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