Santiago de Chile or Buenos Aires in January?
On climate data, Santiago de Chile comes out ahead overall in January. See the per-criterion details below.
Santiago de ChilePhoto: Freddy Alexander Bugueño Tolmo · CC BY-SA 3.0
Buenos AiresPhoto: David Berkowitz from New York, NY, USA · CC BY 2.0Key figures in January
| Criterion | Santiago de Chile | Buenos Aires |
|---|---|---|
| Average daily high | 30 °C | 28 °C |
| Average daily low | 14 °C | 21 °C |
| Rainy days | 2 rainy days (est.) ★ | 10 rainy days (est.) |
| Sun | 11 h/day ★ | 9 h/day |
| Humidity | 31 % | 68 % |
Winner by travel type
Trade-offs
- Santiago de Chile is about 2 °C warmer by day.
- Santiago de Chile is drier, with about 7 fewer rainy days.
Santiago de Chile or Buenos Aires in January: the short answer
In January, Santiago de Chile comes out ahead on the overall climate score (Santiago de Chile 78/100 vs Buenos Aires 77/100). That is a snapshot of one month, though — which one truly fits depends on what you want from the trip, so the breakdown below goes criterion by criterion.
This comparison focuses on January as a representative month for the pair; for any other month, use each destination's month-by-month pages. Across the whole year Santiago de Chile averages a climate score of 84/100, Buenos Aires 76/100. Both profiles below are historical monthly averages, not a forecast.
Weather in January, side by side
The average daily high is about 30 °C in Santiago de Chile and 28 °C in Buenos Aires — warmer in Santiago de Chile. Average daily lows are around 14 °C versus 21 °C.
On rain, Santiago de Chile sees about 2 rainy days in January and Buenos Aires about 10 — drier in Santiago de Chile. Santiago de Chile gets more sunshine (11 vs 9 hours a day).
Rain and sun across the year
Over a full year Santiago de Chile records roughly 43 rainy days and Buenos Aires about 95 — the drier of the two overall is Santiago de Chile. At their sunniest, Santiago de Chile reaches about 11 hours of sun a day (January) and Buenos Aires about 9 (December). If dependable dry, sunny weather is your top priority, weigh these annual totals alongside the single month above.
Best time to visit each
Climatically, Santiago de Chile is at its best in March, April, October and November, while Buenos Aires peaks in March, April, November and December. If your dates are fixed, pick the destination whose strong season overlaps them; if you are flexible, plan around these windows.
Which suits which kind of trip
Based on the January scores for each travel style:
City breaks: Buenos Aires scores higher in January (Santiago de Chile 74 vs Buenos Aires 78).
Active & hiking: Santiago de Chile scores higher in January (Santiago de Chile 68 vs Buenos Aires 65).
Family: Santiago de Chile scores higher in January (Santiago de Chile 89 vs Buenos Aires 87).
Verdict: which should you pick?
There is no single winner — it depends on your month and your priority. For January specifically, use the head-to-head above; over the year, Santiago de Chile carries the slightly higher overall climate score. Choose Santiago de Chile if its strong months and profile match your plan, Buenos Aires if its do. The month-by-month pages for each destination give you the full picture before you book.