πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,047 in Chillan versus $1,447 in Mexico City.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,504 in Chillan versus $2,310 in Mexico City.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,961 in Chillan versus $3,174 in Mexico City.
πLiving in Chillan costs roughly 28% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Chillan is 22% below, Mexico City is 8% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Chillan
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.52CLPΒ 4,961
$12.98MX$223
-57.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.29CLPΒ 24.5K
$52.6MX$903
-48.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.30CLPΒ 5,661
$9.43MX$162
-33.19%
Cappuccino
$3.10CLPΒ 2,788
$3.57MX$61.3
-13.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94CLPΒ 847
$1.61MX$27.55
-41.61%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98CLPΒ 877
$1.15MX$19.81
-14.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.73CLPΒ 3,350
$3.15MX$54.0
18.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19CLPΒ 3,767
$4.86MX$83.4
-13.79%
π Groceries & Markets
Chillan
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14CLPΒ 1,027
$1.70MX$29.17
-32.94%
White Bread(500g)
$1.78CLPΒ 1,601
$2.64MX$45.23
-32.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85CLPΒ 1,666
$1.90MX$32.67
-2.63%
Eggs
$3.83CLPΒ 3,440
$2.54MX$43.62
50.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.66CLPΒ 6,884
$10.08MX$173
-24.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.79CLPΒ 6,101
$8.29MX$142
-18.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.93CLPΒ 9,822
$11.57MX$199
-5.53%
Apples(1kg)
$1.84CLPΒ 1,652
$3.03MX$52.0
-39.27%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51CLPΒ 1,360
$1.71MX$29.35
-11.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.60CLPΒ 1,434
$2.05MX$35.16
-21.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.46CLPΒ 1,314
$2.06MX$35.36
-29.13%
Potato(1kg)
$1.30CLPΒ 1,166
$2.06MX$35.43
-36.89%
Onion(1kg)
$1.35CLPΒ 1,216
$2.17MX$37.25
-37.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.27CLPΒ 1,140
$1.40MX$24.08
-9.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.22CLPΒ 1,092
$1.12MX$19.26
8.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.54CLPΒ 4,980
$4.29MX$73.7
29.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.48CLPΒ 3,123
$15.41MX$265
-77.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61CLPΒ 1,445
$1.67MX$28.74
-3.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22CLPΒ 1,997
$3.69MX$63.3
-39.84%
π Getting Around
Chillan
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.63CLPΒ 564
$0.38MX$6.55
65.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.06MX$327
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.47CLPΒ 426
$1.38MX$23.70
-65.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.28MX$4.74
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$5.42MX$92.9
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37CLPΒ 1,229
$1.28MX$21.98
7.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.6KCLPΒ 11.3M
$19.0KMX$325.8K
-33.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.4KCLPΒ 13.9M
$23.5KMX$402.7K
-34.25%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chillan
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$135CLPΒ 121.4K
$41.02MX$704
229.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.40CLPΒ 12.0K
$26.92MX$462
-50.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.46CLPΒ 22.0K
$29.69MX$510
-17.62%
π Sport & Entertainment
Chillan
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$16.19CLPΒ 14.5K
$52.3MX$898
-69.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.58CLPΒ 19.4K
$26.23MX$450
-17.73%
Cinema Ticket
$11.75CLPΒ 10.6K
$6.18MX$106
90.13%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Chillan
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$439CLPΒ 394.1K
$427MX$7,331
2.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$10.7KMX$183.6K
-
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Chillan
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.0CLPΒ 45.8K
$56.8MX$975
-10.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.24CLPΒ 27.2K
$44.83MX$769
-32.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$52.0CLPΒ 46.7K
$105MX$1,794
-50.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.3CLPΒ 61.4K
$106MX$1,819
-35.55%
π Accommodation & Living
Chillan
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487CLPΒ 437.9K
$995MX$17.1K
-51.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$373CLPΒ 335.4K
$621MX$10.7K
-39.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$463CLPΒ 416.5K
$2,126MX$36.5K
-78.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$597CLPΒ 536.6K
$1,254MX$21.5K
-52.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,903MX$67.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,621CLPΒ 2.4M
$2,096MX$36.0K
25.10%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Chillan
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$696CLPΒ 625.2K
$1,107MX$19.0K
-37.17%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $487 in Chillan and $995 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Mexico City pays 59% 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 $219 vs $288 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 38% in total monthly costs ($1,047 vs $1,447 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 59% 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: $487 in Chillan versus $995 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 $1,047 per month in Chillan versus $1,447 in Mexico City β a 38% 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 $1,047 in Chillan versus $1,447 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 38% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.