Comparison · Montevideo vs Santiago · Uruguay / Chile
Montevideo 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: Eduardo Ruggieri, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Choose Montevideo for Rambla waterfront, Asado and parrillas and beaches; choose Santiago for Andes skyline, Chilean wine and free sights. Santiago is generally less expensive, and the two are about 1,343 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 1,343 km
- Less expensive
- Santiago
- Best time for Montevideo
- November–March
- Best time for Santiago
- March–April and October–November
Side by side
| Montevideo | Santiago | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Uruguay | Chile |
| Known for | Rambla waterfront, Asado and parrillas and Chivito sandwich | Andes skyline, Chilean wine and Pisco sour |
| Best time to visit | November–March | March–April and October–November |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $130–$230 | $110–$200 |
| Cost level | Expensive | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | January, 28°C (82°F) | January, 30°C (86°F) |
| Coldest month | July, 14°C (57°F) | June, 15°C (59°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 7 | 10 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 7 |
| Beaches | Playa Pocitos | — |
| Airports | MVD | SCL |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Montevideo for…
Rambla waterfront, Asado and parrillas and beaches. Uruguay's capital lines the north shore of the Río de la Plata, with a waterfront promenade, the Rambla, running for over 20 km past city beaches from the old port to Carrasco. The Ciudad Vieja and the Centro around Plaza Independencia hold the art deco 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
| # | Montevideo | Santiago |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Rambla | Cerro San Cristóbal and Parque Metropolitano |
| 2 | Plaza Independencia and Artigas Mausoleum | Plaza de Armas and Metropolitan Cathedral |
| 3 | Palacio Salvo | La Moneda Palace |
| 4 | Teatro Solís | Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino |
| 5 | Mercado del Puerto | Museum of Memory and Human Rights |
Food compared
| Montevideo | Santiago |
|---|---|
| Chivito | Empanada de pino |
| Asado | Completo |
| Choripán | Pastel de choclo |
| Medio y medio | Cazuela |
Which is cheaper?
Santiago is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $110–$200 per person there, against $130–$230 in Montevideo (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Santiago on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 1,343 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 8 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Montevideo or Santiago cheaper?
Santiago is usually less expensive: about $110–$200 a day mid-range against $130–$230 (estimates).
+Is Montevideo or Santiago better for a first trip?
Pick Montevideo for Rambla waterfront, Asado and parrillas and beaches, or Santiago for Andes skyline, Chilean wine and free sights.
+How far is Montevideo from Santiago?
About 1,343 km in a straight line.