For one person, living is cheaper in Chile: $1,054 a month against $2,542 in Australia, rent and utilities included – about $17,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chile and in Australia actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $1,054 per month in Chile vs $2,542 in Australia, rent included.
Chile $1,054
Australia $2,542
A couple spends around $1,637 per month in Chile vs $3,717 in Australia, rent included.
Chile $1,637
Australia $3,717
A family of three spends $2,219 per month in Chile vs $4,893 in Australia, rent included.
Chile $2,219
Australia $4,893
🌍
The cost of living in Chile is roughly 59% lower than in Australia on average.
📊
Chile sits 22% below the global median, while Australia is 88% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Chile
Australia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.38CLP 8,249
$17.16A$24.69
-51.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.37CLP 45.6K
$83.9A$121
-44.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.99CLP 6,884
$11.20A$16.12
-37.59%
Cappuccino
$2.87CLP 2,827
$3.92A$5.64
-26.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32CLP 1,295
$2.83A$4.07
-53.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03CLP 1,015
$2.30A$3.31
-55.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.65CLP 3,595
$7.68A$11.06
-52.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.01CLP 3,947
$8.25A$11.87
-51.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chile
Australia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.19CLP 1,172
$1.76A$2.53
-32.39%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62CLP 1,592
$2.77A$3.99
-41.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.52CLP 1,500
$2.19A$3.16
-30.59%
Eggs
$3.44CLP 3,385
$4.99A$7.18
-31.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.37CLP 10.2K
$9.94A$14.31
4.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.02CLP 5,930
$9.03A$12.99
-33.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.69CLP 10.5K
$15.25A$21.94
-29.90%
Apples(1kg)
$1.85CLP 1,821
$3.67A$5.28
-49.59%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66CLP 1,637
$3.05A$4.39
-45.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.58CLP 1,555
$3.12A$4.50
-49.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.66CLP 1,632
$4.56A$6.56
-63.60%
Potato(1kg)
$1.11CLP 1,089
$2.81A$4.04
-60.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.36CLP 1,339
$2.39A$3.44
-43.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17CLP 1,152
$2.35A$3.39
-50.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19CLP 1,173
$1.64A$2.36
-27.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.07CLP 4,993
$38.42A$55.3
-86.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.18CLP 5,103
$13.77A$19.82
-62.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37CLP 1,346
$4.69A$6.75
-70.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10CLP 2,066
$5.08A$7.31
-58.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Chile
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.76CLP 747
$2.72A$3.91
-72.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$38.03CLP 37.4K
$95.8A$138
-60.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.80CLP 789
$3.54A$5.10
-77.40%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.24CLP 1,223
$1.55A$2.23
-20.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.15CLP 12.0K
$40.00A$57.6
-69.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.42CLP 1,396
$1.30A$1.87
9.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCLP 17.3M
$28.2KA$40.5K
-37.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.5KCLP 19.2M
$28.5KA$40.9K
-31.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chile
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$114CLP 112.7K
$198A$285
-42.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.10CLP 11.9K
$28.75A$41.37
-57.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.34CLP 22.0K
$58.6A$84.4
-61.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chile
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.36CLP 34.8K
$56.7A$81.6
-37.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.48CLP 14.3K
$19.08A$27.46
-24.11%
Cinema Ticket
$6.23CLP 6,136
$15.02A$21.62
-58.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chile
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$343CLP 337.6K
$2,154A$3,099
-84.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,665CLP 6.6M
$17.9KA$25.8K
-62.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chile
Australia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.26CLP 42.6K
$78.0A$112
-44.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.90CLP 26.5K
$54.8A$78.8
-50.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$59.3CLP 58.3K
$112A$161
-47.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8CLP 70.7K
$124A$179
-42.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chile
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$437CLP 430.0K
$1,540A$2,215
-71.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$339CLP 333.9K
$1,222A$1,758
-72.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$750CLP 738.2K
$2,478A$3,566
-69.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$586CLP 576.4K
$1,930A$2,778
-69.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,302CLP 2.3M
$8,153A$11.7K
-71.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,993CLP 2.0M
$6,053A$8,711
-67.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chile
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$657CLP 646.3K
$3,944A$5,676
-83.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.15
5.93
-13.15%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chile: October 12, 2026
Last update for Australia: October 13, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Chile
$339 32.2%
Australia
$1.2K 48.1% ↑ 260%$883
🛒Groceries & Markets
Chile
$221 21%
Australia
$370 14.6% ↑ 67.1%$149
🍽Eating Out
Chile
$158 15%
Australia
$293 11.5% ↑ 85.5%$135
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chile
$149 14.1%
Australia
$286 11.2% ↑ 91.8%$137
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Chile
$91 8.6%
Australia
$166 6.5% ↑ 83.4%$76
🚌Getting Around
Chile
$48 4.6%
Australia
$118 4.6% ↑ 145%$70
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Chile
$48 4.5%
Australia
$87 3.4% ↑ 81.5%$39
🏠Accommodation & Living
Chile
$586 26.4%
Australia
$1.9K 39.5% ↑ 230%$1.3K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Chile
$518 23.3%
Australia
$841 17.2% ↑ 62.5%$324
🍽Eating Out
Chile
$546 24.6%
Australia
$1K 20.5% ↑ 83.9%$458
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chile
$161 7.3%
Australia
$314 6.4% ↑ 95.3%$153
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Chile
$201 9.1%
Australia
$369 7.5% ↑ 83.4%$168
🚌Getting Around
Chile
$98 4.4%
Australia
$241 4.9% ↑ 147%$144
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Chile
$110 5%
Australia
$193 3.9% ↑ 74.9%$82
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $331 in Chile vs $1,366 in Australia. For reference, capital cities sit at $559 in Santiago and $1,716 in Canberra.
💰Average salary: $699 in Chile vs $3,849 in Australia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 313% higher in Australia.
⭐Dining out costs 141% more in Australia.
⭐Public transport is 733% more expensive in Australia.
⭐Salaries are 451% higher in Australia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Australia.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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 Australia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Australia more expensive than Chile?
Chile is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 141% lower on average.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Australia: a central one-bedroom averages $1,366 versus $331 in Chile.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Chile, adding to the overall 141% price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Australia or in Chile?
$1,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Chile, but in Australia it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Australia or to Chile?
Chile is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.