Cost of Living Comparison Between Chile and Argentina Cost of Living Comparison Between Chile and Argentina

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,086 in Chile versus $966 in Argentina.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,656 in Chile versus $1,579 in Argentina.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,226 in Chile versus $2,191 in Argentina.

Living in Chile is roughly 12% more expensive than in Argentina on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Chile 19% lower, Argentina 28% lower.

Internal cost variation is higher in Argentina: monthly costs span $607 to $1,393, compared to $964$1,310 in Chile. City choice carries more weight in Argentina.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chile
Argentina
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.56 CLP 7,976
$12.19 ARS 18.0K
-29.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.53 CLP 39.6K
$49.73 ARS 73.5K
-14.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.42 CLP 6,911
$10.16 ARS 15.0K
-26.97%
Cappuccino
$2.94 CLP 2,742
$3.43 ARS 5,076
-14.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 CLP 1,340
$1.94 ARS 2,863
-25.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 CLP 983
$1.45 ARS 2,146
-26.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.21 CLP 2,991
$3.03 ARS 4,480
5.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 CLP 3,468
$3.01 ARS 4,444
23.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chile
Argentina
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 CLP 1,088
$1.37 ARS 2,022
-14.60%
White Bread (500g)
$1.54 CLP 1,430
$1.99 ARS 2,936
-22.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.79 CLP 1,663
$2.10 ARS 3,110
-14.76%
Eggs
$3.64 CLP 3,387
$2.70 ARS 3,988
34.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.65 CLP 9,921
$10.28 ARS 15.2K
3.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.04 CLP 5,624
$6.87 ARS 10.2K
-12.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.04 CLP 10.3K
$8.93 ARS 13.2K
23.63%
Apples (1kg)
$1.90 CLP 1,769
$2.17 ARS 3,209
-12.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 CLP 1,618
$2.02 ARS 2,981
-13.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 CLP 1,762
$1.36 ARS 2,008
38.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.79 CLP 1,665
$2.37 ARS 3,505
-24.47%
Potato (1kg)
$1.49 CLP 1,389
$1.29 ARS 1,912
15.50%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 CLP 1,408
$1.24 ARS 1,833
21.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.27 CLP 1,178
$1.58 ARS 2,332
-19.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 CLP 1,104
$1.47 ARS 2,166
-19.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.45 CLP 5,077
$3.02 ARS 4,468
80.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.40 CLP 5,029
$5.06 ARS 7,473
6.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50 CLP 1,393
$1.86 ARS 2,751
-19.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 CLP 2,106
$3.01 ARS 4,451
-24.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Chile
Argentina
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.82 CLP 765
$0.77 ARS 1,145
6.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.32 CLP 38.5K
$20.65 ARS 30.5K
100.10%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.88 CLP 824
$1.54 ARS 2,269
-42.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.54 CLP 1,437
$0.98 ARS 1,453
57.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.17 CLP 12.3K
$6.07 ARS 8,977
116.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 CLP 1,335
$1.08 ARS 1,601
32.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.3K CLP 17.1M
$24.6K ARS 36.4M
-25.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4K CLP 19.0M
$30.2K ARS 44.6M
-32.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chile
Argentina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$111 CLP 103.1K
$87.1 ARS 128.7K
27.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.66 CLP 11.8K
$17.18 ARS 25.4K
-26.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.59 CLP 21.0K
$22.86 ARS 33.8K
-1.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chile
Argentina
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.25 CLP 33.8K
$30.87 ARS 45.6K
17.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.05 CLP 18.7K
$13.43 ARS 19.9K
49.29%
Cinema Ticket
$5.71 CLP 5,317
$6.69 ARS 9,887
-14.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chile
Argentina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$379 CLP 353.0K
$249 ARS 368.3K
52.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,185 CLP 5.8M
$3,755 ARS 5.6M
64.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chile
Argentina
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.76 CLP 45.4K
$97.2 ARS 143.6K
-49.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.11 CLP 27.1K
$78.5 ARS 116.0K
-62.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$64.6 CLP 60.1K
$121 ARS 178.5K
-46.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.4 CLP 72.0K
$120 ARS 177.7K
-35.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chile
Argentina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$468 CLP 435.9K
$499 ARS 737.7K
-6.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$387 CLP 360.5K
$339 ARS 501.4K
14.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$846 CLP 788.2K
$893 ARS 1.3M
-5.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$678 CLP 631.6K
$613 ARS 906.7K
10.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,269 CLP 2.1M
$2,091 ARS 3.1M
8.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,982 CLP 1.8M
$1,398 ARS 2.1M
41.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chile
Argentina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$693 CLP 645.7K
$738 ARS 1.1M
-6.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.09
65.53
-92.23%

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

Last update for Chile: July 11, 2026

Last update for Argentina: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $472 in Chile, $352 in Argentina. Capital cities: $515 in Santiago vs $657 in Buenos Aires.

National salary averages: $716 in Chile, $727 in Argentina. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 34% higher in Chile.

Dining out costs 23% more in Chile.

Public transport is 60% more expensive in Chile.

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
Chile vs Argentina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Argentina and Chile?
At $1,000 per month in Argentina and $1,137 in Chile, there's a 14% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Argentina: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in Chile is consistently higher than in Argentina across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Argentina or in Chile?
In Argentina, $1,500 covers most cities easily; in Chile it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Argentina or to Chile?
It depends on what you're after: Argentina wins on affordability; Chile may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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