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: $805 in Chile versus $1,175 in Argentina.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,259 in Chile versus $1,955 in Argentina.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,713 in Chile versus $2,735 in Argentina.

Living in Chile costs about 31% less than in Argentina on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Chile 41% lower, Argentina 14% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chile
Argentina
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.68 CLP 8,133
$14.54 ARS 22.0K
-40.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.45 CLP 44.5K
$55.5 ARS 83.8K
-14.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.82 CLP 7,331
$12.81 ARS 19.4K
-38.95%
Cappuccino
$2.97 CLP 2,785
$3.53 ARS 5,331
-15.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 CLP 1,281
$2.07 ARS 3,121
-33.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 CLP 980
$1.59 ARS 2,396
-33.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.69 CLP 3,461
$3.50 ARS 5,294
5.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.26 CLP 3,991
$4.11 ARS 6,207
3.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chile
Argentina
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.25 CLP 1,170
$1.42 ARS 2,150
-11.97%
White Bread (500g)
$1.64 CLP 1,538
$2.37 ARS 3,574
-30.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 CLP 1,461
$1.81 ARS 2,726
-13.81%
Eggs
$3.62 CLP 3,390
$2.58 ARS 3,902
40.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.60 CLP 9,935
$9.79 ARS 14.8K
8.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.31 CLP 5,914
$8.57 ARS 12.9K
-26.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.40 CLP 10.7K
$11.89 ARS 18.0K
-4.12%
Apples (1kg)
$1.90 CLP 1,784
$2.45 ARS 3,706
-22.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 CLP 1,562
$2.07 ARS 3,134
-19.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.66 CLP 1,560
$1.38 ARS 2,083
20.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.70 CLP 1,595
$2.39 ARS 3,609
-28.87%
Potato (1kg)
$1.21 CLP 1,136
$1.18 ARS 1,781
2.54%
Onion (1kg)
$1.45 CLP 1,354
$1.08 ARS 1,637
34.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.24 CLP 1,162
$1.50 ARS 2,271
-17.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 CLP 1,161
$1.57 ARS 2,370
-21.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.47 CLP 5,123
$4.17 ARS 6,293
31.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.48 CLP 5,140
$5.13 ARS 7,749
6.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42 CLP 1,327
$1.89 ARS 2,857
-24.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20 CLP 2,059
$2.91 ARS 4,399
-24.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Chile
Argentina
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 CLP 778
$1.02 ARS 1,545
-18.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.83 CLP 38.3K
$28.56 ARS 43.1K
42.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.84 CLP 789
$1.62 ARS 2,446
-48.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.20 CLP 1,128
$0.98 ARS 1,475
22.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.43 CLP 11.6K
$7.81 ARS 11.8K
59.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 CLP 1,393
$1.20 ARS 1,818
24.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7K CLP 17.5M
$26.6K ARS 40.1M
-29.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K CLP 18.5M
$33.1K ARS 50.0M
-40.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chile
Argentina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$115 CLP 107.7K
$135 ARS 203.8K
-14.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.76 CLP 12.0K
$17.55 ARS 26.5K
-27.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.53 CLP 21.1K
$25.99 ARS 39.3K
-13.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chile
Argentina
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.96 CLP 34.6K
$33.90 ARS 51.2K
9.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.13 CLP 14.2K
$18.91 ARS 28.6K
-19.99%
Cinema Ticket
$6.43 CLP 6,031
$9.98 ARS 15.1K
-35.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chile
Argentina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$368 CLP 345.1K
$333 ARS 502.7K
10.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,920 CLP 6.5M
$6,398 ARS 9.7M
8.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chile
Argentina
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.32 CLP 42.5K
$105 ARS 159.0K
-56.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.19 CLP 26.4K
$80.4 ARS 121.5K
-64.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$62.1 CLP 58.2K
$122 ARS 184.9K
-49.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.6 CLP 70.8K
$119 ARS 180.4K
-36.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chile
Argentina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$462 CLP 433.2K
$513 ARS 774.7K
-9.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$354 CLP 331.8K
$368 ARS 555.7K
-3.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$803 CLP 752.9K
$1,066 ARS 1.6M
-24.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$623 CLP 584.1K
$807 ARS 1.2M
-22.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,340 CLP 2.2M
$2,209 ARS 3.3M
5.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,077 CLP 1.9M
$1,448 ARS 2.2M
43.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chile
Argentina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$686 CLP 642.8K
$760 ARS 1.1M
-9.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.15
59.9
-91.40%

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

Last update for Chile: August 31, 2026

Last update for Argentina: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $345 in Chile, $469 in Argentina. Capital cities: $555 in Santiago vs $735 in Buenos Aires.

National salary averages: $720 in Chile, $760 in Argentina. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 36% higher in Argentina.

Dining out costs 39% more in Argentina.

Public transport is 125% 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 $1,266 per month in Argentina and $673 in Chile, there's a 88% 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 Chile: 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 Argentina is consistently higher than in Chile 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 Chile, $1,500 covers most cities easily; in Argentina 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: Chile wins on affordability; Argentina may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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