😐A single person spends $1,100 per month in Arica vs $1,068 in Concepcion, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,669 per month in Arica vs $1,620 in Concepcion, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,237 per month in Arica vs $2,173 in Concepcion, rent included.
😐Arica costs about 3% more than Concepcion, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Arica and Concepcion are more affordable than the global median – Arica18% lower, Concepcion20% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Arica
Concepcion
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.43CLP 7,851
$7.72CLP 7,184
9.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.30CLP 41.3K
$45.34CLP 42.2K
-2.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.20CLP 7,635
$8.54CLP 7,957
-3.98%
Cappuccino
$2.71CLP 2,521
$2.68CLP 2,495
1.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30CLP 1,210
$1.47CLP 1,366
-11.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06CLP 989
$1.09CLP 1,017
-2.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.29CLP 3,065
$3.96CLP 3,684
-16.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.28CLP 3,986
$3.85CLP 3,588
11.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Arica
Concepcion
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.19CLP 1,104
$1.30CLP 1,213
-8.46%
White Bread(500g)
$1.50CLP 1,401
$1.49CLP 1,383
0.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85CLP 1,723
$1.58CLP 1,472
17.09%
Eggs
$3.50CLP 3,260
$3.69CLP 3,434
-5.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.31CLP 9,599
$11.65CLP 10.8K
-11.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.73CLP 6,270
$6.89CLP 6,416
-2.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.79CLP 10.0K
$12.15CLP 11.3K
-11.19%
Apples(1kg)
$1.89CLP 1,759
$1.51CLP 1,406
25.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57CLP 1,465
$1.40CLP 1,305
12.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.60CLP 1,492
$1.54CLP 1,432
3.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.50CLP 1,394
$1.47CLP 1,370
2.04%
Potato(1kg)
$1.24CLP 1,158
$1.10CLP 1,021
12.73%
Onion(1kg)
$1.36CLP 1,269
$1.29CLP 1,205
5.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.22CLP 1,136
$1.18CLP 1,094
3.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.23CLP 1,146
$1.21CLP 1,131
1.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.27CLP 4,904
$5.44CLP 5,068
-3.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.39CLP 5,946
$5.05CLP 4,707
26.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54CLP 1,431
$1.04CLP 970
48.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32CLP 2,161
$1.84CLP 1,716
26.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Arica
Concepcion
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.58CLP 537
$0.63CLP 582
-7.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$34.17CLP 31.8K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.51CLP 471
$1.25CLP 1,168
-59.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$2.31CLP 2,152
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$12.70CLP 11.8K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.38CLP 1,286
$1.36CLP 1,262
1.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7KCLP 18.4M
$20.7KCLP 19.3M
-4.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.5KCLP 20.0M
$25.1KCLP 23.4M
-14.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arica
Concepcion
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$134CLP 125.1K
$101CLP 94.2K
32.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.49CLP 12.6K
$12.74CLP 11.9K
5.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.09CLP 20.6K
$28.42CLP 26.5K
-22.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Arica
Concepcion
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.36CLP 35.7K
$27.38CLP 25.5K
40.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.43CLP 20.0K
$10.57CLP 9,845
102.74%
Cinema Ticket
$5.81CLP 5,410
$6.06CLP 5,638
-4.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Arica
Concepcion
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$435CLP 404.7K
$339CLP 315.9K
28.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$4,503CLP 4.2M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Arica
Concepcion
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.6CLP 47.1K
$43.96CLP 40.9K
15.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.88CLP 28.8K
$27.87CLP 26.0K
10.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$56.2CLP 52.3K
$60.0CLP 55.9K
-6.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.9CLP 78.2K
$69.7CLP 64.9K
20.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Arica
Concepcion
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$481CLP 448.4K
$476CLP 443.5K
1.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$366CLP 340.9K
$352CLP 327.4K
4.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$875CLP 815.2K
$938CLP 873.4K
-6.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$582CLP 542.4K
$596CLP 554.9K
-2.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,176CLP 2.0M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,878CLP 1.7M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Arica
Concepcion
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$537CLP 499.7K
$553CLP 514.8K
-2.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.18
5.3
-2.26%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Arica: July 13, 2026
Last update for Concepcion: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Arica versus $476 in Concepcion. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 3% higher in Concepcion, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Arica versus $45.00 in Concepcion. Groceries tell a different story – $229 in Arica vs $228 in Concepcion – so Concepcion wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Arica vs Concepcion: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Arica and in Concepcion compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,100 in Arica, $1,068 in Concepcion – roughly 3% apart. Arica costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Arica compared to Concepcion?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,651 per month in Arica and $1,602 in Concepcion. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Arica and Concepcion?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Concepcion, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Arica and $45.00 in Concepcion. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 0% more in Arica, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Concepcion, where all-in costs run around $1,068, than in Arica at $1,100. In Concepcion it covers expenses comfortably, while in Arica it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Arica or Concepcion?
Families tend to lean toward Concepcion – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How do I decide between Arica and Concepcion?
If budget matters most, go with Concepcion. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Arica makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.