Compare: Buenos Aires→Santiago (1,139 km) vs Buenos Aires→Montevideo (205 km). Buenos Aires → Montevideo wins by 934 km (82%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team · Updated April 21, 2026
1,139 km
708 miles · Flight: ~1h 55min · Drive: ~18h 31min
205 km
127 miles · Flight: ~45 min · Drive: ~3h 20min
✓ Shorter route
Difference: 934 km (82%) · Flight time difference: ~1h 10min
Verdict
Buenos Aires → Montevideo is the smarter pick if travel time and emissions matter most: it is 934 km (82%) shorter, saves about 1h 10min of flight time, and cuts roughly 238 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Choose Buenos Aires → Santiago only if the destination itself is the reason for the trip.
Buenos Aires → Montevideo is the shorter route at 205 km, which is 934 km (82%) shorter than Buenos Aires → Santiago. You would save approximately 1h 10min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | Buenos Aires → Santiago | Buenos Aires → Montevideo |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 1,139 | 205 |
| Distance (miles) | 708 | 127 |
| Flight time | ~1h 55min | ~45 min |
| Driving time | ~18h 31min | ~3h 20min |
| Road distance (est.) | ~1,481 km | ~267 km |
| Drivable? | Yes | Yes |
| Cross-continental | No | No |
| Initial bearing | 273° (W) | 100° (E) |
| Time-zone shift | -1h | None |
| CO₂ – flight (per pax) | ~290 kg | ~52 kg |
| CO₂ – driving (per car) | ~253 kg | ~46 kg |
| Fuel cost (est.) | ~$148 USD | ~$27 USD |
Flying from Buenos Aires to Santiago produces roughly 290 kg of CO₂ per passenger, based on the ICAO/EEA short-haul emission factor of ~0.255 kg per passenger-km. The Buenos Aires → Montevideo flight emits about 52 kg. Choosing the shorter route saves approximately 238 kg of CO₂ per traveler — equivalent to 11 typical tree-years of carbon sequestration. For comparison, driving emits roughly 253 kg and 46 kg per car respectively — meaningful only when the car carries multiple passengers.
The Buenos Aires to Santiago route covers 1,139 km (708 miles), staying within South America. Buenos Aires (population: 3,075,646) is located in Buenos Aires, Argentina, while Santiago (population: 5,614,000) is in Santiago Metropolitan, Chile.
The Buenos Aires to Montevideo route covers 205 km (127 miles), remaining within South America. Buenos Aires (population: 3,075,646) is in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Montevideo (population: 1,319,108) is in Montevideo, Uruguay.
Flying from Buenos Aires to Santiago takes approximately 1h 55min, while Buenos Aires to Montevideo takes 45 min. If driving is an option, expect roughly 18h 31min for the first route and 3h 20min for the second.
Since both routes depart from Buenos Aires, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between Santiago and Montevideo as a destination.
The 934 km difference between these routes is substantial and will significantly impact travel time and cost.
Both routes are drivable, with road distances of approximately 1,481 km and 267 km respectively. For road trips, the shorter route saves roughly 1,214 km of driving.
Santiago (Chile) has a population of 5,614,000 and is located in the Santiago Metropolitan region of South America. As a major metropolis, it offers extensive international connections and diverse attractions.
Montevideo (Uruguay) has a population of 1,319,108 and is situated in Montevideo, South America. This city serves as an important regional hub with solid connectivity.
Choose this route if your priority is reaching Santiago (Chile) — a city of 5,614,000 in the Santiago Metropolitan region of South America. Despite being the longer of the two at 1,139 km, it makes sense when Santiago itself is the destination, the schedule fits better, or ticket prices are noticeably lower. Driving is realistic at this distance, with an estimated 1,481 km of road and a fuel cost band around $148 USD. The initial bearing is 273° (W), so a great-circle flight leaves Buenos Aires heading roughly W.
This route is the right call if you are heading to Montevideo (Uruguay) — a city of 1,319,108 in the Montevideo region of South America. It is also the shorter of the two at 205 km, saving about 1h 10min of flying and around 238 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Driving is feasible — expect roughly 267 km of road and a fuel cost in the $27 USD range. Departing Buenos Aires, the great-circle bearing toward Montevideo is 100° (E).
Buenos Aires (-34.60°, -58.38°) and Santiago (-33.45°, -70.67°) sit with a time-zone shift of -1 hour. Buenos Aires (-34.60°, -58.38°) and Montevideo (-34.90°, -56.16°) share an approximate time zone. Both routes have manageable time-zone shifts, so jet lag should not be a major factor.
Montevideo is closer at 205 km, which is 934 km (82%) shorter.
1,139 km (708 miles). Flight: ~1h 55min.
205 km (127 miles). Flight: ~45 min.
Flying to Montevideo is faster at ~45 min, saving about 1h 10min compared to Santiago.
All distances on SnapDistance are calculated using the Haversine formula, which determines the great-circle distance between two points on Earth's surface. This gives the shortest possible distance over the globe, which is the measurement used for aviation and navigation. Actual travel distances by road or rail are typically 20-40% longer due to terrain, borders, and infrastructure routing. Flight times assume 800 km/h cruising speed with 30 minutes for takeoff and landing. Driving estimates use 80 km/h average speed with a 30% road distance factor.
📍 Data: Coordinates from OpenStreetMap contributors. Distances calculated using the Haversine formula. Travel times are estimates only. Last verified: April 21, 2026.