Cost of Living Comparison Between Antofagasta and Santiago Cost of Living Comparison Between Antofagasta and Santiago

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $964 in Antofagasta versus $1,288 in Santiago.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,529 in Antofagasta versus $2,020 in Santiago.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,093 in Antofagasta versus $2,752 in Santiago.

Living in Antofagasta costs roughly 25% less than in Santiago, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Antofagasta 28% lower, Santiago 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.37 CLP 6,864

$10.72 CLP 9,983

-31.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.04 CLP 34.5K

$54.8 CLP 51.0K

-32.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.59 CLP 7,068

$8.16 CLP 7,601

-6.99%

Cappuccino

$2.75 CLP 2,560

$3.16 CLP 2,941

-12.97%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 CLP 1,202

$1.78 CLP 1,660

-27.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 CLP 899

$1.25 CLP 1,162

-22.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 CLP 1,552

$3.31 CLP 3,086

-49.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.27 CLP 3,973

$4.24 CLP 3,946

0.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 CLP 1,064

$1.18 CLP 1,101

-3.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.73 CLP 1,608

$1.53 CLP 1,429

13.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 CLP 1,161

$2.18 CLP 2,031

-42.66%

Eggs

$2.94 CLP 2,738

$4.19 CLP 3,898

-29.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.94 CLP 9,257

$10.65 CLP 9,913

-6.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.30 CLP 4,003

$6.59 CLP 6,135

-34.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.88 CLP 8,267

$11.13 CLP 10.4K

-20.22%

Apples (1kg)

$2.11 CLP 1,967

$2.09 CLP 1,947

0.96%

Banana (1kg)

$2.36 CLP 2,193

$1.55 CLP 1,440

52.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 CLP 2,397

$2.07 CLP 1,923

24.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 CLP 1,082

$1.86 CLP 1,730

-37.63%

Potato (1kg)

$0.89 CLP 831

$1.95 CLP 1,820

-54.36%

Onion (1kg)

$0.94 CLP 877

$1.63 CLP 1,514

-42.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.25 CLP 1,162

$1.28 CLP 1,194

-2.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 CLP 1,141

$1.25 CLP 1,160

-2.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.84 CLP 4,503

$5.75 CLP 5,359

-15.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.87 CLP 5,468

$6.50 CLP 6,051

-9.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 CLP 1,447

$1.56 CLP 1,452

-0.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 CLP 1,275

$2.48 CLP 2,308

-44.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.63 CLP 590

$0.85 CLP 788

-25.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.60 CLP 39.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.50 CLP 467

$0.51 CLP 477

-1.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.45 CLP 1,351

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.30 CLP 10.5K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 CLP 1,308

$1.39 CLP 1,290

0.72%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.4K CLP 18.0M

$19.5K CLP 18.2M

-0.92%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$21.6K CLP 20.1M

$22.6K CLP 21.0M

-4.40%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$47.85 CLP 44.6K

$134 CLP 124.6K

-64.23%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$10.53 CLP 9,807

$13.59 CLP 12.7K

-22.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.11 CLP 12.2K

$22.02 CLP 20.5K

-40.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.75 CLP 40.7K

$34.67 CLP 32.3K

26.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.04 CLP 19.6K

$21.24 CLP 19.8K

-0.94%

Cinema Ticket

$5.48 CLP 5,102

$6.29 CLP 5,857

-12.88%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$270 CLP 251.5K

$436 CLP 406.4K

-38.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,357 CLP 3.1M

$8,744 CLP 8.1M

-61.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.10 CLP 38.3K

$55.3 CLP 51.5K

-25.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.09 CLP 15.0K

$32.30 CLP 30.1K

-50.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.8 CLP 56.6K

$77.3 CLP 71.9K

-21.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.1 CLP 66.2K

$85.5 CLP 79.6K

-16.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$472 CLP 439.3K

$515 CLP 479.3K

-8.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 CLP 348.0K

$462 CLP 430.1K

-19.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$851 CLP 792.8K

$989 CLP 920.7K

-13.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$704 CLP 655.8K

$920 CLP 856.6K

-23.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,871 CLP 2.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,757 CLP 2.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$732 CLP 682.1K

$803 CLP 747.6K

-8.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.18

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Antofagasta: July 14, 2026

Last update for Santiago: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $472 in Antofagasta and $515 in Santiago. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Santiago pays 10% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $37.00 in Antofagasta vs $55.0 in Santiago for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $211 vs $243 per month, with Antofagasta cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Antofagasta vs Santiago: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Antofagasta wins on cost – living expenses run 34% lower than in Santiago. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Antofagasta the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 10% lower in Santiago. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $472 in Antofagasta versus $515 in Santiago. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $270 in Antofagasta versus $436 in Santiago. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Antofagasta – a meal for two runs $37.00 versus $55.0 in Santiago. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $964 in Antofagasta versus $1,288 in Santiago, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Antofagasta but tight or insufficient in Santiago. The gap between the two cities makes Antofagasta the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Antofagasta gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Santiago. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.