🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $892 in Chillan versus $1,660 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,340 in Chillan versus $2,565 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,788 in Chillan versus $3,470 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Chillan costs roughly 46% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Chillan is 35% below, Mexico City is 21% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chillan
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.36CLP 5,117
$11.92MX$206
-55.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.44CLP 45.3K
$51.6MX$890
-8.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.19CLP 5,904
$11.41MX$197
-45.75%
Cappuccino
$3.43CLP 3,276
$3.99MX$68.9
-14.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13CLP 1,077
$1.66MX$28.61
-31.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93CLP 886
$1.33MX$22.87
-30.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.60CLP 1,528
$3.47MX$59.9
-53.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.75CLP 4,529
$5.90MX$102
-19.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chillan
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.13CLP 1,074
$1.88MX$32.36
-39.89%
White Bread(500g)
$1.65CLP 1,577
$3.25MX$56.1
-49.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.81CLP 1,724
$2.16MX$37.26
-16.20%
Eggs
$3.79CLP 3,617
$2.90MX$49.94
30.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.16CLP 6,830
$12.86MX$222
-44.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.67CLP 2,545
$10.05MX$173
-73.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.26CLP 7,883
$15.86MX$273
-47.92%
Apples(1kg)
$1.54CLP 1,472
$3.29MX$56.8
-53.19%
Banana(1kg)
$1.69CLP 1,617
$2.01MX$34.60
-15.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.24CLP 1,179
$2.20MX$37.93
-43.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.06CLP 1,016
$2.36MX$40.63
-55.08%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53CLP 1,455
$2.05MX$35.43
-25.37%
Onion(1kg)
$1.25CLP 1,197
$1.90MX$32.79
-34.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.05CLP 1,005
$1.61MX$27.68
-34.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.22CLP 1,169
$1.40MX$24.09
-12.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.67CLP 4,458
$5.46MX$94.2
-14.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.33CLP 3,182
$17.65MX$304
-81.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22CLP 1,165
$2.06MX$35.44
-40.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15CLP 2,050
$4.68MX$80.8
-54.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Chillan
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.61CLP 578
$0.34MX$5.84
79.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.95CLP 34.3K
$20.81MX$359
72.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.61CLP 582
$2.10MX$36.15
-70.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.15CLP 1,100
$0.56MX$9.64
105.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.65CLP 12.1K
$5.81MX$100
117.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.39CLP 1,326
$1.61MX$27.68
-13.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.2KCLP 11.6M
$22.8KMX$393.8K
-46.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.3KCLP 14.6M
$26.8KMX$461.2K
-42.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chillan
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$129CLP 123.4K
$65.2MX$1,124
98.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.27CLP 9,795
$30.09MX$519
-65.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.67CLP 22.6K
$37.18MX$641
-36.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chillan
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$15.92CLP 15.2K
$59.8MX$1,030
-73.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.97CLP 16.2K
$26.55MX$458
-36.08%
Cinema Ticket
$11.63CLP 11.1K
$7.04MX$121
65.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chillan
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$465MX$8,012
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$13.3KMX$228.9K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chillan
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.18CLP 35.5K
$75.9MX$1,308
-51.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.50CLP 17.7K
$56.0MX$965
-66.93%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$50.3CLP 48.0K
$112MX$1,929
-55.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.4CLP 61.5K
$121MX$2,078
-46.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chillan
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$317CLP 302.3K
$1,103MX$19.0K
-71.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$248CLP 236.6K
$721MX$12.4K
-65.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$458CLP 437.0K
$2,530MX$43.6K
-81.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$330CLP 315.3K
$1,293MX$22.3K
-74.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,475CLP 2.4M
$3,991MX$68.8K
-37.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,475CLP 2.4M
$2,090MX$36.0K
18.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chillan
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$693CLP 660.9K
$1,037MX$17.9K
-33.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
11.3
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chillan: September 14, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $317 in Chillan and $1,103 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 50% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Chillan vs $52.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $181 vs $345 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 in Mexico City?
Chillan and Mexico City differ by about 86% in total monthly costs ($892 vs $1,660 including rent). Chillan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 50% lower in Mexico City. 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 in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $317 in Chillan versus $1,103 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 91% 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 $892 per month in Chillan versus $1,660 in Mexico City – a 86% 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 $892 in Chillan versus $1,660 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 – 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 – expenses run 86% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.