiago or Mazatlan in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Santiago and Mazatlan. Also, many travelers come to Mazatlan for the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences.
Santiago is cooler than Mazatlan in the summer. The daily temperature in Santiago averages around 21°C (70°F) in January, and Mazatlan fluctuates around 29°C (83°F)in July.
Mazatlan receives a lot of rain in the summer. In January, Santiago usually receives less rain than Mazatlanin July. Santiago gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Mazatlan receives 199 mm (7.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulySantiago 21°C (70°F)Mazatlan 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Santiago or Mazatlan in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Santiago as well as Mazatlan. Also, many visitors come to Mazatlan in the autumn for the shopping scene.
In the autumn, Santiago is much colder than Mazatlan. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Santiago in April average around 15°C (59°F), and Mazatlan averages at about 27°C (81°F)in October.
Santiago usually gets less rain in April than Mazatlanin October. Santiago gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Mazatlan receives 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberSantiago 15°C (59°F)Mazatlan 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Santiago or Mazatlan in the Winter?
Both Mazatlan and Santiago are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Mazatlan for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
In July, Santiago is generally much colder than Mazatlanin January. Daily temperatures in Santiago average around 9°C (48°F), and Mazatlan fluctuates around 20°C (67°F).
In July, Santiago usually receives more rain than Mazatlanin January. Santiago gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Mazatlan receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuarySantiago 9°C (48°F)Mazatlan 20°C (67°F)
Should I visit Santiago or Mazatlan in the Spring?
Both Mazatlan and Santiago during the spring are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Mazatlan because of the beaches.
Santiago is cooler than Mazatlan in the spring. The daily temperature in Santiago averages around 15°C (59°F) in October, and Mazatlan fluctuates around 22°C (72°F)in April.
Santiago usually gets more rain in October than Mazatlanin April. Santiago gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Mazatlan receives 1 mm (0 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilSantiago 15°C (59°F)Mazatlan 22°C (72°F)
Typical Weather for Mazatlan and Santiago
| Santiago | Mazatlan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Mar | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
| May | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
| Jun | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Jul | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 199 mm (7.8 in) |
| Aug | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 219 mm (8.6 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 227 mm (8.9 in) |
| Oct | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Nov | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Dec | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 18 mm (0.7 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.