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: $1,095 in Calama versus $1,070 in Valdivia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,605 in Calama versus $1,636 in Valdivia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,115 in Calama versus $2,201 in Valdivia.

Living in Calama is roughly 2% more expensive than in Valdivia, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Calama 18% lower, Valdivia 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.17 CLP 7,599

$6.54 CLP 6,084

24.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.06 CLP 30.8K

$43.80 CLP 40.8K

-24.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.02 CLP 7,466

$7.19 CLP 6,690

11.54%

Cappuccino

$2.10 CLP 1,951

$2.53 CLP 2,355

-17.00%

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

$1.00 CLP 932

$2.40 CLP 2,233

-58.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.94 CLP 874

$1.54 CLP 1,433

-38.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.32 CLP 3,086

$3.82 CLP 3,551

-13.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.13 CLP 3,846

$4.12 CLP 3,834

0.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 CLP 1,140

$1.23 CLP 1,145

-0.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 CLP 1,409

$1.44 CLP 1,339

4.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 CLP 1,781

$1.70 CLP 1,579

12.35%

Eggs

$3.45 CLP 3,209

$3.10 CLP 2,882

11.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.61 CLP 9,869

$9.40 CLP 8,750

12.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.80 CLP 6,325

$6.87 CLP 6,397

-1.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.79 CLP 10.0K

$13.27 CLP 12.3K

-18.69%

Apples (1kg)

$1.83 CLP 1,698

$2.23 CLP 2,077

-17.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 CLP 1,463

$2.01 CLP 1,869

-21.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 CLP 1,493

$1.85 CLP 1,720

-13.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 CLP 1,355

$1.88 CLP 1,745

-22.34%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 CLP 1,188

$2.46 CLP 2,287

-47.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 CLP 1,300

$1.58 CLP 1,472

-11.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.21 CLP 1,127

$1.51 CLP 1,401

-19.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 CLP 1,092

$1.16 CLP 1,079

0.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.48 CLP 5,100

$5.36 CLP 4,988

2.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.75 CLP 5,348

$4.88 CLP 4,545

17.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.56 CLP 1,452

$1.54 CLP 1,437

1.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 CLP 2,164

$2.26 CLP 2,098

3.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 CLP 533

$0.55 CLP 513

3.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.51 CLP 472

$1.67 CLP 1,552

-69.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 CLP 1,356

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.59 CLP 1,481

$1.38 CLP 1,280

15.22%

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

$19.3K CLP 18.0M

$15.6K CLP 14.5M

24.05%

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

$21.4K CLP 19.9M

$18.0K CLP 16.7M

18.80%

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

$134 CLP 124.8K

$95.3 CLP 88.7K

40.76%

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

$13.74 CLP 12.8K

$18.78 CLP 17.5K

-26.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.91 CLP 20.4K

$29.28 CLP 27.2K

-25.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.09 CLP 35.4K

$43.25 CLP 40.2K

-11.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.35 CLP 19.9K

$24.37 CLP 22.7K

-12.39%

Cinema Ticket

$5.82 CLP 5,414

$4.81 CLP 4,479

21.00%

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

$443 CLP 412.5K

$270 CLP 251.4K

64.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.5 CLP 47.9K

$52.8 CLP 49.2K

-2.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.75 CLP 27.7K

$18.35 CLP 17.1K

62.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.8 CLP 56.5K

$52.8 CLP 49.1K

15.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.2 CLP 76.4K

$80.2 CLP 74.6K

2.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$346 CLP 322.1K

$610 CLP 567.5K

-43.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$370 CLP 344.4K

$384 CLP 357.5K

-3.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$851 CLP 791.9K

$1,041 CLP 968.9K

-18.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$597 CLP 555.2K

$597 CLP 555.8K

-0.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,455 CLP 1.4M

$4,601 CLP 4.3M

-68.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,265 CLP 1.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,184 CLP 1.1M

$656 CLP 610.5K

80.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.18

4.5

15.11%

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

Last update for Calama: July 26, 2026

Last update for Valdivia: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $346 in Calama and $610 in Valdivia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calama pays 80% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $33.00 in Calama vs $44.00 in Valdivia 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 Valdivia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Valdivia wins on cost – living expenses run 2% 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.

Average pay runs 80% 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 $610 in Valdivia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Calama pay roughly 5% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,095 per month in Calama versus $1,070 in Valdivia – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,070 in Valdivia versus $1,095 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.

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 Valdivia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Calama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.