Cost of Living Comparison Between Chile and China Cost of Living Comparison Between Chile and China

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $788 in Chile versus $719 in China.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,233 in Chile versus $1,147 in China.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,677 in Chile versus $1,574 in China.

Living in Chile is roughly 10% more expensive than in China on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Chile 42% lower, China 47% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chile
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.49 CLP 8,158
$2.92 ¥19.58
190.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.52 CLP 45.6K
$22.23 ¥149
113.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.60 CLP 7,304
$5.13 ¥34.33
48.15%
Cappuccino
$2.97 CLP 2,855
$2.99 ¥20.03
-0.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 CLP 1,321
$0.52 ¥3.50
163.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01 CLP 973
$0.28 ¥1.87
260.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.76 CLP 3,611
$1.05 ¥7.04
258.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.13 CLP 3,963
$2.26 ¥15.17
82.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chile
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 CLP 1,126
$1.81 ¥12.11
-35.36%
White Bread (500g)
$1.61 CLP 1,544
$1.68 ¥11.23
-4.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 CLP 1,454
$0.90 ¥6.05
67.78%
Eggs
$3.63 CLP 3,490
$1.56 ¥10.43
132.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.47 CLP 10.1K
$13.24 ¥88.7
-20.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.26 CLP 6,010
$3.49 ¥23.39
79.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.87 CLP 10.4K
$11.23 ¥75.2
-3.21%
Apples (1kg)
$1.86 CLP 1,786
$1.86 ¥12.43
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 CLP 1,583
$1.26 ¥8.47
30.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.62 CLP 1,558
$1.53 ¥10.22
5.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.60 CLP 1,536
$1.26 ¥8.45
26.98%
Potato (1kg)
$1.16 CLP 1,118
$0.73 ¥4.91
58.90%
Onion (1kg)
$1.45 CLP 1,396
$0.88 ¥5.89
64.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 CLP 1,144
$0.65 ¥4.33
83.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 CLP 1,115
$0.58 ¥3.88
100.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.19 CLP 4,989
$3.71 ¥24.84
39.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.12 CLP 4,914
$11.80 ¥79.0
-56.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 CLP 1,274
$0.85 ¥5.69
56.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16 CLP 2,077
$1.67 ¥11.19
29.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Chile
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.75 CLP 722
$0.29 ¥1.92
158.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.35 CLP 37.8K
$22.67 ¥152
73.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.87 CLP 837
$1.50 ¥10.07
-42.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.22 CLP 1,176
$0.35 ¥2.32
248.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.76 CLP 11.3K
$7.29 ¥48.83
61.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 CLP 1,401
$1.22 ¥8.18
19.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K CLP 17.2M
$19.0K ¥127.2K
-5.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.2K CLP 18.5M
$17.4K ¥116.2K
10.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chile
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$114 CLP 109.2K
$54.0 ¥361
110.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.27 CLP 11.8K
$8.41 ¥56.3
45.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.20 CLP 21.3K
$10.82 ¥72.4
105.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chile
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.95 CLP 34.5K
$40.41 ¥271
-11.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.01 CLP 14.4K
$14.63 ¥98.0
2.60%
Cinema Ticket
$6.24 CLP 5,990
$6.60 ¥44.17
-5.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chile
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$352 CLP 338.6K
$452 ¥3,024
-21.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,593 CLP 6.3M
$19.2K ¥128.8K
-65.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chile
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.30 CLP 42.6K
$44.23 ¥296
0.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.42 CLP 26.3K
$35.46 ¥237
-22.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$59.7 CLP 57.4K
$74.7 ¥500
-20.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.5 CLP 72.5K
$78.6 ¥526
-3.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chile
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$452 CLP 434.1K
$394 ¥2,641
14.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$342 CLP 328.8K
$243 ¥1,630
40.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$791 CLP 759.7K
$845 ¥5,659
-6.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$600 CLP 576.7K
$481 ¥3,220
24.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,284 CLP 2.2M
$4,609 ¥30.9K
-50.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,016 CLP 1.9M
$2,327 ¥15.6K
-13.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chile
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$664 CLP 637.7K
$1,060 ¥7,098
-37.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.15
3.47
48.41%

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

Last update for Chile: September 14, 2026

Last update for China: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $339 in Chile, $294 in China. Capital cities: $574 in Santiago vs $985 in Beijing (Pekin).

National salary averages: $700 in Chile, $867 in China. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 15% higher in Chile.

Dining out costs 67% more in Chile.

Public transport is 89% more expensive in China.

Salaries are 24% higher in China, and purchasing power comes out stronger in China.

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 China: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Chile and China?
At $674 per month in Chile and $837 in China, there's a 24% 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?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Chile: 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 China is consistently higher than in Chile 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 Chile or in China?
In Chile, $1,500 covers most cities easily; in China it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Chile or to China?
It depends on what you're after: Chile wins on affordability; China may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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