Chile Travel Costs: How Expensive Is a Trip to Chile?

Is Chile an expensive travel destination?

Chile is a moderately priced destination – though it really depends on what you compare it to. Stack it up against other travel destinations in South America, and prices are on the high side. Along with Uruguay and Argentina, Chile is one of the most expensive countries on the continent.

Prices in Chile are roughly on par with Western Europe. Most things cost a little less than back home, though. So Chile isn’t an outrageously expensive destination for most travelers.

Currency and Payments in Chile

The official currency in Chile is the Peso Chileno (CLP). 1 euro is worth approximately 1,000 CLP.

Paying by Card in Chile

Credit cards are widely accepted in Chile — more so than cash. When you pay by card, you’ll usually be asked: “Débito o Crédito?” Say Crédito for a credit card, or Débito for a debit card.

In bars and restaurants, you’ll also often be asked whether you’d like to leave a “Propina” — that’s the tip. Say yes, and 10% gets added to your bill automatically.

Our article with the best tips for a travel credit card

Paying with Cash in Chile

That said, always carry some cash with you — there are plenty of situations where cards aren’t accepted. Public transportation is the main one: the metro in Santiago de Chile, city buses, and long-distance bus tickets almost always require cash.

Withdrawing Money in Chile

You can withdraw money at any ATM in Chile, but the fees are seriously high. Most ATMs charge around 7,000 pesos (8 euros) per withdrawal — that adds up fast.

The exception is Scotiabank, where some ATMs charge no fee at all. Unfortunately, not all of their machines are fee-free, which makes them tricky to track down. It’s always worth asking at your hotel if there’s one nearby.

Note: On weekends, getting cash can be surprisingly difficult — many ATMs are inaccessible. If you’re stuck, try shopping malls, train stations, or the airport.

Cost of Flights to Chile

Flights to Chile aren’t cheap — the country is simply very far away, and there are no direct flights from Europe. You’ll need to factor in at least one stopover, and the total journey time is around 15–17 hours depending on your route.

One-way fares with a stopover typically run 400 to 1,200 euros. Book about two months in advance to find the best deals. For round-trip flights, budget 800 euros and up.

We always search for flights on Skyscanner — you can sometimes find real bargains there!

Search flights on Skyscanner

Cost of Getting Around Chile

Chile is a long, narrow country, and distances add up quickly. You’ll almost certainly need to budget for internal transport — and for some routes, domestic flights are the only realistic option.

• Domestic flights within Chile generally cost around 50–100 euros per flight.
• Planning to visit Easter Island? Budget at least 400 euros for a round-trip flight from Santiago.

Long-distance buses are much cheaper, though some routes take a very long time. Here are typical fares for popular routes:

• Santiago – Valparaíso: From 5,000 pesos (6 euros)
• Santiago – Pucón: From 16,000 pesos (19 euros)
• Santiago – Puerto Montt: From 16,000 pesos (19 euros)
• Santiago – Calama: From 40,000 pesos (47 euros)

Another great way to explore Chile is by rental car. Road trips through Patagonia or the Atacama Desert are seriously popular — and totally worth it.

• Compare rental car deals on Discovercars — for a 14-day rental in Chile, expect to pay around 1,000 euros.
• Gas costs around 1.50 euros per liter, so driving 100 kilometers will run you about 8 euros.

We cover getting around in more detail in our Chile travel tips.

Cost of Accommodations in Chile

Accommodations in Chile are generally a bit cheaper than in Western Europe. There are four main types to know about:

• Hotel: the most comfortable option. Around 60–200 euros for a double room.
• Hostal: a simpler, cheaper alternative to hotels. Expect to pay 40–80 euros for a double room.
• Hostel: the go-to for budget travelers. A bed in a mixed dorm runs 15–25 euros.
• Cabañas: vacation homes and apartments. Around 60–100 euros for a place sleeping four people.

Book your accommodation in Chile

Also read our guide to the best hotels in Santiago

Grocery Prices in Chile

To give you a better sense of chile travel costs day-to-day, here’s a comparison of grocery prices in Chile vs. Western Europe.

