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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,086 per month in Chile vs $2,185 in Australia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,656 per month in Chile vs $3,220 in Australia, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,226 per month in Chile vs $4,254 in Australia, rent included.

The cost of living in Chile is roughly 50% lower than in Australia on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Chile sits 19% below the global median, while Australia is 64% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

The regional cost range is wider in Australia ($1,575$2,824) than in Chile ($964$1,310), so city choice matters more there.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chile
Australia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.56 CLP 7,976
$16.19 A$23.17
-47.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.53 CLP 39.6K
$77.1 A$110
-44.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.42 CLP 6,911
$9.47 A$13.56
-21.65%
Cappuccino
$2.94 CLP 2,742
$3.46 A$4.95
-15.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 CLP 1,340
$2.68 A$3.84
-46.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 CLP 983
$2.19 A$3.13
-51.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.21 CLP 2,991
$6.61 A$9.46
-51.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 CLP 3,468
$7.10 A$10.17
-47.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chile
Australia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 CLP 1,088
$1.55 A$2.22
-24.52%
White Bread (500g)
$1.54 CLP 1,430
$2.47 A$3.54
-37.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.79 CLP 1,663
$2.10 A$3.00
-14.76%
Eggs
$3.64 CLP 3,387
$4.24 A$6.07
-14.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.65 CLP 9,921
$8.57 A$12.27
24.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.04 CLP 5,624
$8.60 A$12.31
-29.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.04 CLP 10.3K
$13.81 A$19.78
-20.06%
Apples (1kg)
$1.90 CLP 1,769
$3.17 A$4.55
-40.06%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 CLP 1,618
$2.72 A$3.89
-36.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 CLP 1,762
$2.96 A$4.24
-36.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.79 CLP 1,665
$4.31 A$6.17
-58.47%
Potato (1kg)
$1.49 CLP 1,389
$2.47 A$3.53
-39.68%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 CLP 1,408
$2.10 A$3.00
-28.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.27 CLP 1,178
$2.19 A$3.14
-42.01%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 CLP 1,104
$1.53 A$2.19
-22.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.45 CLP 5,077
$31.29 A$44.80
-82.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.40 CLP 5,029
$13.94 A$19.96
-61.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50 CLP 1,393
$4.46 A$6.39
-66.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 CLP 2,106
$5.01 A$7.17
-54.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Chile
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.82 CLP 765
$3.00 A$4.30
-72.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.32 CLP 38.5K
$96.0 A$137
-56.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.88 CLP 824
$3.56 A$5.10
-75.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.54 CLP 1,437
$1.75 A$2.50
-12.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.17 CLP 12.3K
$37.88 A$54.2
-65.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 CLP 1,335
$1.15 A$1.65
24.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.3K CLP 17.1M
$29.4K A$42.0K
-37.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4K CLP 19.0M
$23.1K A$33.0K
-11.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chile
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$111 CLP 103.1K
$174 A$248
-36.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.66 CLP 11.8K
$26.88 A$38.49
-52.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.59 CLP 21.0K
$52.7 A$75.5
-57.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chile
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.25 CLP 33.8K
$47.69 A$68.3
-23.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.05 CLP 18.7K
$16.51 A$23.64
21.44%
Cinema Ticket
$5.71 CLP 5,317
$13.73 A$19.66
-58.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chile
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$379 CLP 353.0K
$1,555 A$2,226
-75.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,185 CLP 5.8M
$12.7K A$18.1K
-51.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chile
Australia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.76 CLP 45.4K
$69.6 A$99.6
-29.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.11 CLP 27.1K
$51.2 A$73.4
-43.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$64.6 CLP 60.1K
$102 A$145
-36.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.4 CLP 72.0K
$112 A$161
-31.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chile
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$468 CLP 435.9K
$1,359 A$1,946
-65.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$387 CLP 360.5K
$1,080 A$1,546
-64.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$846 CLP 788.2K
$2,300 A$3,294
-63.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$678 CLP 631.6K
$1,751 A$2,507
-61.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,269 CLP 2.1M
$7,618 A$10.9K
-70.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,982 CLP 1.8M
$5,762 A$8,249
-65.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chile
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$693 CLP 645.7K
$4,023 A$5,760
-82.77%
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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Australia: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $472 in Chile vs $1,231 in Australia. For reference, capital cities sit at $515 in Santiago and $1,549 in Canberra.

Average salary: $716 in Chile vs $3,775 in Australia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 161% higher in Australia.

Dining out costs 79% more in Australia.

Public transport is 738% more expensive in Australia.

Salaries are 427% 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 93% 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 93% 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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