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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,100 per month in Arica vs $1,062 in Valdivia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,669 per month in Arica vs $1,610 in Valdivia, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,237 per month in Arica vs $2,157 in Valdivia, rent included.

Arica costs about 4% more than Valdivia, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Arica and Valdivia are more affordable than the global median – Arica 18% lower, Valdivia 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.43 CLP 7,851

$6.61 CLP 6,154

27.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.30 CLP 41.3K

$42.26 CLP 39.4K

4.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.20 CLP 7,635

$6.94 CLP 6,458

18.16%

Cappuccino

$2.71 CLP 2,521

$2.51 CLP 2,335

7.97%

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

$1.30 CLP 1,210

$2.31 CLP 2,151

-43.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.06 CLP 989

$1.53 CLP 1,428

-30.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.29 CLP 3,065

$3.81 CLP 3,551

-13.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.28 CLP 3,986

$3.94 CLP 3,666

8.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 CLP 1,104

$1.23 CLP 1,148

-3.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 CLP 1,401

$1.43 CLP 1,329

4.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 CLP 1,723

$1.64 CLP 1,523

12.80%

Eggs

$3.50 CLP 3,260

$3.17 CLP 2,955

10.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.31 CLP 9,599

$9.38 CLP 8,737

9.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.73 CLP 6,270

$6.95 CLP 6,474

-3.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.79 CLP 10.0K

$13.38 CLP 12.5K

-19.36%

Apples (1kg)

$1.89 CLP 1,759

$2.22 CLP 2,063

-14.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 CLP 1,465

$1.94 CLP 1,804

-19.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 CLP 1,492

$1.83 CLP 1,706

-12.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 CLP 1,394

$1.97 CLP 1,833

-23.86%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 CLP 1,158

$2.44 CLP 2,275

-49.18%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 CLP 1,269

$1.58 CLP 1,474

-13.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 CLP 1,136

$1.58 CLP 1,474

-22.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 CLP 1,146

$1.21 CLP 1,123

1.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.27 CLP 4,904

$5.25 CLP 4,892

0.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.39 CLP 5,946

$4.78 CLP 4,454

33.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 CLP 1,431

$1.60 CLP 1,486

-3.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 CLP 2,161

$2.14 CLP 1,989

8.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.58 CLP 537

$0.59 CLP 550

-1.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.51 CLP 471

$1.59 CLP 1,476

-67.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 CLP 1,286

$1.42 CLP 1,318

-2.82%

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

$19.7K CLP 18.4M

$15.6K CLP 14.6M

26.26%

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

$21.5K CLP 20.0M

$18.2K CLP 17.0M

17.65%

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

$134 CLP 125.1K

$96.1 CLP 89.5K

39.72%

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

$13.49 CLP 12.6K

$18.60 CLP 17.3K

-27.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.09 CLP 20.6K

$29.22 CLP 27.2K

-24.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.36 CLP 35.7K

$42.96 CLP 40.0K

-10.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.43 CLP 20.0K

$24.61 CLP 22.9K

-12.92%

Cinema Ticket

$5.81 CLP 5,410

$4.90 CLP 4,560

18.57%

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

$435 CLP 404.7K

$275 CLP 255.7K

58.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.6 CLP 47.1K

$54.7 CLP 50.9K

-7.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.88 CLP 28.8K

$18.60 CLP 17.3K

66.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$56.2 CLP 52.3K

$52.2 CLP 48.6K

7.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.9 CLP 78.2K

$82.0 CLP 76.3K

2.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 CLP 448.4K

$598 CLP 556.8K

-19.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$366 CLP 340.9K

$383 CLP 357.0K

-4.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$875 CLP 815.2K

$1,039 CLP 967.9K

-15.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$582 CLP 542.4K

$593 CLP 552.5K

-1.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,745 CLP 4.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$537 CLP 499.7K

$661 CLP 615.1K

-18.75%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Valdivia: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Arica versus $598 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 23% 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 $44.00 in Arica versus $42.00 in Valdivia. Groceries tell a different story – $229 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: $1,100 in Arica, $1,062 in Valdivia – roughly 4% apart. Arica costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,651 per month in Arica and $1,593 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 $44.00 in Arica and $42.00 in Valdivia. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 5% 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 $1,062, than in Arica at $1,100. 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.