Cost of Living Comparison Between Australia and Chile Cost of Living Comparison Between Australia and Chile

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,182 per month in Australia vs $1,085 in Chile, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,216 per month in Australia vs $1,657 in Chile, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,250 per month in Australia vs $2,228 in Chile, rent included.

Australia costs about 101% more than Chile on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Australia sits 63% above the global median, while Chile is 19% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Australia has a wider regional cost range ($1,579$2,759) than Chile ($944$1,326), so location matters more when choosing where to live in Australia.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Australia
Chile
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17 A$22.54
$8.38 CLP 7,441
92.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.6 A$110
$42.37 CLP 37.6K
85.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.48 A$13.21
$7.73 CLP 6,865
22.64%
Cappuccino
$3.56 A$4.96
$2.98 CLP 2,642
19.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60 A$3.62
$1.43 CLP 1,270
81.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 A$3.08
$1.05 CLP 928
110.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.47 A$9.02
$3.31 CLP 2,941
95.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.19 A$10.02
$3.72 CLP 3,297
93.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Australia
Chile
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 A$2.18
$1.22 CLP 1,083
27.87%
White Bread (500g)
$2.53 A$3.53
$1.54 CLP 1,369
64.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.02 A$2.82
$1.72 CLP 1,530
17.44%
Eggs
$4.47 A$6.23
$3.63 CLP 3,219
23.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.86 A$12.35
$10.36 CLP 9,193
-14.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.38 A$11.68
$6.17 CLP 5,480
35.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.71 A$19.10
$10.97 CLP 9,733
24.98%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 A$4.50
$1.90 CLP 1,685
70.00%
Banana (1kg)
$2.84 A$3.96
$1.67 CLP 1,482
70.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.98 A$4.15
$1.87 CLP 1,663
59.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.38 A$6.10
$1.78 CLP 1,576
146.07%
Potato (1kg)
$2.45 A$3.41
$1.50 CLP 1,330
63.33%
Onion (1kg)
$2.11 A$2.94
$1.55 CLP 1,376
36.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.16 A$3.02
$1.25 CLP 1,107
72.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 A$2.21
$1.25 CLP 1,107
26.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$30.61 A$42.65
$5.28 CLP 4,689
479.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.23 A$19.83
$5.47 CLP 4,853
160.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.55 A$6.34
$1.49 CLP 1,325
205.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.91 A$6.84
$2.30 CLP 2,044
113.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Australia
Chile
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.89 A$4.03
$0.83 CLP 737
248.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$97.5 A$136
$41.73 CLP 37.0K
133.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.54 A$4.94
$0.82 CLP 732
331.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.75 A$2.43
$1.54 CLP 1,370
13.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$38.10 A$53.1
$13.14 CLP 11.7K
189.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 A$1.62
$1.43 CLP 1,273
-18.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.8K A$40.1K
$18.4K CLP 16.3M
56.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2K A$32.3K
$20.1K CLP 17.8M
15.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Australia
Chile
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$179 A$249
$111 CLP 98.8K
60.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.75 A$37.27
$12.38 CLP 11.0K
116.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.7 A$74.8
$22.59 CLP 20.0K
137.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Australia
Chile
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.44 A$67.5
$35.74 CLP 31.7K
35.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.88 A$23.52
$20.52 CLP 18.2K
-17.74%
Cinema Ticket
$13.61 A$18.97
$5.77 CLP 5,120
135.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Australia
Chile
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,605 A$2,236
$385 CLP 341.5K
317.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.7K A$17.7K
$6,348 CLP 5.6M
100.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Australia
Chile
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.4 A$99.5
$48.14 CLP 42.7K
48.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.0 A$69.7
$29.65 CLP 26.3K
68.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.8 A$139
$64.9 CLP 57.6K
53.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 A$152
$78.6 CLP 69.7K
38.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Australia
Chile
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,385 A$1,930
$458 CLP 406.6K
202.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,076 A$1,500
$384 CLP 340.5K
180.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,284 A$3,183
$816 CLP 724.6K
179.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,757 A$2,448
$659 CLP 585.3K
166.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,462 A$10.4K
$2,488 CLP 2.2M
199.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,617 A$7,827
$2,283 CLP 2.0M
146.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Australia
Chile
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,070 A$5,672
$741 CLP 657.6K
449.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.35
5.09
24.75%

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

Last update for Australia: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chile: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,233 in Australia vs $475 in Chile. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,548 in Canberra and $519 in Santiago.

Average salary: $3,906 in Australia vs $755 in Chile. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 160% higher in Australia.

Dining out costs 79% more in Australia.

Public transport is 738% more expensive in Australia.

Salaries are 417% higher in Australia, giving Australia stronger purchasing power.

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
Australia vs Chile: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Australia more expensive than Chile?
Chile is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 91% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Australia, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Australia consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Chile, contributing to the overall 91% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Australia or Chile?
$1,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Chile, but in Australia it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Australia or Chile?
Chile is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

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