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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $711 in China versus $1,069 in Chile.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,131 in China versus $1,638 in Chile.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,550 in China versus $2,207 in Chile.

Living in China costs about 33% less than in Chile on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: China 47% lower, Chile 20% lower.

China ($525$1,220) and Chile ($549$1,304) have similar cost spreads. Where you settle within each country has roughly equal impact on the budget.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
China
Chile
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.75 ¥18.83
$8.88 CLP 7,893
-69.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.03 ¥165
$43.73 CLP 38.9K
-45.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.96 ¥33.95
$7.72 CLP 6,863
-35.75%
Cappuccino
$3.12 ¥21.37
$2.86 CLP 2,539
9.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ¥3.26
$1.38 CLP 1,223
-65.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 ¥1.84
$1.04 CLP 929
-74.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.98 ¥6.73
$3.17 CLP 2,819
-69.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 ¥14.69
$3.72 CLP 3,308
-42.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
Chile
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.83 ¥12.53
$1.23 CLP 1,094
48.78%
White Bread (500g)
$1.68 ¥11.54
$1.62 CLP 1,436
3.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.91 ¥6.21
$1.76 CLP 1,561
-48.30%
Eggs
$1.56 ¥10.66
$3.57 CLP 3,171
-56.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.97 ¥88.9
$10.44 CLP 9,281
24.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.25 ¥22.23
$6.07 CLP 5,400
-46.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.51 ¥72.0
$10.92 CLP 9,711
-3.75%
Apples (1kg)
$1.81 ¥12.41
$1.91 CLP 1,698
-5.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.30 ¥8.90
$1.73 CLP 1,540
-24.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.50 ¥10.26
$1.81 CLP 1,611
-17.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.15 ¥7.87
$1.71 CLP 1,524
-32.75%
Potato (1kg)
$0.76 ¥5.20
$1.44 CLP 1,281
-47.22%
Onion (1kg)
$0.89 ¥6.07
$1.55 CLP 1,380
-42.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.58 ¥3.97
$1.25 CLP 1,112
-53.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 ¥3.95
$1.21 CLP 1,073
-52.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.50 ¥23.95
$5.36 CLP 4,768
-34.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.55 ¥79.1
$5.68 CLP 5,048
103.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 ¥5.31
$1.49 CLP 1,326
-47.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 ¥11.03
$2.24 CLP 1,991
-28.13%
🚌 Getting Around
China
Chile
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.44 ¥3.01
$0.90 CLP 802
-51.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.15 ¥145
$40.50 CLP 36.0K
-47.78%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ¥9.35
$0.89 CLP 794
52.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.36 ¥2.44
$1.56 CLP 1,385
-76.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.61 ¥45.28
$12.73 CLP 11.3K
-48.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 ¥7.74
$1.43 CLP 1,271
-20.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7K ¥135.2K
$18.4K CLP 16.4M
7.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.1K ¥117.0K
$20.0K CLP 17.8M
-14.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
Chile
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$50.9 ¥349
$115 CLP 102.1K
-55.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.03 ¥68.7
$12.24 CLP 10.9K
-18.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.33 ¥77.6
$22.81 CLP 20.3K
-50.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
Chile
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.13 ¥275
$36.01 CLP 32.0K
11.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.97 ¥103
$19.94 CLP 17.7K
-24.92%
Cinema Ticket
$6.09 ¥41.74
$5.75 CLP 5,110
5.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
Chile
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$418 ¥2,860
$381 CLP 338.3K
9.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.3K ¥118.2K
$6,298 CLP 5.6M
174.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
Chile
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.40 ¥318
$47.41 CLP 42.2K
-2.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.92 ¥226
$28.87 CLP 25.7K
14.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.1 ¥487
$64.8 CLP 57.6K
9.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.9 ¥499
$78.3 CLP 69.6K
-6.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
Chile
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$438 ¥3,003
$474 CLP 421.5K
-7.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$259 ¥1,775
$387 CLP 344.0K
-33.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$926 ¥6,341
$847 CLP 753.1K
9.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$548 ¥3,754
$662 CLP 588.3K
-17.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,047 ¥34.6K
$2,365 CLP 2.1M
113.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,666 ¥18.3K
$2,121 CLP 1.9M
25.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
Chile
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,074 ¥7,357
$714 CLP 635.3K
50.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.06
5.09
-20.24%

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

Last update for China: April 26, 2026

Last update for Chile: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $286 in China, $474 in Chile. Capital cities: $886 in Beijing (Pekin) vs $512 in Santiago.

National salary averages: $834 in China, $745 in Chile. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 66% higher in Chile.

Dining out costs 105% more in Chile.

Public transport is 125% more expensive in China.

Salaries are 12% higher in China, giving China stronger purchasing power.

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
China vs Chile: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Chile and China?
At $927 per month in Chile and $873 in China, there's a 6% 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?
China is simply cheaper day-to-day: 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 Chile beats China across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget in Chile or China?
In China, $2,000 covers most cities easily. In Chile, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Chile or China?
It depends on what you're after. China wins on affordability; Chile may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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