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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $805 per month in Chile vs $2,538 in Australia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,259 per month in Chile vs $3,664 in Australia, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,713 per month in Chile vs $4,789 in Australia, rent included.

The cost of living in Chile is roughly 68% lower than in Australia on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Chile sits 41% below the global median, while Australia is 85% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chile
Australia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.68 CLP 8,133
$18.15 A$25.32
-52.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.45 CLP 44.5K
$87.3 A$122
-45.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.82 CLP 7,331
$11.04 A$15.41
-29.17%
Cappuccino
$2.97 CLP 2,785
$4.01 A$5.59
-25.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 CLP 1,281
$2.97 A$4.15
-53.87%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 CLP 980
$2.38 A$3.33
-55.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.69 CLP 3,461
$7.91 A$11.03
-53.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.26 CLP 3,991
$7.96 A$11.11
-46.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chile
Australia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.25 CLP 1,170
$1.83 A$2.55
-31.69%
White Bread (500g)
$1.64 CLP 1,538
$2.88 A$4.02
-43.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 CLP 1,461
$2.39 A$3.34
-34.73%
Eggs
$3.62 CLP 3,390
$5.19 A$7.24
-30.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.60 CLP 9,935
$9.94 A$13.88
6.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.31 CLP 5,914
$9.14 A$12.76
-30.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.40 CLP 10.7K
$15.28 A$21.32
-25.39%
Apples (1kg)
$1.90 CLP 1,784
$3.66 A$5.11
-48.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 CLP 1,562
$3.07 A$4.29
-45.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.66 CLP 1,560
$3.24 A$4.52
-48.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.70 CLP 1,595
$4.70 A$6.55
-63.83%
Potato (1kg)
$1.21 CLP 1,136
$2.90 A$4.04
-58.28%
Onion (1kg)
$1.45 CLP 1,354
$2.46 A$3.43
-41.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.24 CLP 1,162
$2.50 A$3.48
-50.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 CLP 1,161
$1.76 A$2.46
-29.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.47 CLP 5,123
$38.84 A$54.2
-85.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.48 CLP 5,140
$14.50 A$20.24
-62.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42 CLP 1,327
$4.92 A$6.87
-71.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20 CLP 2,059
$5.12 A$7.14
-57.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Chile
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 CLP 778
$2.95 A$4.12
-71.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.83 CLP 38.3K
$94.9 A$132
-56.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.84 CLP 789
$3.65 A$5.10
-76.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.20 CLP 1,128
$1.61 A$2.24
-25.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.43 CLP 11.6K
$40.79 A$56.9
-69.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 CLP 1,393
$1.30 A$1.81
14.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7K CLP 17.5M
$28.2K A$39.4K
-33.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K CLP 18.5M
$29.5K A$41.2K
-33.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chile
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$115 CLP 107.7K
$204 A$284
-43.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.76 CLP 12.0K
$29.50 A$41.17
-56.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.53 CLP 21.1K
$58.7 A$81.9
-61.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chile
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.96 CLP 34.6K
$57.3 A$80.0
-35.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.13 CLP 14.2K
$19.45 A$27.15
-22.21%
Cinema Ticket
$6.43 CLP 6,031
$15.70 A$21.91
-59.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chile
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$368 CLP 345.1K
$2,139 A$2,985
-82.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,920 CLP 6.5M
$18.4K A$25.7K
-62.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chile
Australia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.32 CLP 42.5K
$80.7 A$113
-43.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.19 CLP 26.4K
$57.5 A$80.2
-50.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$62.1 CLP 58.2K
$117 A$163
-46.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.6 CLP 70.8K
$128 A$178
-40.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chile
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$462 CLP 433.2K
$1,635 A$2,281
-71.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$354 CLP 331.8K
$1,289 A$1,799
-72.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$803 CLP 752.9K
$2,474 A$3,453
-67.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$623 CLP 584.1K
$1,961 A$2,736
-68.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,340 CLP 2.2M
$8,452 A$11.8K
-72.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,077 CLP 1.9M
$6,152 A$8,585
-66.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chile
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$686 CLP 642.8K
$4,067 A$5,675
-83.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.15
5.92
-13.01%

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

Last update for Chile: August 31, 2026

Last update for Australia: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $345 in Chile vs $1,423 in Australia. For reference, capital cities sit at $555 in Santiago and $1,824 in Canberra.

Average salary: $720 in Chile vs $3,932 in Australia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 312% higher in Australia.

Dining out costs 136% more in Australia.

Public transport is 789% more expensive in Australia.

Salaries are 446% higher in Australia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Australia.

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 238% 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 238% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
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.

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