Cost of Living Comparison Between Concepcion and Arica Cost of Living Comparison Between Concepcion and Arica

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,053 per month in Concepcion vs $1,079 in Arica, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,621 per month in Concepcion vs $1,659 in Arica, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Concepcion vs $2,239 in Arica, rent included.

Concepcion is about 2% cheaper than Arica, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Concepcion and Arica are more affordable than the global median – Concepcion 21% lower, Arica 19% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Concepcion
Arica
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.61 CLP 6,812
$8.42 CLP 7,537
-9.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.94 CLP 40.2K
$44.91 CLP 40.2K
0.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.62 CLP 7,714
$8.10 CLP 7,249
6.42%
Cappuccino
$2.61 CLP 2,339
$2.72 CLP 2,434
-4.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 CLP 1,278
$1.30 CLP 1,159
10.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 CLP 986
$1.07 CLP 957
2.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.94 CLP 3,522
$3.19 CLP 2,855
23.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 CLP 3,496
$4.06 CLP 3,634
-3.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Concepcion
Arica
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.32 CLP 1,179
$1.20 CLP 1,073
10.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.49 CLP 1,332
$1.49 CLP 1,337
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.53 CLP 1,369
$1.86 CLP 1,667
-17.74%
Eggs
$3.82 CLP 3,419
$3.50 CLP 3,128
9.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.56 CLP 10.3K
$10.37 CLP 9,275
11.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.79 CLP 6,079
$6.55 CLP 5,858
3.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.01 CLP 10.7K
$10.79 CLP 9,651
11.31%
Apples (1kg)
$1.58 CLP 1,418
$1.80 CLP 1,606
-12.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.34 CLP 1,201
$1.57 CLP 1,401
-14.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.54 CLP 1,374
$1.57 CLP 1,405
-1.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.53 CLP 1,368
$1.50 CLP 1,342
2.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 CLP 1,012
$1.29 CLP 1,152
-12.40%
Onion (1kg)
$1.35 CLP 1,212
$1.40 CLP 1,256
-3.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 CLP 1,005
$1.23 CLP 1,099
-8.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 CLP 1,083
$1.17 CLP 1,045
3.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.53 CLP 4,946
$5.55 CLP 4,963
-0.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.38 CLP 4,812
$5.27 CLP 4,719
2.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.05 CLP 940
$1.62 CLP 1,447
-35.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 CLP 1,622
$2.30 CLP 2,060
-21.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Concepcion
Arica
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.61 CLP 546
$0.62 CLP 559
-1.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.11 CLP 30.5K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.26 CLP 1,125
$0.50 CLP 451
152.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.27 CLP 2,035
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.08 CLP 11.7K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 CLP 1,227
$1.39 CLP 1,242
-1.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.4K CLP 18.3M
$19.4K CLP 17.4M
5.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K CLP 22.5M
$21.4K CLP 19.1M
17.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Concepcion
Arica
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$104 CLP 93.4K
$132 CLP 118.3K
-21.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.85 CLP 11.5K
$13.47 CLP 12.1K
-4.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.54 CLP 24.6K
$22.22 CLP 19.9K
23.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Concepcion
Arica
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.94 CLP 25.0K
$38.02 CLP 34.0K
-26.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.81 CLP 9,675
$21.58 CLP 19.3K
-49.91%
Cinema Ticket
$5.89 CLP 5,273
$5.56 CLP 4,974
5.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Concepcion
Arica
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$342 CLP 306.0K
$431 CLP 385.5K
-20.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,579 CLP 4.1M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Concepcion
Arica
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.62 CLP 39.9K
$49.70 CLP 44.5K
-10.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.82 CLP 24.9K
$30.13 CLP 27.0K
-7.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$60.2 CLP 53.9K
$56.2 CLP 50.3K
7.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.1 CLP 61.8K
$80.8 CLP 72.3K
-14.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Concepcion
Arica
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$466 CLP 417.2K
$485 CLP 433.8K
-3.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$360 CLP 321.8K
$372 CLP 332.9K
-3.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$934 CLP 836.0K
$895 CLP 800.5K
4.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$592 CLP 529.4K
$605 CLP 540.9K
-2.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,294 CLP 2.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,989 CLP 1.8M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Concepcion
Arica
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$582 CLP 520.9K
$571 CLP 511.2K
1.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.3
5.18
2.32%

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

Last update for Concepcion: June 1, 2026

Last update for Arica: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $466 in Concepcion versus $485 in Arica. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 2% higher in Concepcion, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Concepcion versus $45.00 in Arica. Groceries tell a different story – $229 in Concepcion vs $226 in Arica – so Arica wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Concepcion vs Arica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Concepcion and Arica compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,053 in Concepcion, $1,079 in Arica – roughly 2% apart. Arica costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Concepcion compared to Arica?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,580 per month in Concepcion and $1,619 in Arica. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Concepcion and Arica?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Concepcion, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Concepcion and $45.00 in Arica. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Arica – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Concepcion, where all-in costs run around $1,053, than in Arica at $1,079. In Concepcion it covers expenses comfortably, while in Arica it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Concepcion or Arica?
Families tend to lean toward Concepcion – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How do I decide between Concepcion and Arica?
If budget matters most, go with Concepcion. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Arica makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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