Cost of Living Comparison Between Chile and Australia Cost of Living Comparison Between Chile and Australia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,085 per month in Chile vs $2,182 in Australia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,657 per month in Chile vs $3,216 in Australia, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,228 per month in Chile vs $4,250 in Australia, rent included.

Chile is roughly 50% cheaper than Australia on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Chile sits 19% below the global median, while Australia is 63% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Australia has a wider regional cost range ($1,579$2,759) than Chile ($944$1,326), so location matters more when choosing where to live in Australia.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chile
Australia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.38 CLP 7,441
$16.17 A$22.54
-48.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.37 CLP 37.6K
$78.6 A$110
-46.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.73 CLP 6,865
$9.48 A$13.21
-18.46%
Cappuccino
$2.98 CLP 2,642
$3.56 A$4.96
-16.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 CLP 1,270
$2.60 A$3.62
-45.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 CLP 928
$2.21 A$3.08
-52.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.31 CLP 2,941
$6.47 A$9.02
-48.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 CLP 3,297
$7.19 A$10.02
-48.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chile
Australia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 CLP 1,083
$1.56 A$2.18
-21.79%
White Bread (500g)
$1.54 CLP 1,369
$2.53 A$3.53
-39.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.72 CLP 1,530
$2.02 A$2.82
-14.85%
Eggs
$3.63 CLP 3,219
$4.47 A$6.23
-18.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.36 CLP 9,193
$8.86 A$12.35
16.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.17 CLP 5,480
$8.38 A$11.68
-26.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.97 CLP 9,733
$13.71 A$19.10
-19.99%
Apples (1kg)
$1.90 CLP 1,685
$3.23 A$4.50
-41.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 CLP 1,482
$2.84 A$3.96
-41.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 CLP 1,663
$2.98 A$4.15
-37.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.78 CLP 1,576
$4.38 A$6.10
-59.36%
Potato (1kg)
$1.50 CLP 1,330
$2.45 A$3.41
-38.78%
Onion (1kg)
$1.55 CLP 1,376
$2.11 A$2.94
-26.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.25 CLP 1,107
$2.16 A$3.02
-42.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 CLP 1,107
$1.58 A$2.21
-20.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.28 CLP 4,689
$30.61 A$42.65
-82.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.47 CLP 4,853
$14.23 A$19.83
-61.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.49 CLP 1,325
$4.55 A$6.34
-67.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30 CLP 2,044
$4.91 A$6.84
-53.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Chile
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 CLP 737
$2.89 A$4.03
-71.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.73 CLP 37.0K
$97.5 A$136
-57.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.82 CLP 732
$3.54 A$4.94
-76.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.54 CLP 1,370
$1.75 A$2.43
-12.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.14 CLP 11.7K
$38.10 A$53.1
-65.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 CLP 1,273
$1.16 A$1.62
23.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.4K CLP 16.3M
$28.8K A$40.1K
-36.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.1K CLP 17.8M
$23.2K A$32.3K
-13.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chile
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$111 CLP 98.8K
$179 A$249
-37.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.38 CLP 11.0K
$26.75 A$37.27
-53.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.59 CLP 20.0K
$53.7 A$74.8
-57.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chile
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.74 CLP 31.7K
$48.44 A$67.5
-26.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.52 CLP 18.2K
$16.88 A$23.52
21.56%
Cinema Ticket
$5.77 CLP 5,120
$13.61 A$18.97
-57.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chile
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$385 CLP 341.5K
$1,605 A$2,236
-76.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,348 CLP 5.6M
$12.7K A$17.7K
-50.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chile
Australia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.14 CLP 42.7K
$71.4 A$99.5
-32.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.65 CLP 26.3K
$50.0 A$69.7
-40.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$64.9 CLP 57.6K
$99.8 A$139
-34.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.6 CLP 69.7K
$109 A$152
-27.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chile
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$458 CLP 406.6K
$1,385 A$1,930
-66.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$384 CLP 340.5K
$1,076 A$1,500
-64.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$816 CLP 724.6K
$2,284 A$3,183
-64.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$659 CLP 585.3K
$1,757 A$2,448
-62.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,488 CLP 2.2M
$7,462 A$10.4K
-66.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,283 CLP 2.0M
$5,617 A$7,827
-59.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chile
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$741 CLP 657.6K
$4,070 A$5,672
-81.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.09
6.35
-19.84%

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

Last update for Chile: June 2, 2026

Last update for Australia: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $475 in Chile vs $1,233 in Australia. For reference, capital cities sit at $519 in Santiago and $1,548 in Canberra.

Average salary: $755 in Chile vs $3,906 in Australia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 160% higher in Australia.

Dining out costs 79% more in Australia.

Public transport is 738% more expensive in Australia.

Salaries are 417% higher in Australia, giving Australia stronger purchasing power.

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 91% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Australia, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Australia consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Chile, contributing to the overall 91% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Australia or 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 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.

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