Cost of Living Comparison Between Calama and Valdivia Cost of Living Comparison Between Calama and Valdivia

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $610 in Calama versus $1,021 in Valdivia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,222 in Calama versus $1,583 in Valdivia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,835 in Calama versus $2,145 in Valdivia.

Living in Calama costs roughly 40% less than in Valdivia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Calama 55% lower, Valdivia 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.23 CLP 6,899

$6.59 CLP 6,291

9.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.65 CLP 31.2K

$47.56 CLP 45.4K

-31.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.97 CLP 6,647

Cappuccino

$2.06 CLP 1,967

$2.11 CLP 2,010

-2.37%

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

$0.96 CLP 915

$2.06 CLP 1,962

-53.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 CLP 883

$1.27 CLP 1,214

-26.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.18 CLP 3,030

$3.62 CLP 3,450

-12.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.07 CLP 4,835

$3.61 CLP 3,442

40.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 CLP 1,065

$1.16 CLP 1,110

-3.45%

White Bread (500g)

$0.87 CLP 833

$1.32 CLP 1,259

-34.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.75 CLP 2,629

$1.58 CLP 1,511

74.05%

Eggs

$5.11 CLP 4,875

$3.14 CLP 2,992

62.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.57 CLP 9,136

$9.26 CLP 8,835

3.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.36 CLP 6,070

$6.50 CLP 6,201

-2.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.95 CLP 7,584

$13.07 CLP 12.5K

-39.17%

Apples (1kg)

$1.27 CLP 1,208

$2.16 CLP 2,058

-41.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 CLP 978

$1.97 CLP 1,877

-47.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.55 CLP 1,482

$1.79 CLP 1,704

-13.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 CLP 1,119

$1.84 CLP 1,755

-36.41%

Potato (1kg)

$0.90 CLP 859

$2.37 CLP 2,260

-62.03%

Onion (1kg)

$0.94 CLP 898

$1.54 CLP 1,466

-38.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.52 CLP 1,452

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 CLP 1,120

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.20 CLP 4,962

$5.24 CLP 5,004

-0.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.25 CLP 4,052

$4.62 CLP 4,405

-8.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 CLP 1,002

$1.57 CLP 1,499

-33.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 CLP 1,225

$2.16 CLP 2,063

-40.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 CLP 908

$0.59 CLP 559

61.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 CLP 971

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 CLP 1,467

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.56 CLP 1,485

$1.44 CLP 1,372

8.33%

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

$15.3K CLP 14.6M

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

$18.1K CLP 17.3M

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

$41.97 CLP 40.1K

$93.0 CLP 88.7K

-54.86%

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

$13.69 CLP 13.1K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.72 CLP 13.1K

$31.64 CLP 30.2K

-56.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.4 CLP 49.1K

$41.56 CLP 39.7K

23.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.56 CLP 19.6K

$24.21 CLP 23.1K

-15.08%

Cinema Ticket

$4.80 CLP 4,583

$4.73 CLP 4,514

1.48%

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

$317 CLP 302.9K

$249 CLP 237.2K

27.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,114 CLP 3.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.59 CLP 34.9K

$53.0 CLP 50.5K

-30.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.82 CLP 27.5K

$17.82 CLP 17.0K

61.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.61 CLP 45.4K

$50.3 CLP 48.0K

-5.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.3 CLP 59.4K

$77.4 CLP 73.8K

-19.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$340 CLP 324.6K

$592 CLP 565.3K

-42.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$107 CLP 101.6K

$384 CLP 366.4K

-72.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$851 CLP 812.0K

$994 CLP 948.5K

-14.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$637 CLP 607.8K

$564 CLP 537.8K

13.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,443 CLP 1.4M

$4,518 CLP 4.3M

-68.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,261 CLP 1.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,134 CLP 1.1M

$632 CLP 603.0K

79.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

11.11%

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

Last update for Calama: September 13, 2026

Last update for Valdivia: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $340 in Calama and $592 in Valdivia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calama pays 79% 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 $48.00 in Valdivia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $181 vs $234 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

Calama wins on cost – living expenses run 67% lower than in Valdivia. 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 79% 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: $340 in Calama versus $592 in Valdivia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 29% higher in Valdivia. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $610 per month in Calama versus $1,021 in Valdivia – a 67% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $610 in Calama versus $1,021 in Valdivia, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Calama but tight or insufficient in Valdivia. 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 67% less than in Valdivia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.