These are rough figures, of course — but they give you a solid first impression. Supermarkets in Chile tend to be a bit pricier, while most other things come in a little cheaper.

Daily Travel Costs in Chile

To make chile vacation costs more concrete, here’s what you might realistically spend per day. Since it varies so much depending on your travel style, we’ve put together examples for two types of travelers.

1. Traveler Type: Daily Costs for Classic Sightseeing

You’re traveling with a partner, staying in hotels, visiting at least one attraction a day, and mostly eating out.

You’re on the road for two to three weeks and covering longer distances by plane.

Average daily cost per person: approximately 130 euros

Example Day 1

• Hotel including breakfast: 30 euros
• Torres del Paine National Park tour: 100 euros
• Lunch on the go: 5 euros
• Dinner at a restaurant + drink: 15 euros
• Total: 150 euros

Example Day 2

• Hotel including breakfast: 40 euros
• Sightseeing in Santiago including metro: 15 euros
• Lunch at a market hall: 10 euros
• Dinner at a restaurant + drink: 15 euros

• Total: 80 euros

Example Day 3

• Hotel including breakfast: 40 euros
• Flight to Punta Arenas: 70 euros
• Airport transfer: 20 euros
• Lunch on the go: 7 euros
• Dinner at a restaurant + drink: 15 euros

• Total: 152 euros

2. Traveler Type: Daily Costs for Backpacking Chile

You’re traveling solo with a backpack, have around one month, and are working through the top highlights in Chile. You stay in hostels, keep a close eye on your budget, and take overnight buses for the longer stretches.

Average daily cost per person: 50 euros

Example Day 1

• Hostel including breakfast: 20 euros
• Torres del Paine National Park entry + bus: 40 euros
• Lunch on the go: 5 euros
• Cooking dinner: 5 euros

• Total: 70 euros

Example Day 2

• Hostel including breakfast: 20 euros
• Sightseeing in Santiago: 2 euros
• Lunch at the market hall: 8 euros
• Cooking dinner: 5 euros

• Total: 35 euros

Total Chile Trip Budget

Here’s a rough estimate of what to budget for your whole trip, including round-trip flights. These are ballpark figures — your actual costs will depend on how you structure your itinerary.

• Chile road trip, 3 weeks: approx. 3,000 euros
• Chile road trip, 2 weeks: approx. 2,000 euros
• Backpacking Chile, 1 month: approx. 2,500 euros

Money-Saving Tips for Chile

Here are a few practical ways to keep your Chile vacation costs in check.

1. Smaller shops beat big supermarkets on price

Unlike in many countries, it’s usually cheaper in Chile to shop at small local stores rather than large chains like Jumbo — those tend to be surprisingly expensive. Only head to the big supermarkets when you need a wide selection.

For fruits and vegetables, a produce store (verdulería) is your best friend — significantly cheaper and often better quality than supermarkets. Small items like a bottle of soda or water are also often cheaper from street vendors.

2. Eat your main meal at lunch, not dinner

Lots of restaurants offer lunch specials starting at 6,000 CLP (7 euros) — a proper meal at a fraction of the evening price. The market halls are also a great daytime option for cheap, tasty local food.

Dinner out tends to cost noticeably more — around 10 euros for a plate. If your accommodation has a kitchen, cooking dinner yourself is an easy way to save a few euros every day.

3. Choose a hostal over a hotel

Hostals are essentially simpler, stripped-back hotels — and significantly cheaper. Honestly, they’re perfectly fine for most travelers, especially when you’re out exploring all day anyway.

Just make sure to check the reviews before booking. Quality varies a lot, and you don’t want to end up somewhere grim.

4. Book bus tickets and accommodation on-site when you can

Bus tickets and rooms are often cheaper when you book in person rather than online. That said, this only works if you’re comfortable being flexible — there’s always a risk of missing out during busy periods.

Our recommendation: book accommodations in advance, especially for popular destinations. But if you want to extend your stay or return to a place, booking on the spot usually gets you a better rate.

For buses, buying your tickets at the terminal a few days ahead is the sweet spot — you’ll almost always get a seat (except maybe in peak season in February) and pay less than you would online.

For more on timing your trip, check out our guide to the best time to visit Chile.