😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,175 in Argentina versus $805 in Chile.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,955 in Argentina versus $1,259 in Chile.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,735 in Argentina versus $1,713 in Chile.
🌍Living in Argentina is roughly 46% more expensive than in Chile on average.
📊Both countries sit below the global median: Argentina 14% lower, Chile 41% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Argentina
Chile
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.54ARS 22.0K
$8.68CLP 8,133
67.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.5ARS 83.8K
$47.45CLP 44.5K
16.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.81ARS 19.4K
$7.82CLP 7,331
63.81%
Cappuccino
$3.53ARS 5,331
$2.97CLP 2,785
18.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07ARS 3,121
$1.37CLP 1,281
51.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59ARS 2,396
$1.05CLP 980
51.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.50ARS 5,294
$3.69CLP 3,461
-5.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.11ARS 6,207
$4.26CLP 3,991
-3.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Argentina
Chile
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.42ARS 2,150
$1.25CLP 1,170
13.60%
White Bread(500g)
$2.37ARS 3,574
$1.64CLP 1,538
44.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.81ARS 2,726
$1.56CLP 1,461
16.03%
Eggs
$2.58ARS 3,902
$3.62CLP 3,390
-28.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.79ARS 14.8K
$10.60CLP 9,935
-7.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.57ARS 12.9K
$6.31CLP 5,914
35.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.89ARS 18.0K
$11.40CLP 10.7K
4.30%
Apples(1kg)
$2.45ARS 3,706
$1.90CLP 1,784
28.95%
Banana(1kg)
$2.07ARS 3,134
$1.67CLP 1,562
23.95%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.38ARS 2,083
$1.66CLP 1,560
-16.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.39ARS 3,609
$1.70CLP 1,595
40.59%
Potato(1kg)
$1.18ARS 1,781
$1.21CLP 1,136
-2.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.08ARS 1,637
$1.45CLP 1,354
-25.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.50ARS 2,271
$1.24CLP 1,162
20.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.57ARS 2,370
$1.24CLP 1,161
26.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.17ARS 6,293
$5.47CLP 5,123
-23.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.13ARS 7,749
$5.48CLP 5,140
-6.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.89ARS 2,857
$1.42CLP 1,327
33.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91ARS 4,399
$2.20CLP 2,059
32.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Argentina
Chile
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.02ARS 1,545
$0.83CLP 778
22.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.56ARS 43.1K
$40.83CLP 38.3K
-30.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.62ARS 2,446
$0.84CLP 789
92.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.98ARS 1,475
$1.20CLP 1,128
-18.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.81ARS 11.8K
$12.43CLP 11.6K
-37.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.20ARS 1,818
$1.49CLP 1,393
-19.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6KARS 40.1M
$18.7KCLP 17.5M
42.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1KARS 50.0M
$19.8KCLP 18.5M
67.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Argentina
Chile
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$135ARS 203.8K
$115CLP 107.7K
17.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.55ARS 26.5K
$12.76CLP 12.0K
37.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.99ARS 39.3K
$22.53CLP 21.1K
15.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Argentina
Chile
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.90ARS 51.2K
$36.96CLP 34.6K
-8.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.91ARS 28.6K
$15.13CLP 14.2K
24.98%
Cinema Ticket
$9.98ARS 15.1K
$6.43CLP 6,031
55.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Argentina
Chile
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$333ARS 502.7K
$368CLP 345.1K
-9.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,398ARS 9.7M
$6,920CLP 6.5M
-7.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Argentina
Chile
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105ARS 159.0K
$45.32CLP 42.5K
132.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$80.4ARS 121.5K
$28.19CLP 26.4K
185.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$122ARS 184.9K
$62.1CLP 58.2K
97.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119ARS 180.4K
$75.6CLP 70.8K
58.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Argentina
Chile
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$513ARS 774.7K
$462CLP 433.2K
10.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368ARS 555.7K
$354CLP 331.8K
3.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,066ARS 1.6M
$803CLP 752.9K
32.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$807ARS 1.2M
$623CLP 584.1K
29.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,209ARS 3.3M
$2,340CLP 2.2M
-5.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,448ARS 2.2M
$2,077CLP 1.9M
-30.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Argentina
Chile
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$760ARS 1.1M
$686CLP 642.8K
10.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
59.9
5.15
1063.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Argentina: August 31, 2026
Last update for Chile: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $469 in Argentina, $345 in Chile. Capital cities: $735 in Buenos Aires vs $555 in Santiago.
💰National salary averages: $760 in Argentina, $720 in Chile. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 36% higher in Argentina.
⭐Dining out costs 39% more in Argentina.
⭐Public transport is 125% 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 $1,266 per month in Argentina and $673 in Chile, there's a 88% 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 Chile: 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 Argentina is consistently higher than in Chile 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 Chile, $1,500 covers most cities easily; in Argentina 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: Chile wins on affordability; Argentina may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.