Comparison · Mendoza vs Santiago · Argentina / Chile
Mendoza vs Santiago
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Silviaanac, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Choose Mendoza for Malbec and wineries; choose Santiago for Andes skyline, Chilean wine and free sights. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 181 km (112 mi) apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 181 km (112 mi)
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Mendoza
- March–May and October–November
- Best time for Santiago
- March–April and October–November
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Side by side
| Mendoza | Santiago | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Argentina | Chile |
| Known for | Malbec, Wineries and Aconcagua | 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 | US$100–200 | US$110–200 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | January, 32°C (90°F) | January, 30°C (86°F) |
| Coldest month | June, 14°C (57°F) | June, 15°C (59°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 7 | 10 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 7 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | MDZ | SCL |
Month by month
Going by our guides' own ratings, the better pick is Mendoza in May, and Santiago in January. Both are at their best in March–April and October–November.
| Month | Mendoza | Santiago | Better pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 32°C (90°F), 6 rainy days | 30°C (86°F), 0 rainy days · shoulder season | Santiago |
| February | 30°C (86°F), 6 rainy days · shoulder season | 30°C (86°F), 0 rainy days · shoulder season | Either: shoulder season |
| March | 27°C (81°F), 5 rainy days · best time | 27°C (81°F), 1 rainy day · best time | Both at their best |
| April | 22°C (72°F), 3 rainy days · best time | 23°C (73°F), 2 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| May | 18°C (64°F), 2 rainy days · best time | 18°C (64°F), 4 rainy days | Mendoza |
| June | 14°C (57°F), 2 rainy days | 15°C (59°F), 6 rainy days | No clear pick |
| July | 14°C (57°F), 1 rainy day | 15°C (59°F), 6 rainy days | No clear pick |
| August | 17°C (63°F), 2 rainy days | 17°C (63°F), 5 rainy days | No clear pick |
| September | 20°C (68°F), 2 rainy days · shoulder season | 20°C (68°F), 3 rainy days · shoulder season | Either: shoulder season |
| October | 25°C (77°F), 3 rainy days · best time | 23°C (73°F), 2 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| November | 29°C (84°F), 4 rainy days · best time | 26°C (79°F), 1 rainy day · best time | Both at their best |
| December | 31°C (88°F), 5 rainy days · shoulder season | 29°C (84°F), 0 rainy days · shoulder season | Either: shoulder season |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Mendoza for…
Malbec and wineries. Mendoza is the capital of Argentina's largest wine region, a low-rise city of plane-tree avenues watered by open irrigation channels (acequias) at the foot of the Andes. Rebuilt on a wide grid after the 1861 earthquake, it centres on Plaza Independencia and…
Choose Santiago for…
Andes skyline, Chilean wine and free sights. 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
| # | Mendoza | Santiago |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plaza Independencia | Cerro San Cristóbal and Parque Metropolitano |
| 2 | Plaza España and the satellite plazas | Plaza de Armas and Metropolitan Cathedral |
| 3 | Parque General San Martín | La Moneda Palace |
| 4 | Cerro de la Gloria | Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino |
| 5 | Área Fundacional and San Francisco ruins | Museum of Memory and Human Rights |
Food compared
| Mendoza | Santiago |
|---|---|
| Malbec | Empanada de pino |
| Asado | Completo |
| Empanadas mendocinas | Pastel de choclo |
| Chivito | Cazuela |
Which is cheaper?
Mendoza and Santiago cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly US$100–200 in Mendoza and US$110–200 in Santiago (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Mendoza on a budget.
Mendoza or Santiago from the U.S.
Worked out from time zones and airport coordinates: straight-line distances, not flight routes.
| Mendoza | Santiago | |
|---|---|---|
| Time vs New York | +2 h Jan, +1 h Jul | +2 h Jan, Same Jul |
| Time vs Los Angeles | +5 h Jan, +4 h Jul | +5 h Jan, +3 h Jul |
| From New York (JFK) | 5,090 mi (8,190 km) | 5,120 mi (8,240 km) |
| From Los Angeles (LAX) | 5,630 mi (9,060 km) | 5,590 mi (9,000 km) |
| U.S. plugs | Adapter needed | Adapter needed |
Mendoza and Santiago are about the same distance from New York.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Mendoza and Santiago are about 181 km (112 mi) apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 5 days in Mendoza and 4 in Santiago.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Mendoza or Santiago cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about US$100–200 in Mendoza and US$110–200 in Santiago (estimates).
+Is Mendoza or Santiago better for a first trip?
Pick Mendoza for Malbec and wineries, or Santiago for Andes skyline, Chilean wine and free sights.
+How far is Mendoza from Santiago?
About 181 km (112 mi) in a straight line.