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: $1,085 in Chile versus $968 in Argentina.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,657 in Chile versus $1,579 in Argentina.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,228 in Chile versus $2,189 in Argentina.

Living in Chile is roughly 12% more expensive than 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 $597 to $1,412, compared to $944$1,326 in Chile. City choice carries more weight in Argentina.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chile
Argentina
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.38 CLP 7,441
$12.01 ARS 17.1K
-30.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.37 CLP 37.6K
$50.1 ARS 71.5K
-15.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.73 CLP 6,865
$10.03 ARS 14.3K
-22.93%
Cappuccino
$2.98 CLP 2,642
$3.43 ARS 4,890
-13.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 CLP 1,270
$1.96 ARS 2,791
-27.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 CLP 928
$1.46 ARS 2,087
-28.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.31 CLP 2,941
$2.96 ARS 4,217
11.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 CLP 3,297
$3.01 ARS 4,299
23.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chile
Argentina
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 CLP 1,083
$1.38 ARS 1,974
-11.59%
White Bread (500g)
$1.54 CLP 1,369
$1.99 ARS 2,840
-22.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.72 CLP 1,530
$2.04 ARS 2,904
-15.69%
Eggs
$3.63 CLP 3,219
$2.70 ARS 3,857
34.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.36 CLP 9,193
$9.98 ARS 14.2K
3.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.17 CLP 5,480
$6.82 ARS 9,727
-9.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.97 CLP 9,733
$8.69 ARS 12.4K
26.24%
Apples (1kg)
$1.90 CLP 1,685
$2.17 ARS 3,092
-12.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 CLP 1,482
$2.01 ARS 2,869
-16.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 CLP 1,663
$1.36 ARS 1,937
37.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.78 CLP 1,576
$2.48 ARS 3,533
-28.23%
Potato (1kg)
$1.50 CLP 1,330
$1.30 ARS 1,849
15.38%
Onion (1kg)
$1.55 CLP 1,376
$1.24 ARS 1,772
25.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.25 CLP 1,107
$1.53 ARS 2,182
-18.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 CLP 1,107
$1.48 ARS 2,106
-15.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.28 CLP 4,689
$2.95 ARS 4,201
78.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.47 CLP 4,853
$4.86 ARS 6,927
12.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.49 CLP 1,325
$1.88 ARS 2,678
-20.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30 CLP 2,044
$2.99 ARS 4,268
-23.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Chile
Argentina
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 CLP 737
$0.78 ARS 1,114
6.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.73 CLP 37.0K
$20.92 ARS 29.8K
99.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.82 CLP 732
$1.53 ARS 2,181
-46.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.54 CLP 1,370
$0.97 ARS 1,389
58.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.14 CLP 11.7K
$5.88 ARS 8,388
123.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 CLP 1,273
$1.12 ARS 1,604
27.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.4K CLP 16.3M
$24.6K ARS 35.0M
-25.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.1K CLP 17.8M
$30.3K ARS 43.2M
-33.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chile
Argentina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$111 CLP 98.8K
$85.0 ARS 121.2K
31.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.38 CLP 11.0K
$16.93 ARS 24.1K
-26.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.59 CLP 20.0K
$23.33 ARS 33.3K
-3.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chile
Argentina
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.74 CLP 31.7K
$30.26 ARS 43.2K
18.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.52 CLP 18.2K
$13.40 ARS 19.1K
53.13%
Cinema Ticket
$5.77 CLP 5,120
$7.02 ARS 10.0K
-17.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chile
Argentina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$385 CLP 341.5K
$255 ARS 363.3K
51.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,348 CLP 5.6M
$3,767 ARS 5.4M
68.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chile
Argentina
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.14 CLP 42.7K
$97.2 ARS 138.6K
-50.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.65 CLP 26.3K
$77.8 ARS 110.9K
-61.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$64.9 CLP 57.6K
$121 ARS 173.2K
-46.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.6 CLP 69.7K
$119 ARS 170.1K
-34.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chile
Argentina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$458 CLP 406.6K
$483 ARS 688.6K
-5.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$384 CLP 340.5K
$330 ARS 470.6K
16.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$816 CLP 724.6K
$888 ARS 1.3M
-8.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$659 CLP 585.3K
$633 ARS 902.3K
4.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,488 CLP 2.2M
$2,078 ARS 3.0M
19.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,283 CLP 2.0M
$1,376 ARS 2.0M
65.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chile
Argentina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$741 CLP 657.6K
$737 ARS 1.1M
0.52%
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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Argentina: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $475 in Chile, $352 in Argentina. Capital cities: $519 in Santiago vs $658 in Buenos Aires.

National salary averages: $755 in Chile, $722 in Argentina. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 35% 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 $1,005 per month in Argentina and $1,135 in Chile, there's a 13% 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?
Argentina is simply cheaper day-to-day: 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 beats 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 Chile?
In Argentina, $1,500 covers most cities easily. In Chile, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Argentina or 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.

Chile vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar countries