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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,068 per month in Concepcion vs $1,100 in Arica, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,620 per month in Concepcion vs $1,669 in Arica, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,173 per month in Concepcion vs $2,237 in Arica, rent included.

Concepcion is about 3% cheaper than Arica, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Concepcion and Arica are more affordable than the global median – Concepcion 20% lower, Arica 18% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Concepcion
Arica
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.72 CLP 7,184
$8.43 CLP 7,851
-8.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.34 CLP 42.2K
$44.30 CLP 41.3K
2.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.54 CLP 7,957
$8.20 CLP 7,635
4.15%
Cappuccino
$2.68 CLP 2,495
$2.71 CLP 2,521
-1.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 CLP 1,366
$1.30 CLP 1,210
13.08%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 CLP 1,017
$1.06 CLP 989
2.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.96 CLP 3,684
$3.29 CLP 3,065
20.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 CLP 3,588
$4.28 CLP 3,986
-10.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Concepcion
Arica
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.30 CLP 1,213
$1.19 CLP 1,104
9.24%
White Bread (500g)
$1.49 CLP 1,383
$1.50 CLP 1,401
-0.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.58 CLP 1,472
$1.85 CLP 1,723
-14.59%
Eggs
$3.69 CLP 3,434
$3.50 CLP 3,260
5.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.65 CLP 10.8K
$10.31 CLP 9,599
13.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.89 CLP 6,416
$6.73 CLP 6,270
2.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.15 CLP 11.3K
$10.79 CLP 10.0K
12.60%
Apples (1kg)
$1.51 CLP 1,406
$1.89 CLP 1,759
-20.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.40 CLP 1,305
$1.57 CLP 1,465
-10.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.54 CLP 1,432
$1.60 CLP 1,492
-3.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.47 CLP 1,370
$1.50 CLP 1,394
-2.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.10 CLP 1,021
$1.24 CLP 1,158
-11.29%
Onion (1kg)
$1.29 CLP 1,205
$1.36 CLP 1,269
-5.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 CLP 1,094
$1.22 CLP 1,136
-3.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 CLP 1,131
$1.23 CLP 1,146
-1.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.44 CLP 5,068
$5.27 CLP 4,904
3.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.05 CLP 4,707
$6.39 CLP 5,946
-20.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 CLP 970
$1.54 CLP 1,431
-32.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84 CLP 1,716
$2.32 CLP 2,161
-20.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Concepcion
Arica
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.63 CLP 582
$0.58 CLP 537
8.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.17 CLP 31.8K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.25 CLP 1,168
$0.51 CLP 471
145.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.31 CLP 2,152
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.70 CLP 11.8K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 CLP 1,262
$1.38 CLP 1,286
-1.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K CLP 19.3M
$19.7K CLP 18.4M
4.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K CLP 23.4M
$21.5K CLP 20.0M
16.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Concepcion
Arica
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$101 CLP 94.2K
$134 CLP 125.1K
-24.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.74 CLP 11.9K
$13.49 CLP 12.6K
-5.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.42 CLP 26.5K
$22.09 CLP 20.6K
28.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Concepcion
Arica
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.38 CLP 25.5K
$38.36 CLP 35.7K
-28.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.57 CLP 9,845
$21.43 CLP 20.0K
-50.68%
Cinema Ticket
$6.06 CLP 5,638
$5.81 CLP 5,410
4.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Concepcion
Arica
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$339 CLP 315.9K
$435 CLP 404.7K
-21.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,503 CLP 4.2M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Concepcion
Arica
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.96 CLP 40.9K
$50.6 CLP 47.1K
-13.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.87 CLP 26.0K
$30.88 CLP 28.8K
-9.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$60.0 CLP 55.9K
$56.2 CLP 52.3K
6.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.7 CLP 64.9K
$83.9 CLP 78.2K
-17.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Concepcion
Arica
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$476 CLP 443.5K
$481 CLP 448.4K
-1.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$352 CLP 327.4K
$366 CLP 340.9K
-3.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$938 CLP 873.4K
$875 CLP 815.2K
7.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$596 CLP 554.9K
$582 CLP 542.4K
2.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,176 CLP 2.0M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,878 CLP 1.7M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Concepcion
Arica
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$553 CLP 514.8K
$537 CLP 499.7K
3.02%
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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Arica: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Concepcion versus $481 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 3% 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 $44.00 in Arica. Groceries tell a different story – $228 in Concepcion vs $229 in Arica – so Concepcion 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 in Arica compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,068 in Concepcion, $1,100 in Arica – roughly 3% 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 $1,602 per month in Concepcion and $1,651 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 $44.00 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?
Groceries cost about 0% more in Arica, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
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 $1,068, than in Arica at $1,100. 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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