πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,077 in Calama versus $1,066 in Valdivia.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,598 in Calama versus $1,624 in Valdivia.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,119 in Calama versus $2,182 in Valdivia.
πLiving in Calama is roughly 1% more expensive than Valdivia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Calama20% lower, Valdivia20% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Calama
Valdivia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.95CLPΒ 7,068
$6.34CLPΒ 5,641
25.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.74CLPΒ 30.0K
$42.66CLPΒ 37.9K
-20.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.75CLPΒ 6,890
$7.31CLPΒ 6,504
6.02%
Cappuccino
$2.20CLPΒ 1,959
$2.52CLPΒ 2,241
-12.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92CLPΒ 822
$2.44CLPΒ 2,167
-62.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95CLPΒ 847
$1.52CLPΒ 1,353
-37.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.31CLPΒ 2,948
$3.68CLPΒ 3,270
-10.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.06CLPΒ 3,612
$3.95CLPΒ 3,511
2.78%
π Groceries & Markets
Calama
Valdivia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.19CLPΒ 1,061
$1.23CLPΒ 1,095
-3.25%
White Bread(500g)
$1.55CLPΒ 1,379
$1.36CLPΒ 1,209
13.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.96CLPΒ 1,740
$1.62CLPΒ 1,444
20.99%
Eggs
$3.47CLPΒ 3,084
$3.13CLPΒ 2,780
10.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.29CLPΒ 9,147
$9.18CLPΒ 8,165
12.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.55CLPΒ 5,822
$6.89CLPΒ 6,122
-4.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.04CLPΒ 9,815
$13.28CLPΒ 11.8K
-16.87%
Apples(1kg)
$1.88CLPΒ 1,675
$2.23CLPΒ 1,980
-15.70%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50CLPΒ 1,334
$1.95CLPΒ 1,731
-23.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52CLPΒ 1,350
$1.89CLPΒ 1,678
-19.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.50CLPΒ 1,334
$1.88CLPΒ 1,673
-20.21%
Potato(1kg)
$1.28CLPΒ 1,142
$2.45CLPΒ 2,180
-47.76%
Onion(1kg)
$1.35CLPΒ 1,202
$1.63CLPΒ 1,447
-17.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.21CLPΒ 1,073
$1.56CLPΒ 1,388
-22.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.23CLPΒ 1,090
$1.20CLPΒ 1,069
2.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.53CLPΒ 4,917
$5.36CLPΒ 4,765
3.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.51CLPΒ 4,006
$5.00CLPΒ 4,442
-9.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59CLPΒ 1,414
$1.61CLPΒ 1,431
-1.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20CLPΒ 1,960
$2.24CLPΒ 1,988
-1.79%
π Getting Around
Calama
Valdivia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.58CLPΒ 515
$0.59CLPΒ 527
-1.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.50CLPΒ 447
$1.60CLPΒ 1,420
-68.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.53CLPΒ 1,363
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.53CLPΒ 1,356
$1.42CLPΒ 1,262
7.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.9KCLPΒ 17.7M
$15.9KCLPΒ 14.2M
25.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.1KCLPΒ 18.8M
$18.1KCLPΒ 16.1M
16.28%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Calama
Valdivia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$134CLPΒ 119.2K
$95.8CLPΒ 85.2K
39.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.69CLPΒ 12.2K
$18.76CLPΒ 16.7K
-27.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.18CLPΒ 19.7K
$28.57CLPΒ 25.4K
-22.37%
π Sport & Entertainment
Calama
Valdivia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.16CLPΒ 33.9K
$43.78CLPΒ 38.9K
-12.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.33CLPΒ 19.0K
$25.23CLPΒ 22.4K
-15.46%
Cinema Ticket
$5.68CLPΒ 5,055
$4.99CLPΒ 4,441
13.83%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Calama
Valdivia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$432CLPΒ 384.4K
$275CLPΒ 244.3K
57.31%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Calama
Valdivia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.1CLPΒ 44.5K
$54.8CLPΒ 48.8K
-8.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.74CLPΒ 26.4K
$19.05CLPΒ 16.9K
56.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$61.5CLPΒ 54.7K
$53.1CLPΒ 47.2K
15.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.5CLPΒ 73.3K
$82.0CLPΒ 72.9K
0.59%
π Accommodation & Living
Calama
Valdivia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$348CLPΒ 309.4K
$608CLPΒ 541.1K
-42.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$369CLPΒ 328.0K
$393CLPΒ 349.3K
-6.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$852CLPΒ 757.4K
$1,062CLPΒ 944.5K
-19.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$590CLPΒ 524.8K
$604CLPΒ 536.8K
-2.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,543CLPΒ 1.4M
$4,893CLPΒ 4.4M
-68.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,368CLPΒ 1.2M
-
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Calama
Valdivia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,213CLPΒ 1.1M
$687CLPΒ 611.2K
76.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.18
4.5
15.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Calama: April 26, 2026
Last update for Valdivia: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $348 in Calama and $608 in Valdivia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Calama pays 76% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $34.00 in Calama vs $43.00 in Valdivia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $225 vs $240 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 Valdivia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Calama or Valdivia?
Valdivia wins on cost β living expenses run 1% lower than in Calama. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Valdivia the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Calama or Valdivia?
Calama pays 76% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Calama vs Valdivia?
Rent for a central apartment: $348 in Calama versus $608 in Valdivia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Calama or Valdivia?
Shoppers in Calama pay roughly 7% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How much does it cost to live in Calama compared to Valdivia?
All in, you'll spend $1,077 per month in Calama versus $1,066 in Valdivia β a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Calama or Valdivia?
At $1,066 in Valdivia versus $1,077 in Calama, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Valdivia but tight or insufficient in Calama. The gap between the two cities makes Valdivia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Calama or Valdivia?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Valdivia gentler on the wallet β expenses run 1% less than in Calama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.