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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,079 per month in Arica vs $1,270 in Santiago, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,659 per month in Arica vs $2,013 in Santiago, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,239 per month in Arica vs $2,756 in Santiago, rent included.

Arica is about 15% cheaper than Santiago, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Arica and Santiago are more affordable than the global median – Arica 19% lower, Santiago 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.42 CLP 7,477

$10.93 CLP 9,698

-22.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.91 CLP 39.9K

$53.1 CLP 47.1K

-15.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.10 CLP 7,191

$8.30 CLP 7,367

-2.41%

Cappuccino

$2.72 CLP 2,414

$3.11 CLP 2,762

-12.54%

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

$1.30 CLP 1,150

$1.79 CLP 1,587

-27.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.07 CLP 950

$1.29 CLP 1,144

-17.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.19 CLP 2,832

$3.19 CLP 2,829

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.06 CLP 3,605

$4.39 CLP 3,897

-7.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.20 CLP 1,065

$1.20 CLP 1,061

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 CLP 1,326

$1.59 CLP 1,409

-6.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 CLP 1,654

$2.18 CLP 1,931

-14.68%

Eggs

$3.50 CLP 3,103

$4.14 CLP 3,671

-15.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.37 CLP 9,201

$10.66 CLP 9,456

-2.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.55 CLP 5,811

$6.48 CLP 5,748

1.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.79 CLP 9,574

$10.79 CLP 9,579

Apples (1kg)

$1.80 CLP 1,593

$2.00 CLP 1,779

-10.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 CLP 1,390

$1.63 CLP 1,450

-3.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.57 CLP 1,394

$2.13 CLP 1,891

-26.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 CLP 1,331

$1.84 CLP 1,630

-18.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.29 CLP 1,143

$1.95 CLP 1,734

-33.85%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 CLP 1,246

$1.68 CLP 1,487

-16.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 CLP 1,090

$1.29 CLP 1,147

-4.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 CLP 1,036

$1.19 CLP 1,054

-1.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.55 CLP 4,923

$5.56 CLP 4,935

-0.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.27 CLP 4,681

$6.77 CLP 6,010

-22.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 CLP 1,435

$1.54 CLP 1,365

5.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 CLP 2,043

$2.47 CLP 2,195

-6.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.62 CLP 554

$0.85 CLP 754

-27.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.05 CLP 37.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.50 CLP 447

$0.50 CLP 445

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 CLP 1,268

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.70 CLP 10.4K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 CLP 1,232

$1.37 CLP 1,215

1.46%

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

$19.4K CLP 17.2M

$19.6K CLP 17.4M

-1.13%

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

$21.4K CLP 19.0M

$22.6K CLP 20.1M

-5.44%

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

$132 CLP 117.3K

$133 CLP 118.4K

-0.89%

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

$13.47 CLP 12.0K

$13.65 CLP 12.1K

-1.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.22 CLP 19.7K

$21.85 CLP 19.4K

1.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.02 CLP 33.7K

$33.74 CLP 29.9K

12.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.58 CLP 19.2K

$20.94 CLP 18.6K

3.06%

Cinema Ticket

$5.56 CLP 4,934

$6.55 CLP 5,817

-15.11%

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

$431 CLP 382.4K

$436 CLP 387.1K

-1.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,621 CLP 7.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.70 CLP 44.1K

$55.0 CLP 48.8K

-9.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.13 CLP 26.7K

$32.75 CLP 29.1K

-8.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$56.2 CLP 49.9K

$76.0 CLP 67.4K

-26.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.8 CLP 71.7K

$83.5 CLP 74.1K

-3.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$485 CLP 430.4K

$519 CLP 460.6K

-6.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$372 CLP 330.2K

$468 CLP 415.5K

-20.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$895 CLP 794.1K

$1,012 CLP 897.8K

-11.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$605 CLP 536.6K

$888 CLP 787.7K

-31.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,891 CLP 2.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,897 CLP 2.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$571 CLP 507.1K

$884 CLP 784.5K

-35.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.18

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

Last update for Arica: May 31, 2026

Last update for Santiago: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $485 in Arica versus $519 in Santiago. 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 55% higher in Santiago, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Arica versus $53.0 in Santiago. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $226 vs $242 – making Arica the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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: $1,079 in Arica, $1,270 in Santiago – roughly 18% apart. Santiago costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,619 per month in Arica and $1,905 in Santiago. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Arica, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Arica and $53.0 in Santiago. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 7% 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 $1,079, than in Santiago at $1,270. 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.