πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,023 in Chillan versus $1,484 in Mexico City.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,506 in Chillan versus $2,381 in Mexico City.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,990 in Chillan versus $3,278 in Mexico City.
πLiving in Chillan costs roughly 31% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Chillan is 24% below, Mexico City is 11% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Chillan
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.52CLPΒ 4,943
$12.98MX$226
-57.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.86CLPΒ 24.1K
$53.1MX$923
-49.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.14CLPΒ 5,497
$9.72MX$169
-36.83%
Cappuccino
$3.10CLPΒ 2,773
$3.75MX$65.2
-17.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96CLPΒ 857
$1.57MX$27.30
-38.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89CLPΒ 800
$1.13MX$19.64
-21.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.61CLPΒ 3,236
$3.18MX$55.3
13.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.11CLPΒ 3,678
$4.66MX$81.1
-11.80%
π Groceries & Markets
Chillan
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15CLPΒ 1,034
$1.62MX$28.21
-29.01%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77CLPΒ 1,582
$2.71MX$47.09
-34.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.90CLPΒ 1,705
$1.88MX$32.70
1.06%
Eggs
$3.74CLPΒ 3,350
$2.51MX$43.65
49.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.64CLPΒ 6,843
$10.08MX$175
-24.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.56CLPΒ 5,879
$8.29MX$144
-20.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.08CLPΒ 9,925
$11.94MX$208
-7.20%
Apples(1kg)
$1.87CLPΒ 1,671
$2.86MX$49.77
-34.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.52CLPΒ 1,361
$1.75MX$30.45
-13.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.58CLPΒ 1,411
$2.08MX$36.27
-24.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.44CLPΒ 1,293
$1.97MX$34.27
-26.90%
Potato(1kg)
$1.27CLPΒ 1,140
$2.16MX$37.58
-41.20%
Onion(1kg)
$1.35CLPΒ 1,213
$2.18MX$37.94
-38.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23CLPΒ 1,098
$1.39MX$24.20
-11.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.22CLPΒ 1,089
$1.12MX$19.57
8.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.37CLPΒ 4,813
$4.20MX$73.1
27.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.66CLPΒ 3,274
$14.25MX$248
-74.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.56CLPΒ 1,394
$1.76MX$30.68
-11.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29CLPΒ 2,054
$3.68MX$64.1
-37.77%
π Getting Around
Chillan
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.67CLPΒ 597
$0.39MX$6.71
71.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$18.66MX$325
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.50CLPΒ 450
$1.39MX$24.12
-64.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.30MX$5.29
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$5.42MX$94.3
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37CLPΒ 1,230
$1.35MX$23.50
1.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.5KCLPΒ 11.2M
$18.9KMX$328.6K
-33.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.8KCLPΒ 14.1M
$23.2KMX$402.8K
-31.92%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chillan
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$133CLPΒ 119.5K
$40.82MX$710
226.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.30CLPΒ 11.9K
$27.50MX$479
-51.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.58CLPΒ 22.0K
$30.38MX$529
-19.09%
π Sport & Entertainment
Chillan
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$16.61CLPΒ 14.9K
$53.4MX$930
-68.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.94CLPΒ 18.8K
$26.30MX$458
-20.38%
Cinema Ticket
$12.07CLPΒ 10.8K
$6.27MX$109
92.50%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Chillan
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$428CLPΒ 383.4K
$436MX$7,588
-1.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$10.5KMX$182.1K
-
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Chillan
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.6CLPΒ 46.2K
$56.8MX$988
-9.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.72CLPΒ 26.6K
$44.79MX$779
-33.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$50.2CLPΒ 44.9K
$103MX$1,789
-51.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.2CLPΒ 60.2K
$108MX$1,878
-37.70%
π Accommodation & Living
Chillan
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$484CLPΒ 433.7K
$1,000MX$17.4K
-51.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368CLPΒ 329.2K
$620MX$10.8K
-40.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$465CLPΒ 416.2K
$2,137MX$37.2K
-78.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$589CLPΒ 527.2K
$1,235MX$21.5K
-52.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,865MX$67.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,579CLPΒ 2.3M
$2,332MX$40.6K
10.60%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Chillan
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$732CLPΒ 655.9K
$1,067MX$18.6K
-31.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.18
11.34
-54.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chillan: April 27, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $484 in Chillan and $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Mexico City pays 46% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $27.00 in Chillan vs $53.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $218 vs $286 per month, with Chillan cheaper across the board.
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
Chillan vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Chillan and Mexico City?
Chillan and Mexico City differ by about 45% in total monthly costs ($1,023 vs $1,484 including rent). Chillan is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Mexico City earns 46% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Chillan and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $484 in Chillan versus $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 31% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Chillan or Mexico City?
All in, you'll spend $1,023 per month in Chillan versus $1,484 in Mexico City β a 45% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,023 in Chillan versus $1,484 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Chillan but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Chillan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Chillan and Mexico City?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Chillan or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Chillan gentler on the wallet β expenses run 45% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.