Cost of Living Comparison Between Calama and Concepcion Cost of Living Comparison Between Calama and Concepcion

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,083 in Calama versus $1,068 in Concepcion.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,617 in Calama versus $1,620 in Concepcion.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,150 in Calama versus $2,173 in Concepcion.

Living in Calama is roughly 1% more expensive than in Concepcion, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Calama 19% lower, Concepcion 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.15 CLP 7,591

$7.72 CLP 7,184

5.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 CLP 31.0K

$45.34 CLP 42.2K

-26.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.90 CLP 7,356

$8.54 CLP 7,957

-7.49%

Cappuccino

$2.11 CLP 1,963

$2.68 CLP 2,495

-21.27%

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

$0.98 CLP 914

$1.47 CLP 1,366

-33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 CLP 865

$1.09 CLP 1,017

-14.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.29 CLP 3,067

$3.96 CLP 3,684

-16.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.15 CLP 3,862

$3.85 CLP 3,588

7.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 CLP 1,148

$1.30 CLP 1,213

-5.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.52 CLP 1,419

$1.49 CLP 1,383

2.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.89 CLP 1,756

$1.58 CLP 1,472

19.62%

Eggs

$3.51 CLP 3,267

$3.69 CLP 3,434

-4.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.63 CLP 9,897

$11.65 CLP 10.8K

-8.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.53 CLP 6,083

$6.89 CLP 6,416

-5.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.08 CLP 10.3K

$12.15 CLP 11.3K

-8.81%

Apples (1kg)

$1.90 CLP 1,766

$1.51 CLP 1,406

25.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 CLP 1,404

$1.40 CLP 1,305

7.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 CLP 1,419

$1.54 CLP 1,432

-1.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 CLP 1,348

$1.47 CLP 1,370

-1.36%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 CLP 1,153

$1.10 CLP 1,021

12.73%

Onion (1kg)

$1.39 CLP 1,297

$1.29 CLP 1,205

7.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 CLP 1,141

$1.18 CLP 1,094

3.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 CLP 1,091

$1.21 CLP 1,131

-3.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.28 CLP 4,921

$5.44 CLP 5,068

-2.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.92 CLP 5,512

$5.05 CLP 4,707

17.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 CLP 1,487

$1.04 CLP 970

53.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 CLP 2,071

$1.84 CLP 1,716

20.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 CLP 548

$0.63 CLP 582

-6.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.17 CLP 31.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.51 CLP 471

$1.25 CLP 1,168

-59.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 CLP 1,420

$2.31 CLP 2,152

-33.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.70 CLP 11.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 CLP 1,438

$1.36 CLP 1,262

13.24%

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

$19.6K CLP 18.3M

$20.7K CLP 19.3M

-5.15%

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

$21.7K CLP 20.2M

$25.1K CLP 23.4M

-13.48%

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

$131 CLP 121.7K

$101 CLP 94.2K

29.19%

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

$13.71 CLP 12.8K

$12.74 CLP 11.9K

7.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.29 CLP 20.8K

$28.42 CLP 26.5K

-21.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.39 CLP 35.8K

$27.38 CLP 25.5K

40.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.55 CLP 20.1K

$10.57 CLP 9,845

103.88%

Cinema Ticket

$5.70 CLP 5,309

$6.06 CLP 5,638

-5.94%

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

$432 CLP 402.4K

$339 CLP 315.9K

27.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,503 CLP 4.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.6 CLP 47.1K

$43.96 CLP 40.9K

14.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.49 CLP 28.4K

$27.87 CLP 26.0K

9.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.8 CLP 58.5K

$60.0 CLP 55.9K

4.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.9 CLP 77.1K

$69.7 CLP 64.9K

18.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$352 CLP 327.5K

$476 CLP 443.5K

-26.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$378 CLP 351.8K

$352 CLP 327.4K

7.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$847 CLP 788.6K

$938 CLP 873.4K

-9.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$590 CLP 549.4K

$596 CLP 554.9K

-0.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,467 CLP 1.4M

$2,176 CLP 2.0M

-32.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,276 CLP 1.2M

$1,878 CLP 1.7M

-32.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,160 CLP 1.1M

$553 CLP 514.8K

109.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.18

5.3

-2.26%

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

Last update for Calama: July 11, 2026

Last update for Concepcion: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $352 in Calama and $476 in Concepcion. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calama pays 110% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $33.00 in Calama vs $45.00 in Concepcion. Groceries flip the comparison at $229 vs $228, with Concepcion cheaper for home cooking.

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

Calama vs Concepcion: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Concepcion wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Calama. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Concepcion the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 110% higher in Calama, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $352 in Calama versus $476 in Concepcion. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 0% higher in Calama. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,083 per month in Calama versus $1,068 in Concepcion – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,068 in Concepcion versus $1,083 in Calama, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Concepcion but tight or insufficient in Calama. The gap between the two cities makes Concepcion the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Concepcion gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Calama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.