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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,100 per month in Arica vs $1,288 in Santiago, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,669 per month in Arica vs $2,020 in Santiago, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,237 per month in Arica vs $2,752 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 18% lower, Santiago 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.43 CLP 7,851

$10.72 CLP 9,983

-21.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.30 CLP 41.3K

$54.8 CLP 51.0K

-19.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.20 CLP 7,635

$8.16 CLP 7,601

0.49%

Cappuccino

$2.71 CLP 2,521

$3.16 CLP 2,941

-14.24%

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

$1.30 CLP 1,210

$1.78 CLP 1,660

-26.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.06 CLP 989

$1.25 CLP 1,162

-15.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.29 CLP 3,065

$3.31 CLP 3,086

-0.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.28 CLP 3,986

$4.24 CLP 3,946

0.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 CLP 1,104

$1.18 CLP 1,101

0.85%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 CLP 1,401

$1.53 CLP 1,429

-1.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 CLP 1,723

$2.18 CLP 2,031

-15.14%

Eggs

$3.50 CLP 3,260

$4.19 CLP 3,898

-16.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.31 CLP 9,599

$10.65 CLP 9,913

-3.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.73 CLP 6,270

$6.59 CLP 6,135

2.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.79 CLP 10.0K

$11.13 CLP 10.4K

-3.05%

Apples (1kg)

$1.89 CLP 1,759

$2.09 CLP 1,947

-9.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 CLP 1,465

$1.55 CLP 1,440

1.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 CLP 1,492

$2.07 CLP 1,923

-22.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 CLP 1,394

$1.86 CLP 1,730

-19.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 CLP 1,158

$1.95 CLP 1,820

-36.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 CLP 1,269

$1.63 CLP 1,514

-16.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 CLP 1,136

$1.28 CLP 1,194

-4.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 CLP 1,146

$1.25 CLP 1,160

-1.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.27 CLP 4,904

$5.75 CLP 5,359

-8.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.39 CLP 5,946

$6.50 CLP 6,051

-1.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 CLP 1,431

$1.56 CLP 1,452

-1.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 CLP 2,161

$2.48 CLP 2,308

-6.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.58 CLP 537

$0.85 CLP 788

-31.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.60 CLP 39.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.51 CLP 471

$0.51 CLP 477

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.45 CLP 1,351

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.30 CLP 10.5K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 CLP 1,286

$1.39 CLP 1,290

-0.72%

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

$19.7K CLP 18.4M

$19.5K CLP 18.2M

0.92%

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

$21.5K CLP 20.0M

$22.6K CLP 21.0M

-4.87%

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

$134 CLP 125.1K

$134 CLP 124.6K

0.42%

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

$13.49 CLP 12.6K

$13.59 CLP 12.7K

-0.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.09 CLP 20.6K

$22.02 CLP 20.5K

0.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.36 CLP 35.7K

$34.67 CLP 32.3K

10.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.43 CLP 20.0K

$21.24 CLP 19.8K

0.89%

Cinema Ticket

$5.81 CLP 5,410

$6.29 CLP 5,857

-7.63%

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

$435 CLP 404.7K

$436 CLP 406.4K

-0.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,744 CLP 8.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.6 CLP 47.1K

$55.3 CLP 51.5K

-8.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.88 CLP 28.8K

$32.30 CLP 30.1K

-4.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$56.2 CLP 52.3K

$77.3 CLP 71.9K

-27.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.9 CLP 78.2K

$85.5 CLP 79.6K

-1.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 CLP 448.4K

$515 CLP 479.3K

-6.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$366 CLP 340.9K

$462 CLP 430.1K

-20.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$875 CLP 815.2K

$989 CLP 920.7K

-11.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$582 CLP 542.4K

$920 CLP 856.6K

-36.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,871 CLP 2.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,757 CLP 2.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$537 CLP 499.7K

$803 CLP 747.6K

-33.16%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Santiago: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Arica versus $515 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 50% 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 $44.00 in Arica versus $55.0 in Santiago. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $229 vs $243 – 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: $1,100 in Arica, $1,288 in Santiago – roughly 17% apart. Santiago costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,651 per month in Arica and $1,932 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 $44.00 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 6% 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 $1,100, than in Santiago at $1,288. 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.