Cost of Living Comparison Between Argentina and Chile Cost of Living Comparison Between Argentina and Chile

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $966 in Argentina versus $1,086 in Chile.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,579 in Argentina versus $1,656 in Chile.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,191 in Argentina versus $2,226 in Chile.

Living in Argentina costs about 11% less than in Chile on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Argentina 28% lower, Chile 19% lower.

Internal cost variation is higher in Argentina: monthly costs span $607 to $1,393, compared to $964$1,310 in Chile. City choice carries more weight in Argentina.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Argentina
Chile
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.19 ARS 18.0K
$8.56 CLP 7,976
42.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.73 ARS 73.5K
$42.53 CLP 39.6K
16.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.16 ARS 15.0K
$7.42 CLP 6,911
36.93%
Cappuccino
$3.43 ARS 5,076
$2.94 CLP 2,742
16.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 ARS 2,863
$1.44 CLP 1,340
34.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 ARS 2,146
$1.06 CLP 983
36.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 ARS 4,480
$3.21 CLP 2,991
-5.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 ARS 4,444
$3.72 CLP 3,468
-19.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Argentina
Chile
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.37 ARS 2,022
$1.17 CLP 1,088
17.09%
White Bread (500g)
$1.99 ARS 2,936
$1.54 CLP 1,430
29.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.10 ARS 3,110
$1.79 CLP 1,663
17.32%
Eggs
$2.70 ARS 3,988
$3.64 CLP 3,387
-25.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.28 ARS 15.2K
$10.65 CLP 9,921
-3.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.87 ARS 10.2K
$6.04 CLP 5,624
13.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.93 ARS 13.2K
$11.04 CLP 10.3K
-19.11%
Apples (1kg)
$2.17 ARS 3,209
$1.90 CLP 1,769
14.21%
Banana (1kg)
$2.02 ARS 2,981
$1.74 CLP 1,618
16.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.36 ARS 2,008
$1.89 CLP 1,762
-28.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.37 ARS 3,505
$1.79 CLP 1,665
32.40%
Potato (1kg)
$1.29 ARS 1,912
$1.49 CLP 1,389
-13.42%
Onion (1kg)
$1.24 ARS 1,833
$1.51 CLP 1,408
-17.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.58 ARS 2,332
$1.27 CLP 1,178
24.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.47 ARS 2,166
$1.19 CLP 1,104
23.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.02 ARS 4,468
$5.45 CLP 5,077
-44.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.06 ARS 7,473
$5.40 CLP 5,029
-6.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ARS 2,751
$1.50 CLP 1,393
24.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 ARS 4,451
$2.26 CLP 2,106
33.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Argentina
Chile
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.77 ARS 1,145
$0.82 CLP 765
-6.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.65 ARS 30.5K
$41.32 CLP 38.5K
-50.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.54 ARS 2,269
$0.88 CLP 824
75.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.98 ARS 1,453
$1.54 CLP 1,437
-36.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.07 ARS 8,977
$13.17 CLP 12.3K
-53.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 ARS 1,601
$1.43 CLP 1,335
-24.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K ARS 36.4M
$18.3K CLP 17.1M
34.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.2K ARS 44.6M
$20.4K CLP 19.0M
47.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Argentina
Chile
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$87.1 ARS 128.7K
$111 CLP 103.1K
-21.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.18 ARS 25.4K
$12.66 CLP 11.8K
35.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.86 ARS 33.8K
$22.59 CLP 21.0K
1.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Argentina
Chile
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.87 ARS 45.6K
$36.25 CLP 33.8K
-14.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.43 ARS 19.9K
$20.05 CLP 18.7K
-33.02%
Cinema Ticket
$6.69 ARS 9,887
$5.71 CLP 5,317
17.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Argentina
Chile
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$249 ARS 368.3K
$379 CLP 353.0K
-34.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,755 ARS 5.6M
$6,185 CLP 5.8M
-39.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Argentina
Chile
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.2 ARS 143.6K
$48.76 CLP 45.4K
99.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$78.5 ARS 116.0K
$29.11 CLP 27.1K
169.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$121 ARS 178.5K
$64.6 CLP 60.1K
87.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 ARS 177.7K
$77.4 CLP 72.0K
55.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Argentina
Chile
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$499 ARS 737.7K
$468 CLP 435.9K
6.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$339 ARS 501.4K
$387 CLP 360.5K
-12.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$893 ARS 1.3M
$846 CLP 788.2K
5.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$613 ARS 906.7K
$678 CLP 631.6K
-9.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,091 ARS 3.1M
$2,269 CLP 2.1M
-7.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,398 ARS 2.1M
$1,982 CLP 1.8M
-29.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Argentina
Chile
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$738 ARS 1.1M
$693 CLP 645.7K
6.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
65.53
5.09
1187.43%

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

Last update for Argentina: July 12, 2026

Last update for Chile: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $352 in Argentina, $472 in Chile. Capital cities: $657 in Buenos Aires vs $515 in Santiago.

National salary averages: $727 in Argentina, $716 in Chile. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 34% higher in Chile.

Dining out costs 23% more in Chile.

Public transport is 60% more expensive in Chile.

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
Argentina vs Chile: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Argentina and Chile?
At $1,000 per month in Argentina and $1,137 in Chile, there's a 14% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Argentina: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in Chile is consistently higher than in Argentina across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Argentina or in Chile?
In Argentina, $1,500 covers most cities easily; in Chile it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Argentina or to Chile?
It depends on what you're after: Argentina wins on affordability; Chile may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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