🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,041 in Chillan versus $1,472 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,531 in Chillan versus $2,359 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,020 in Chillan versus $3,245 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Chillan costs roughly 29% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Chillan is 22% below, Mexico City is 11% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chillan
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.49CLP 5,104
$13.14MX$227
-58.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.86CLP 25.0K
$53.5MX$926
-49.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.17CLP 5,737
$9.33MX$161
-33.87%
Cappuccino
$2.96CLP 2,754
$3.70MX$64.0
-20.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92CLP 853
$1.60MX$27.76
-42.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94CLP 877
$1.12MX$19.34
-16.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.60CLP 3,349
$3.14MX$54.3
14.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.24CLP 3,942
$4.85MX$83.9
-12.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chillan
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10CLP 1,025
$1.65MX$28.61
-33.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.76CLP 1,640
$2.71MX$46.96
-35.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91CLP 1,777
$1.91MX$33.03
-
Eggs
$3.91CLP 3,636
$2.59MX$44.81
50.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.75CLP 7,210
$9.81MX$170
-21.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.72CLP 6,257
$8.43MX$146
-20.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.94CLP 10.2K
$11.93MX$206
-8.30%
Apples(1kg)
$1.87CLP 1,743
$2.95MX$51.1
-36.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.52CLP 1,413
$1.74MX$30.10
-12.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.54CLP 1,436
$2.04MX$35.38
-24.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.51CLP 1,408
$2.06MX$35.64
-26.70%
Potato(1kg)
$1.29CLP 1,200
$2.15MX$37.20
-40.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.42CLP 1,320
$2.26MX$39.02
-37.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.27CLP 1,180
$1.39MX$23.97
-8.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21CLP 1,130
$1.12MX$19.31
8.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.35CLP 4,982
$4.22MX$73.0
26.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.49CLP 3,251
$17.51MX$303
-80.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54CLP 1,434
$1.71MX$29.58
-9.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23CLP 2,072
$3.63MX$62.8
-38.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Chillan
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.67CLP 624
$0.35MX$6.10
91.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.32MX$334
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.51CLP 474
$1.38MX$23.80
-63.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.28MX$4.77
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$5.28MX$91.3
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35CLP 1,257
$1.36MX$23.50
-0.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.9KCLP 12.0M
$19.1KMX$330.5K
-32.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.8KCLP 14.7M
$23.6KMX$408.4K
-33.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chillan
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$134CLP 124.8K
$40.53MX$701
230.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.47CLP 12.5K
$27.38MX$474
-50.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.22CLP 22.5K
$30.38MX$526
-20.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chillan
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$16.76CLP 15.6K
$52.2MX$903
-67.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.91CLP 19.5K
$26.48MX$458
-21.03%
Cinema Ticket
$12.09CLP 11.2K
$6.19MX$107
95.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chillan
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$432CLP 402.0K
$425MX$7,355
1.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$10.7KMX$185.7K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chillan
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.6CLP 47.1K
$58.3MX$1,009
-13.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.90CLP 27.8K
$44.57MX$771
-32.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$50.5CLP 46.9K
$103MX$1,791
-51.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.4CLP 61.8K
$109MX$1,881
-38.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chillan
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$475CLP 441.9K
$1,014MX$17.5K
-53.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$380CLP 353.4K
$623MX$10.8K
-39.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$459CLP 426.8K
$2,119MX$36.7K
-78.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$585CLP 544.1K
$1,223MX$21.2K
-52.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,792MX$65.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,520CLP 2.3M
$2,110MX$36.5K
19.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chillan
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$698CLP 649.3K
$1,052MX$18.2K
-33.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.18
11.34
-54.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chillan: July 27, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $475 in Chillan and $1,014 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 51% 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: $27.00 in Chillan vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $219 vs $293 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 41% in total monthly costs ($1,041 vs $1,472 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 51% 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: $475 in Chillan versus $1,014 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 34% 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 $1,041 per month in Chillan versus $1,472 in Mexico City – a 41% 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 $1,041 in Chillan versus $1,472 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 41% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.