Is Santiago expensive? What things really cost in 2026
Short answer
Santiago is one of the more expensive cities in South America, pricier than Lima or Buenos Aires for many things but cheaper than Western Europe for food, wine and transport. A budget traveller needs about CLP$51,000 a day, mid-range about CLP$115,000 and comfort about CLP$255,000 per person. Hotels, restaurant dinners and winery tours take most of the money.
Daily budget: backpacker, mid-range, luxury
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | CLP$22,000 | CLP$48,000 | CLP$110,000 |
| Food & drink | CLP$20,000 | CLP$40,000 | CLP$80,000 |
| Sights & tickets | CLP$6,000 | CLP$18,000 | CLP$40,000 |
| Local transport | CLP$3,000 | CLP$9,000 | CLP$25,000 |
| Per person, per day | CLP$51,000 | CLP$115,000 | CLP$255,000 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Santiago day-cost table.
What things cost
| Item | Typical price* |
|---|---|
| Coffee in a café | CLP$2,500–3,500 |
| Completo (Chilean hot dog) | about CLP$2,500–4,000 |
| Fresh juice at La Vega Central | about CLP$2,000 |
| Main course in a Lastarria bistro | CLP$12,000–18,000 |
| Metro ride with a bip! card | about CLP$800–900 |
| Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino | about CLP$10,000 |
| Cerro San Cristóbal funicular, return | about CLP$3,000–4,000 |
| Mid-range double in Lastarria | CLP$70,000–120,000 |
* Approximate prices, October 2026. They change with season and exchange rates.
Where the money goes
Accommodation is the biggest cost, from Barrio Brasil hostels at CLP$35,000–60,000 a double to Lastarria and Providencia hotels at CLP$70,000–130,000. Foreign visitors paying in US dollars or by foreign card, with passport and entry record, are usually exempt from the 19% IVA on rooms. Sit-down dinners and wine raise the food budget, and winery tours with transport (about CLP$70,000–110,000) are the biggest one-off expense. The metro and ride-hailing are cheap.
When it is cheaper
Hotels are often cheaper in winter (June–August, outside ski weekends) and in February, when many Santiaguinos are away on holiday. Spring and autumn are the busiest and dearest.
How to spend less
- Show your passport and entry record and pay hotels in dollars or by foreign card to avoid the 19% IVA.
- Eat the menú del día (set lunch), often CLP$6,000–9,000 with a drink.
- Use the metro with a bip! card or ride-hailing apps (Uber, Cabify, DiDi) instead of street taxis.
- Take the Centropuerto or TurBus coach from the airport (about CLP$2,500) instead of a taxi.
- Visit free sights such as Cerro Santa Lucía, the Museo de la Memoria and La Moneda's cultural centre exhibitions where free.
- Book winery visits reachable by metro, such as Concha y Toro in Pirque or Cousiño Macul, to avoid tour transport costs.
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Common questions
Is Santiago expensive?
For South America, yes, but it is cheaper than Western Europe. Expect about CLP$51,000 a day on a budget and CLP$115,000 mid-range.
Do tourists pay hotel tax in Chile?
Foreign visitors who pay in US dollars or by foreign card and show their passport and entry record are usually exempt from the 19% IVA on rooms.
How much is a winery tour from Santiago?
About CLP$70,000–110,000 with transport; tours with tasting at wineries you reach yourself cost about CLP$25,000–35,000.