Cost of Living Comparison Between Arica and Valdivia Cost of Living Comparison Between Arica and Valdivia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,079 per month in Arica vs $1,057 in Valdivia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,659 per month in Arica vs $1,602 in Valdivia, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,239 per month in Arica vs $2,147 in Valdivia, rent included.

Arica costs about 2% more than Valdivia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Arica and Valdivia are more affordable than the global median – Arica 19% lower, Valdivia 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.42 CLP 7,477

$6.32 CLP 5,610

33.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.91 CLP 39.9K

$43.69 CLP 38.8K

2.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.10 CLP 7,191

$7.23 CLP 6,413

12.03%

Cappuccino

$2.72 CLP 2,414

$2.54 CLP 2,253

7.09%

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

$1.30 CLP 1,150

$2.41 CLP 2,137

-46.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.07 CLP 950

$1.48 CLP 1,312

-27.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.19 CLP 2,832

$3.86 CLP 3,429

-17.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.06 CLP 3,605

$4.02 CLP 3,567

1.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.20 CLP 1,065

$1.19 CLP 1,060

0.84%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 CLP 1,326

$1.43 CLP 1,267

4.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 CLP 1,654

$1.65 CLP 1,462

12.73%

Eggs

$3.50 CLP 3,103

$3.13 CLP 2,777

11.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.37 CLP 9,201

$9.23 CLP 8,191

12.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.55 CLP 5,811

$6.92 CLP 6,140

-5.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.79 CLP 9,574

$13.33 CLP 11.8K

-19.05%

Apples (1kg)

$1.80 CLP 1,593

$2.24 CLP 1,986

-19.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 CLP 1,390

$1.95 CLP 1,733

-19.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.57 CLP 1,394

$1.84 CLP 1,631

-14.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 CLP 1,331

$1.95 CLP 1,732

-23.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.29 CLP 1,143

$2.44 CLP 2,168

-47.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 CLP 1,246

$1.63 CLP 1,445

-14.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 CLP 1,090

$1.58 CLP 1,401

-22.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 CLP 1,036

$1.21 CLP 1,070

-3.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.55 CLP 4,923

$5.36 CLP 4,756

3.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.27 CLP 4,681

$5.19 CLP 4,605

1.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 CLP 1,435

$1.62 CLP 1,437

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 CLP 2,043

$2.24 CLP 1,990

2.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.62 CLP 554

$0.60 CLP 528

3.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.50 CLP 447

$1.67 CLP 1,479

-70.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 CLP 1,232

$1.43 CLP 1,268

-2.80%

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

$19.4K CLP 17.2M

$15.8K CLP 14.1M

22.59%

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

$21.4K CLP 19.0M

$18.1K CLP 16.1M

18.13%

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

$132 CLP 117.3K

$97.8 CLP 86.8K

35.20%

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

$13.47 CLP 12.0K

$19.03 CLP 16.9K

-29.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.22 CLP 19.7K

$29.10 CLP 25.8K

-23.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.02 CLP 33.7K

$42.85 CLP 38.0K

-11.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.58 CLP 19.2K

$24.36 CLP 21.6K

-11.41%

Cinema Ticket

$5.56 CLP 4,934

$4.92 CLP 4,363

13.01%

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

$431 CLP 382.4K

$272 CLP 241.6K

58.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.70 CLP 44.1K

$54.0 CLP 47.9K

-7.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.13 CLP 26.7K

$18.42 CLP 16.3K

63.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$56.2 CLP 49.9K

$51.4 CLP 45.6K

9.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.8 CLP 71.7K

$79.6 CLP 70.6K

1.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$485 CLP 430.4K

$612 CLP 543.5K

-20.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$372 CLP 330.2K

$393 CLP 349.2K

-5.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$895 CLP 794.1K

$1,057 CLP 938.0K

-15.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$605 CLP 536.6K

$590 CLP 523.4K

2.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,853 CLP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$571 CLP 507.1K

$680 CLP 603.2K

-15.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.18

4.5

15.11%

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

Last update for Arica: May 31, 2026

Last update for Valdivia: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $485 in Arica versus $612 in Valdivia. 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 19% higher in Valdivia, 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 $45.00 in Arica versus $44.00 in Valdivia. Groceries tell a different story – $226 in Arica vs $242 in Valdivia – so Arica 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 Valdivia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,079 in Arica, $1,057 in Valdivia – roughly 2% apart. Arica costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,619 per month in Arica and $1,585 in Valdivia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Valdivia, 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 $44.00 in Valdivia. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Arica – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Valdivia, where all-in costs run around $1,057, than in Arica at $1,079. In Valdivia it covers expenses comfortably, while in Arica it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Valdivia – 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 Valdivia. 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.