Comparison · Buenos Aires vs Santiago · Argentina / Chile
Buenos Aires vs Santiago
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Choose Buenos Aires for Tango and Steak and Malbec; choose Santiago for Andes skyline and Chilean wine. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 1,139 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 1,139 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Buenos Aires
- March–May and October–November
- Best time for Santiago
- March–April and October–November
Side by side
| Buenos Aires | Santiago | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Argentina | Chile |
| Known for | Tango, Steak and Malbec and Recoleta Cemetery | Andes skyline, Chilean wine and Pisco sour |
| Best time to visit | March–May and October–November | March–April and October–November |
| Ideal stay | 5 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $110–$220 | $110–$200 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | January, 30°C (86°F) | January, 30°C (86°F) |
| Coldest month | July, 15°C (59°F) | June, 15°C (59°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 10 | 10 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 7 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | EZE, AEP | SCL |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Buenos Aires for…
Tango and Steak and Malbec. Buenos Aires spreads along the Río de la Plata in a grid of barrios, each with its own character: the colonial streets of San Telmo, the mansions and cemetery of Recoleta, the boutiques and restaurants of Palermo and the government buildings around Plaza de…
Choose Santiago for…
Andes skyline and Chilean wine. Santiago spreads across a basin with the snow-capped Andes on its eastern edge, and on clear days the peaks rise behind every avenue. The compact historic centre around the Plaza de Armas and La Moneda Palace sits beside the restaurant and gallery streets of…
Top sights compared
| # | Buenos Aires | Santiago |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Recoleta Cemetery | Cerro San Cristóbal and Parque Metropolitano |
| 2 | Plaza de Mayo and Casa Rosada | Plaza de Armas and Metropolitan Cathedral |
| 3 | Teatro Colón | La Moneda Palace |
| 4 | Caminito, La Boca | Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino |
| 5 | La Bombonera and the Boca Juniors museum | Museum of Memory and Human Rights |
Food compared
| Buenos Aires | Santiago |
|---|---|
| Asado and bife de chorizo | Empanada de pino |
| Empanadas | Completo |
| Choripán | Pastel de choclo |
| Provoleta | Cazuela |
Which is cheaper?
Buenos Aires and Santiago cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $110–$220 in Buenos Aires and $110–$200 in Santiago (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Santiago on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 1,139 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 10 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Buenos Aires or Santiago cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $110–$220 in Buenos Aires and $110–$200 in Santiago (estimates).
+Is Buenos Aires or Santiago better for a first trip?
Pick Buenos Aires for Tango and Steak and Malbec, or Santiago for Andes skyline and Chilean wine.
+How far is Buenos Aires from Santiago?
About 1,139 km in a straight line.