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: $1,071 in Calama versus $1,250 in Santiago.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,603 in Calama versus $2,011 in Santiago.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,136 in Calama versus $2,771 in Santiago.

Living in Calama costs roughly 14% less than in Santiago, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Calama 20% lower, Santiago 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.19 CLP 7,362

$10.98 CLP 9,868

-25.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.14 CLP 29.8K

$53.8 CLP 48.4K

-38.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 CLP 7,121

$8.29 CLP 7,452

-4.46%

Cappuccino

$2.14 CLP 1,920

$3.12 CLP 2,807

-31.41%

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

$0.94 CLP 846

$1.77 CLP 1,593

-46.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.95 CLP 854

$1.25 CLP 1,126

-24.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.16 CLP 2,839

$3.29 CLP 2,960

-3.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.07 CLP 3,659

$4.37 CLP 3,924

-6.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 CLP 1,109

$1.19 CLP 1,074

3.36%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 CLP 1,409

$1.57 CLP 1,408

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.94 CLP 1,747

$2.20 CLP 1,975

-11.82%

Eggs

$3.47 CLP 3,120

$4.12 CLP 3,705

-15.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.33 CLP 9,279

$10.51 CLP 9,444

-1.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.51 CLP 5,847

$6.73 CLP 6,052

-3.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.02 CLP 9,905

$11.09 CLP 9,967

-0.63%

Apples (1kg)

$1.83 CLP 1,647

$2.11 CLP 1,893

-13.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 CLP 1,371

$1.55 CLP 1,393

-1.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 CLP 1,370

$2.12 CLP 1,905

-28.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 CLP 1,345

$1.85 CLP 1,662

-18.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 CLP 1,149

$1.92 CLP 1,728

-33.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.41 CLP 1,269

$1.70 CLP 1,525

-17.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.27 CLP 1,137

$1.35 CLP 1,213

-5.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 CLP 1,050

$1.19 CLP 1,067

-1.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.26 CLP 4,727

$5.64 CLP 5,073

-6.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.06 CLP 5,445

$6.43 CLP 5,780

-5.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.56 CLP 1,403

$1.54 CLP 1,381

1.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 CLP 2,089

$2.59 CLP 2,325

-10.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 CLP 529

$0.92 CLP 829

-35.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.51 CLP 38.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.51 CLP 459

$0.47 CLP 419

8.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 CLP 1,327

$1.42 CLP 1,273

4.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.33 CLP 10.2K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.58 CLP 1,424

$1.44 CLP 1,291

9.72%

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

$19.3K CLP 17.3M

$19.2K CLP 17.3M

0.32%

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

$21.1K CLP 19.0M

$23.0K CLP 20.7M

-8.20%

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

$134 CLP 120.1K

$130 CLP 117.3K

2.45%

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

$13.39 CLP 12.0K

$13.75 CLP 12.4K

-2.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.23 CLP 20.0K

$22.14 CLP 19.9K

0.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.84 CLP 34.9K

$33.60 CLP 30.2K

15.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.27 CLP 19.1K

$21.36 CLP 19.2K

-0.42%

Cinema Ticket

$5.57 CLP 5,010

$6.59 CLP 5,920

-15.48%

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

$431 CLP 387.5K

$430 CLP 386.8K

0.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,655 CLP 7.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.0 CLP 45.0K

$55.9 CLP 50.2K

-10.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.88 CLP 26.9K

$32.34 CLP 29.1K

-7.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.3 CLP 55.1K

$75.7 CLP 68.0K

-18.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.1 CLP 74.7K

$83.4 CLP 75.0K

-0.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$356 CLP 320.1K

$505 CLP 453.8K

-29.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 CLP 338.2K

$461 CLP 414.0K

-18.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$847 CLP 761.6K

$985 CLP 885.2K

-13.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$599 CLP 537.9K

$921 CLP 828.0K

-35.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,473 CLP 1.3M

$2,787 CLP 2.5M

-47.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,322 CLP 1.2M

$2,837 CLP 2.5M

-53.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,175 CLP 1.1M

$856 CLP 769.5K

37.27%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Santiago: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $356 in Calama and $505 in Santiago. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calama pays 37% 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 $54.0 in Santiago for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $228 vs $243 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 17% 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 37% 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: $356 in Calama versus $505 in Santiago. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Santiago. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,071 per month in Calama versus $1,250 in Santiago – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,071 in Calama versus $1,250 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 17% less than in Santiago. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.