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: $719 in China versus $788 in Chile.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,147 in China versus $1,233 in Chile.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,574 in China versus $1,677 in Chile.

Living in China costs about 9% less than in Chile on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: China 47% lower, Chile 42% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
China
Chile
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.92 ¥19.58
$8.49 CLP 8,158
-65.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.23 ¥149
$47.52 CLP 45.6K
-53.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.13 ¥34.33
$7.60 CLP 7,304
-32.50%
Cappuccino
$2.99 ¥20.03
$2.97 CLP 2,855
0.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 ¥3.50
$1.37 CLP 1,321
-62.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 ¥1.87
$1.01 CLP 973
-72.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.05 ¥7.04
$3.76 CLP 3,611
-72.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 ¥15.17
$4.13 CLP 3,963
-45.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
Chile
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 ¥12.11
$1.17 CLP 1,126
54.70%
White Bread (500g)
$1.68 ¥11.23
$1.61 CLP 1,544
4.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.90 ¥6.05
$1.51 CLP 1,454
-40.40%
Eggs
$1.56 ¥10.43
$3.63 CLP 3,490
-57.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.24 ¥88.7
$10.47 CLP 10.1K
26.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.49 ¥23.39
$6.26 CLP 6,010
-44.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.23 ¥75.2
$10.87 CLP 10.4K
3.31%
Apples (1kg)
$1.86 ¥12.43
$1.86 CLP 1,786
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.26 ¥8.47
$1.65 CLP 1,583
-23.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 ¥10.22
$1.62 CLP 1,558
-5.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.26 ¥8.45
$1.60 CLP 1,536
-21.25%
Potato (1kg)
$0.73 ¥4.91
$1.16 CLP 1,118
-37.07%
Onion (1kg)
$0.88 ¥5.89
$1.45 CLP 1,396
-39.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.65 ¥4.33
$1.19 CLP 1,144
-45.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 ¥3.88
$1.16 CLP 1,115
-50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.71 ¥24.84
$5.19 CLP 4,989
-28.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.80 ¥79.0
$5.12 CLP 4,914
130.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 ¥5.69
$1.33 CLP 1,274
-36.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 ¥11.19
$2.16 CLP 2,077
-22.69%
🚌 Getting Around
China
Chile
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 ¥1.92
$0.75 CLP 722
-61.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.67 ¥152
$39.35 CLP 37.8K
-42.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.50 ¥10.07
$0.87 CLP 837
72.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.32
$1.22 CLP 1,176
-71.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.29 ¥48.83
$11.76 CLP 11.3K
-38.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 ¥8.18
$1.46 CLP 1,401
-16.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0K ¥127.2K
$17.9K CLP 17.2M
6.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.4K ¥116.2K
$19.2K CLP 18.5M
-9.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
Chile
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$54.0 ¥361
$114 CLP 109.2K
-52.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.41 ¥56.3
$12.27 CLP 11.8K
-31.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.82 ¥72.4
$22.20 CLP 21.3K
-51.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
Chile
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.41 ¥271
$35.95 CLP 34.5K
12.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.63 ¥98.0
$15.01 CLP 14.4K
-2.53%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60 ¥44.17
$6.24 CLP 5,990
5.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
Chile
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$452 ¥3,024
$352 CLP 338.6K
28.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.2K ¥128.8K
$6,593 CLP 6.3M
191.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
Chile
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.23 ¥296
$44.30 CLP 42.6K
-0.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.46 ¥237
$27.42 CLP 26.3K
29.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.7 ¥500
$59.7 CLP 57.4K
25.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.6 ¥526
$75.5 CLP 72.5K
4.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
Chile
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$394 ¥2,641
$452 CLP 434.1K
-12.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$243 ¥1,630
$342 CLP 328.8K
-28.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 ¥5,659
$791 CLP 759.7K
6.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$481 ¥3,220
$600 CLP 576.7K
-19.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,609 ¥30.9K
$2,284 CLP 2.2M
101.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,327 ¥15.6K
$2,016 CLP 1.9M
15.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
Chile
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,060 ¥7,098
$664 CLP 637.7K
59.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.47
5.15
-32.62%

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

Last update for China: September 14, 2026

Last update for Chile: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $294 in China, $339 in Chile. Capital cities: $985 in Beijing (Pekin) vs $574 in Santiago.

National salary averages: $867 in China, $700 in Chile. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 15% higher in Chile.

Dining out costs 67% more in Chile.

Public transport is 89% more expensive in China.

Salaries are 24% higher in China, and purchasing power comes out stronger in China.

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 $674 per month in Chile and $837 in China, there's a 24% 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?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Chile: 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 China is consistently higher than in Chile across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Chile or in China?
In Chile, $1,500 covers most cities easily; in China it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Chile or to China?
It depends on what you're after: Chile wins on affordability; China may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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