Cost of Living Comparison Between Calama and Santiago Cost of Living Comparison Between Calama and Santiago

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,077 in Calama versus $1,290 in Santiago.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,598 in Calama versus $2,039 in Santiago.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,119 in Calama versus $2,788 in Santiago.

Living in Calama costs roughly 16% less than in Santiago, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Calama 20% lower, Santiago 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.95 CLP 7,068

$10.80 CLP 9,603

-26.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.74 CLP 30.0K

$54.2 CLP 48.2K

-37.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 CLP 6,890

$8.33 CLP 7,405

-6.96%

Cappuccino

$2.20 CLP 1,959

$3.11 CLP 2,764

-29.26%

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

$0.92 CLP 822

$1.76 CLP 1,569

-47.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.95 CLP 847

$1.28 CLP 1,139

-25.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.31 CLP 2,948

$3.28 CLP 2,919

0.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.06 CLP 3,612

$4.41 CLP 3,924

-7.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 CLP 1,061

$1.18 CLP 1,048

0.85%

White Bread (500g)

$1.55 CLP 1,379

$1.57 CLP 1,398

-1.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.96 CLP 1,740

$2.17 CLP 1,932

-9.68%

Eggs

$3.47 CLP 3,084

$4.16 CLP 3,695

-16.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.29 CLP 9,147

$10.55 CLP 9,377

-2.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.55 CLP 5,822

$6.66 CLP 5,918

-1.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.04 CLP 9,815

$10.83 CLP 9,626

1.94%

Apples (1kg)

$1.88 CLP 1,675

$2.08 CLP 1,849

-9.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 CLP 1,334

$1.63 CLP 1,452

-7.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 CLP 1,350

$2.09 CLP 1,861

-27.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 CLP 1,334

$1.84 CLP 1,640

-18.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 CLP 1,142

$1.86 CLP 1,650

-31.18%

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 CLP 1,202

$1.70 CLP 1,511

-20.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.21 CLP 1,073

$1.33 CLP 1,186

-9.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 CLP 1,090

$1.18 CLP 1,051

4.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.53 CLP 4,917

$5.73 CLP 5,099

-3.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.51 CLP 4,006

$6.53 CLP 5,806

-30.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 CLP 1,414

$1.53 CLP 1,363

3.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 CLP 1,960

$2.51 CLP 2,231

-12.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.58 CLP 515

$0.91 CLP 813

-36.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.61 CLP 37.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.50 CLP 447

$0.51 CLP 457

-1.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 CLP 1,363

$1.48 CLP 1,314

3.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.35 CLP 10.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.53 CLP 1,356

$1.43 CLP 1,268

6.99%

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

$19.9K CLP 17.7M

$19.3K CLP 17.2M

3.22%

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

$21.1K CLP 18.8M

$22.6K CLP 20.1M

-6.50%

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

$134 CLP 119.2K

$130 CLP 116.0K

2.74%

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

$13.69 CLP 12.2K

$13.74 CLP 12.2K

-0.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.18 CLP 19.7K

$21.91 CLP 19.5K

1.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.16 CLP 33.9K

$33.54 CLP 29.8K

13.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.33 CLP 19.0K

$21.03 CLP 18.7K

1.43%

Cinema Ticket

$5.68 CLP 5,055

$6.54 CLP 5,813

-13.15%

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

$432 CLP 384.4K

$437 CLP 388.9K

-1.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,711 CLP 7.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.1 CLP 44.5K

$54.3 CLP 48.3K

-7.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.74 CLP 26.4K

$32.57 CLP 29.0K

-8.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.5 CLP 54.7K

$78.2 CLP 69.5K

-21.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.5 CLP 73.3K

$83.6 CLP 74.4K

-1.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$348 CLP 309.4K

$512 CLP 455.3K

-32.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 CLP 328.0K

$467 CLP 415.6K

-21.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$852 CLP 757.4K

$1,014 CLP 901.6K

-16.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$590 CLP 524.8K

$919 CLP 817.1K

-35.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,543 CLP 1.4M

$2,857 CLP 2.5M

-46.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,368 CLP 1.2M

$2,999 CLP 2.7M

-54.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,213 CLP 1.1M

$858 CLP 762.9K

41.38%

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 Calama: April 26, 2026

Last update for Santiago: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $348 in Calama and $512 in Santiago. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calama pays 41% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $34.00 in Calama vs $54.0 in Santiago for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $225 vs $242 per month, with Calama cheaper across the board.

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 Santiago: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calama wins on cost – living expenses run 20% lower than in Santiago. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Calama the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Calama pays 41% more on average, 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: $348 in Calama versus $512 in Santiago. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Santiago. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,077 per month in Calama versus $1,290 in Santiago – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,077 in Calama versus $1,290 in Santiago, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Calama but tight or insufficient in Santiago. The gap between the two cities makes Calama 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 Calama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Santiago. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.