Cost of Living Comparison Between Arica and Santiago Cost of Living Comparison Between Arica and Santiago

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $116 per month in Arica vs $1,233 in Santiago, rent included.

A couple spends around $188 per month in Arica vs $1,947 in Santiago, rent included.

A family of three spends $261 per month in Arica vs $2,660 in Santiago, rent included.

Arica is about 91% cheaper than Santiago, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Arica and Santiago are more affordable than the global median – Arica 92% lower, Santiago 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.81 CLP 10.1K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.9 CLP 49.4K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.15 CLP 8,546

Cappuccino

$3.38 CLP 3,160

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

$1.74 CLP 1,624

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.25 CLP 1,171

$1.31 CLP 1,225

-4.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.30 CLP 4,019

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.94 CLP 4,614

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 CLP 1,020

$1.37 CLP 1,277

-20.44%

White Bread (500g)

$1.86 CLP 1,733

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 CLP 1,577

Eggs

$4.14 CLP 3,862

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.39 CLP 10.6K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.78 CLP 6,334

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.35 CLP 10.6K

Apples (1kg)

$2.01 CLP 1,875

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 CLP 1,539

Oranges (1kg)

$1.75 CLP 1,629

Tomato (1kg)

$1.78 CLP 1,666

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 CLP 1,044

Onion (1kg)

$1.61 CLP 1,504

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.32 CLP 1,233

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 CLP 1,050

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.61 CLP 5,242

Wine (Bottle)

$6.27 CLP 5,853

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 CLP 1,493

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 CLP 2,343

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 CLP 715

$0.83 CLP 780

-7.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.10 CLP 39.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 CLP 386

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.89 CLP 831

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.16 CLP 11.3K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.59 CLP 1,483

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

$18.3K CLP 17.1M

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

$22.5K CLP 21.0M

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

$155 CLP 144.6K

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

$13.12 CLP 12.3K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.80 CLP 19.4K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.92 CLP 32.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.43 CLP 11.6K

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 CLP 7,176

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

$456 CLP 425.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.4K CLP 10.6M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.81 CLP 40.0K

$53.2 CLP 49.7K

-19.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.15 CLP 19.7K

$30.18 CLP 28.2K

-29.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$57.2 CLP 53.4K

$70.1 CLP 65.4K

-18.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.8 CLP 91.4K

$85.3 CLP 79.7K

14.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$555 CLP 518.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$389 CLP 362.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,084 CLP 1.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$818 CLP 763.5K

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)

$538 CLP 502.2K

$836 CLP 780.6K

-35.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.39

-7.24%

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

Last update for Arica: September 1, 2026

Last update for Santiago: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 55% higher in Santiago, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 Santiago: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $116 in Arica, $1,233 in Santiago – roughly 965% apart. Santiago costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $174 per month in Arica and $1,849 in Santiago. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $116 in Arica and $1,233 in Santiago. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 2138% more in Santiago, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Arica, where all-in costs run around $116, than in Santiago at $1,233. In Arica it covers expenses comfortably, while in Santiago it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Arica – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Arica. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Santiago makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.