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: $924 in Antofagasta versus $1,233 in Santiago.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,501 in Antofagasta versus $1,947 in Santiago.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,078 in Antofagasta versus $2,660 in Santiago.

Living in Antofagasta costs roughly 25% less than in Santiago, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Antofagasta 33% lower, Santiago 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.43 CLP 6,962

$10.81 CLP 10.1K

-31.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.73 CLP 34.4K

$52.9 CLP 49.6K

-30.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.67 CLP 7,186

$9.15 CLP 8,580

-16.17%

Cappuccino

$2.64 CLP 2,472

$3.38 CLP 3,172

-21.89%

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

$1.31 CLP 1,228

$1.74 CLP 1,631

-24.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.89 CLP 831

$1.31 CLP 1,230

-32.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.63 CLP 1,526

$4.30 CLP 4,035

-62.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 CLP 1,796

$4.94 CLP 4,633

-61.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 CLP 1,067

$1.37 CLP 1,282

-16.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.75 CLP 1,638

$1.86 CLP 1,739

-5.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 CLP 1,213

$1.69 CLP 1,583

-23.67%

Eggs

$2.94 CLP 2,760

$4.14 CLP 3,877

-28.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.79 CLP 9,177

$11.39 CLP 10.7K

-14.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.11 CLP 3,853

$6.78 CLP 6,359

-39.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 CLP 8,273

$11.35 CLP 10.6K

-22.20%

Apples (1kg)

$2.10 CLP 1,966

$2.01 CLP 1,882

4.48%

Banana (1kg)

$2.37 CLP 2,223

$1.65 CLP 1,545

43.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 CLP 2,406

$1.75 CLP 1,636

46.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.15 CLP 1,076

$1.78 CLP 1,672

-35.39%

Potato (1kg)

$0.95 CLP 889

$1.12 CLP 1,048

-15.18%

Onion (1kg)

$0.91 CLP 858

$1.61 CLP 1,510

-43.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 CLP 1,112

$1.32 CLP 1,238

-9.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 CLP 1,090

$1.12 CLP 1,054

3.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.70 CLP 4,409

$5.61 CLP 5,262

-16.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.06 CLP 5,683

$6.27 CLP 5,876

-3.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 CLP 1,428

$1.60 CLP 1,499

-5.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 CLP 1,268

$2.51 CLP 2,353

-46.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.63 CLP 590

$0.83 CLP 783

-24.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.10 CLP 39.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.72 CLP 2,551

$0.41 CLP 387

563.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.89 CLP 834

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.16 CLP 11.4K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 CLP 1,258

$1.59 CLP 1,489

-15.72%

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

$18.3K CLP 17.2M

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

$18.4K CLP 17.2M

$22.5K CLP 21.1M

-18.18%

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

$47.56 CLP 44.6K

$155 CLP 145.2K

-69.29%

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

$10.14 CLP 9,506

$13.12 CLP 12.3K

-22.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.38 CLP 12.5K

$20.80 CLP 19.5K

-35.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.88 CLP 40.2K

$34.92 CLP 32.7K

22.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.82 CLP 25.1K

$12.43 CLP 11.6K

115.77%

Cinema Ticket

$5.25 CLP 4,918

$7.69 CLP 7,204

-31.73%

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

$273 CLP 255.8K

$456 CLP 427.1K

-40.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,311 CLP 3.1M

$11.4K CLP 10.6M

-70.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.56 CLP 39.0K

$53.2 CLP 49.9K

-21.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$15.87 CLP 14.9K

$30.18 CLP 28.3K

-47.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.3 CLP 57.4K

$70.1 CLP 65.7K

-12.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.7 CLP 68.2K

$85.3 CLP 80.0K

-14.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$460 CLP 430.8K

$555 CLP 520.6K

-17.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$370 CLP 346.8K

$389 CLP 364.4K

-4.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$843 CLP 790.2K

$1,084 CLP 1.0M

-22.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$686 CLP 643.4K

$818 CLP 766.5K

-16.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,686 CLP 2.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,689 CLP 2.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$742 CLP 695.1K

$836 CLP 783.6K

-11.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.39

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

Last update for Antofagasta: August 30, 2026

Last update for Santiago: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $460 in Antofagasta and $555 in Santiago. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Santiago pays 13% 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 $53.0 in Santiago for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $209 vs $244 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 33% 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 13% 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: $460 in Antofagasta versus $555 in Santiago. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $273 in Antofagasta versus $456 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 $53.0 in Santiago. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $924 in Antofagasta versus $1,233 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 33% less than in Santiago. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.