Compare: São Paulo→Buenos Aires (1,675 km) vs São Paulo→Santiago (2,585 km). São Paulo → Buenos Aires wins by 910 km (35%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team · Updated April 21, 2026
1,675 km
1,041 miles · Flight: ~2h 36min · Drive: ~27h 13min
✓ Shorter route
2,585 km
1,606 miles · Flight: ~3h 44min · Drive: ~42h
Difference: 910 km (35%) · Flight time difference: ~1h 8min
Verdict
São Paulo → Buenos Aires is the smarter pick if travel time and emissions matter most: it is 910 km (35%) shorter, saves about 1h 8min of flight time, and cuts roughly 232 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Choose São Paulo → Santiago only if the destination itself is the reason for the trip.
São Paulo → Buenos Aires is the shorter route at 1,675 km, which is 910 km (35%) shorter than São Paulo → Santiago. You would save approximately 1h 8min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | São Paulo → Buenos Aires | São Paulo → Santiago |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 1,675 | 2,585 |
| Distance (miles) | 1,041 | 1,606 |
| Flight time | ~2h 36min | ~3h 44min |
| Driving time | ~27h 13min | ~42h |
| Road distance (est.) | ~2,178 km | ~3,361 km |
| Drivable? | Yes | Yes |
| Cross-continental | No | No |
| Initial bearing | 220° (SW) | 239° (WSW) |
| Time-zone shift | -1h | -2h |
| CO₂ – flight (per pax) | ~427 kg | ~659 kg |
| CO₂ – driving (per car) | ~372 kg | ~575 kg |
| Fuel cost (est.) | ~$218 USD | ~$336 USD |
Flying from São Paulo to Buenos Aires produces roughly 427 kg of CO₂ per passenger, based on the ICAO/EEA short-haul emission factor of ~0.255 kg per passenger-km. The São Paulo → Santiago flight emits about 659 kg. Choosing the shorter route saves approximately 232 kg of CO₂ per traveler — equivalent to 11 typical tree-years of carbon sequestration. For comparison, driving emits roughly 372 kg and 575 kg per car respectively — meaningful only when the car carries multiple passengers.
The São Paulo to Buenos Aires route covers 1,675 km (1,041 miles), staying within South America. São Paulo (population: 12,325,232) is located in Southeast, Brazil, while Buenos Aires (population: 3,075,646) is in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The São Paulo to Santiago route covers 2,585 km (1,606 miles), remaining within South America. São Paulo (population: 12,325,232) is in Southeast, Brazil, and Santiago (population: 5,614,000) is in Santiago Metropolitan, Chile.
Flying from São Paulo to Buenos Aires takes approximately 2h 36min, while São Paulo to Santiago takes 3h 44min. If driving is an option, expect roughly 27h 13min for the first route and 42h for the second.
Since both routes depart from São Paulo, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between Buenos Aires and Santiago as a destination.
The 910 km difference between these routes is substantial and will significantly impact travel time and cost.
Both routes are drivable, with road distances of approximately 2,178 km and 3,361 km respectively. For road trips, the shorter route saves roughly 1,183 km of driving.
Buenos Aires (Argentina) has a population of 3,075,646 and is located in the Buenos Aires region of South America. It's a significant city with good transport links and cultural offerings.
Santiago (Chile) has a population of 5,614,000 and is situated in Santiago Metropolitan, South America. This major global city has multiple airports and world-class infrastructure.
Choose this route if your priority is reaching Buenos Aires (Argentina) — a city of 3,075,646 in the Buenos Aires region of South America. It is also the shorter option at 1,675 km, which translates to a 1h 8min flight-time saving and roughly 232 kg less CO₂ per passenger versus the alternative. Driving is realistic at this distance, with an estimated 2,178 km of road and a fuel cost band around $218 USD. The initial bearing is 220° (SW), so a great-circle flight leaves São Paulo heading roughly SW.
This route is the right call if you are heading to Santiago (Chile) — a city of 5,614,000 in the Santiago Metropolitan region of South America. Even though it is the longer route at 2,585 km, it remains the obvious pick when Santiago is the actual destination, when departure schedules from São Paulo are more convenient, or when fares undercut the alternative. Driving is feasible — expect roughly 3,361 km of road and a fuel cost in the $336 USD range. Departing São Paulo, the great-circle bearing toward Santiago is 239° (WSW).
São Paulo (-23.55°, -46.63°) and Buenos Aires (-34.60°, -58.38°) sit with a time-zone shift of -1 hour. São Paulo (-23.55°, -46.63°) and Santiago (-33.45°, -70.67°) have a -2-hour offset. Both routes have manageable time-zone shifts, so jet lag should not be a major factor.
Buenos Aires is closer at 1,675 km, which is 910 km (35%) shorter.
1,675 km (1,041 miles). Flight: ~2h 36min.
2,585 km (1,606 miles). Flight: ~3h 44min.
Flying to Buenos Aires is faster at ~2h 36min, saving about 1h 8min 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.