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: $1,095 in Calama versus $1,256 in Santiago.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,605 in Calama versus $2,031 in Santiago.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,115 in Calama versus $2,806 in Santiago.

Living in Calama costs roughly 13% less than in Santiago, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Calama 18% lower, Santiago 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.17 CLP 7,599

$10.72 CLP 9,972

-23.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.06 CLP 30.8K

$53.0 CLP 49.3K

-37.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.02 CLP 7,466

$8.30 CLP 7,722

-3.37%

Cappuccino

$2.10 CLP 1,951

$3.25 CLP 3,023

-35.38%

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

$1.00 CLP 932

$1.69 CLP 1,573

-40.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.94 CLP 874

$1.30 CLP 1,207

-27.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.32 CLP 3,086

$3.25 CLP 3,028

2.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.13 CLP 3,846

$4.34 CLP 4,039

-4.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 CLP 1,140

$1.18 CLP 1,102

3.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 CLP 1,409

$1.52 CLP 1,416

-0.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 CLP 1,781

$2.12 CLP 1,968

-9.91%

Eggs

$3.45 CLP 3,209

$3.99 CLP 3,716

-13.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.61 CLP 9,869

$10.27 CLP 9,555

3.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.80 CLP 6,325

$6.87 CLP 6,391

-1.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.79 CLP 10.0K

$10.83 CLP 10.1K

-0.37%

Apples (1kg)

$1.83 CLP 1,698

$2.12 CLP 1,968

-13.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 CLP 1,463

$1.63 CLP 1,515

-3.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 CLP 1,493

$2.12 CLP 1,972

-24.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 CLP 1,355

$1.85 CLP 1,718

-21.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 CLP 1,188

$1.90 CLP 1,764

-32.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 CLP 1,300

$1.67 CLP 1,553

-16.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.21 CLP 1,127

$1.33 CLP 1,240

-9.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 CLP 1,092

$1.18 CLP 1,101

-0.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.48 CLP 5,100

$5.56 CLP 5,175

-1.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.75 CLP 5,348

$6.41 CLP 5,960

-10.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.56 CLP 1,452

$1.56 CLP 1,456

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 CLP 2,164

$2.46 CLP 2,289

-5.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 CLP 533

$0.93 CLP 863

-38.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.96 CLP 40.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.51 CLP 472

$0.47 CLP 442

8.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 CLP 1,356

$1.41 CLP 1,313

3.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.65 CLP 10.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.59 CLP 1,481

$1.38 CLP 1,288

15.22%

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

$19.3K CLP 18.0M

$19.7K CLP 18.3M

-1.74%

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

$21.4K CLP 19.9M

$23.1K CLP 21.5M

-7.57%

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

$134 CLP 124.8K

$130 CLP 120.6K

3.51%

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

$13.74 CLP 12.8K

$13.50 CLP 12.6K

1.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.91 CLP 20.4K

$22.10 CLP 20.6K

-0.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.09 CLP 35.4K

$34.69 CLP 32.3K

9.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.35 CLP 19.9K

$21.33 CLP 19.8K

0.09%

Cinema Ticket

$5.82 CLP 5,414

$6.61 CLP 6,149

-11.95%

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

$443 CLP 412.5K

$439 CLP 408.8K

0.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,743 CLP 8.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.5 CLP 47.9K

$54.5 CLP 50.7K

-5.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.75 CLP 27.7K

$33.47 CLP 31.1K

-11.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.8 CLP 56.5K

$77.0 CLP 71.7K

-21.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.2 CLP 76.4K

$85.7 CLP 79.7K

-4.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$346 CLP 322.1K

$515 CLP 479.0K

-32.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$370 CLP 344.4K

$467 CLP 434.3K

-20.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$851 CLP 791.9K

$1,016 CLP 944.9K

-16.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$597 CLP 555.2K

$897 CLP 835.0K

-33.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,455 CLP 1.4M

$2,749 CLP 2.6M

-47.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,265 CLP 1.2M

$2,714 CLP 2.5M

-53.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,184 CLP 1.1M

$797 CLP 741.4K

48.56%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Santiago: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $346 in Calama and $515 in Santiago. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calama pays 49% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $33.00 in Calama vs $53.0 in Santiago for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $229 vs $241 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 15% 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.

Average pay runs 49% 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: $346 in Calama versus $515 in Santiago. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Santiago. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,095 per month in Calama versus $1,256 in Santiago – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,095 in Calama versus $1,256 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 15% less than in Santiago. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.