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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,070 per month in Arica vs $1,269 in Santiago, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,663 per month in Arica vs $2,004 in Santiago, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,256 per month in Arica vs $2,740 in Santiago, rent included.

Arica is about 16% cheaper than Santiago, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Arica and Santiago are more affordable than the global median – Arica 21% lower, Santiago 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.98 CLP 7,303

$10.64 CLP 9,737

-25.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.0 CLP 49.4K

$54.6 CLP 50.0K

-1.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.44 CLP 8,639

$9.08 CLP 8,314

3.96%

Cappuccino

$3.24 CLP 2,964

$3.37 CLP 3,082

-3.86%

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

$1.59 CLP 1,454

$1.76 CLP 1,610

-9.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.24 CLP 1,137

$1.33 CLP 1,221

-6.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.38 CLP 4,010

$4.28 CLP 3,915

2.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 CLP 3,692

$4.93 CLP 4,512

-18.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 CLP 1,197

$1.33 CLP 1,214

-1.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.52 CLP 1,393

$2.02 CLP 1,847

-24.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.81 CLP 1,659

$1.66 CLP 1,519

9.04%

Eggs

$4.16 CLP 3,812

$4.37 CLP 4,000

-4.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.13 CLP 10.2K

$11.45 CLP 10.5K

-2.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.60 CLP 6,040

$7.17 CLP 6,559

-7.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.60 CLP 9,706

$11.47 CLP 10.5K

-7.59%

Apples (1kg)

$1.71 CLP 1,565

$2.02 CLP 1,847

-15.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 CLP 1,358

$1.64 CLP 1,503

-9.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 CLP 1,549

$1.82 CLP 1,666

-7.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.49 CLP 1,361

$1.75 CLP 1,604

-14.86%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 CLP 1,066

$1.06 CLP 970

9.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.62 CLP 1,478

$1.59 CLP 1,453

1.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 CLP 1,098

$1.34 CLP 1,227

-10.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 CLP 1,014

$1.19 CLP 1,087

-6.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.03 CLP 5,519

$5.34 CLP 4,892

12.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.14 CLP 5,620

$6.54 CLP 5,983

-6.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 CLP 1,420

$1.72 CLP 1,577

-9.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 CLP 1,962

$2.59 CLP 2,369

-17.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.67 CLP 614

$0.85 CLP 778

-21.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.57 CLP 39.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 CLP 738

$0.45 CLP 409

80.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.83 CLP 756

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.11 CLP 11.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 CLP 1,386

$1.66 CLP 1,521

-9.04%

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

$20.9K CLP 19.1M

$18.6K CLP 17.0M

12.53%

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

$23.5K CLP 21.5M

$22.4K CLP 20.5M

5.10%

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

$126 CLP 114.9K

$160 CLP 146.5K

-21.57%

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

$14.53 CLP 13.3K

$13.01 CLP 11.9K

11.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.65 CLP 18.9K

$21.28 CLP 19.5K

-2.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.65 CLP 33.5K

$36.13 CLP 33.1K

1.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.18 CLP 11.1K

Cinema Ticket

$7.97 CLP 7,292

$7.94 CLP 7,268

0.38%

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

$384 CLP 351.4K

$461 CLP 421.7K

-16.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,792 CLP 7.1M

$11.4K CLP 10.5M

-31.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.5 CLP 46.2K

$53.3 CLP 48.8K

-5.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.23 CLP 27.7K

$30.67 CLP 28.1K

-1.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$57.0 CLP 52.2K

$69.6 CLP 63.7K

-18.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.0 CLP 69.5K

$86.9 CLP 79.6K

-12.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$457 CLP 418.5K

$580 CLP 531.0K

-21.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$353 CLP 322.7K

$434 CLP 397.2K

-18.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$866 CLP 792.7K

$1,141 CLP 1.0M

-24.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$650 CLP 594.5K

$824 CLP 754.0K

-21.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,785 CLP 2.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,678 CLP 2.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$531 CLP 486.3K

$819 CLP 749.4K

-35.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.13

5.26

-2.47%

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

Last update for Arica: August 4, 2026

Last update for Santiago: August 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $457 in Arica versus $580 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 54% 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 $54.0 in Arica versus $55.0 in Santiago. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $231 vs $251 – 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: $1,070 in Arica, $1,269 in Santiago – roughly 19% apart. Santiago costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,604 per month in Arica and $1,903 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 $54.0 in Arica and $55.0 in Santiago. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 9% 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 $1,070, than in Santiago at $1,269. 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.