Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Concepcion and Arica

For one person, living is cheaper in Arica: $110 a month against $1,047 in Concepcion, rent and utilities included – about $11,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Concepcion
🇨🇱 Chile
$1,047
/mo nomad
Arica
🇨🇱 Chile
$110
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Concepcion and in Arica

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Concepcion and in Arica actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,047 per month in Concepcion vs $110 in Arica, rent included.

  • Concepcion $1,047
  • Arica $110

A couple spends around $1,640 per month in Concepcion vs $177 in Arica, rent included.

  • Concepcion $1,640
  • Arica $177

A family of three spends $2,234 per month in Concepcion vs $245 in Arica, rent included.

  • Concepcion $2,234
  • Arica $245

Concepcion costs about 851% more than Arica, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Concepcion and Arica are more affordable than the global median – Concepcion 23% lower, Arica 92% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Concepcion
Arica
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.18 CLP 7,070
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.34 CLP 45.6K
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.51 CLP 7,393
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.72 CLP 2,676
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 CLP 1,363
-
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04 CLP 1,026
$1.22 CLP 1,197
-14.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.88 CLP 3,818
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.64 CLP 3,579
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Concepcion
Arica
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.19 CLP 1,171
$0.99 CLP 977
20.20%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 CLP 1,434
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 CLP 1,483
-
-
Eggs
$3.48 CLP 3,426
-
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.93 CLP 10.8K
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.77 CLP 6,668
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.69 CLP 11.5K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$1.49 CLP 1,468
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.27 CLP 1,254
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$1.48 CLP 1,453
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$1.44 CLP 1,418
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.04 CLP 1,023
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.30 CLP 1,276
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.11 CLP 1,097
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 CLP 1,118
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.17 CLP 5,093
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$4.78 CLP 4,706
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.93 CLP 918
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71 CLP 1,683
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Concepcion
Arica
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.56 CLP 547
$0.75 CLP 739
-25.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.63 CLP 31.1K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.56 CLP 1,534
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 CLP 2,367
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.14 CLP 12.0K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 CLP 1,330
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.1K CLP 19.8M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.8K CLP 27.4M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Concepcion
Arica
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$117 CLP 115.0K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.97 CLP 15.7K
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.67 CLP 28.2K
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Concepcion
Arica
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.58 CLP 29.1K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.18 CLP 10.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.55 CLP 5,462
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Concepcion
Arica
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$314 CLP 309.2K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,280 CLP 4.2M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Concepcion
Arica
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.06 CLP 44.4K
$40.50 CLP 39.9K
11.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.66 CLP 21.3K
$20.06 CLP 19.7K
7.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$64.6 CLP 63.6K
$52.7 CLP 51.8K
22.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.3 CLP 63.3K
$91.8 CLP 90.3K
-29.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Concepcion
Arica
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$472 CLP 464.5K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$342 CLP 337.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$950 CLP 935.2K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$636 CLP 626.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,130 CLP 2.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,787 CLP 1.8M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Concepcion
Arica
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$549 CLP 540.3K
$501 CLP 493.0K
9.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.3
5
6.00%

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

Last update for Concepcion: October 17, 2026

Last update for Arica: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Concepcion
$342
Arica
- * 100%
Groceries & Markets
Concepcion
$218
Arica
$9.9 * 95.4% $208
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Concepcion
$161
Arica
- * 100%
Eating Out
Concepcion
$149
Arica
$4.9 * 96.7% $144
Clothing & Footwear
Concepcion
$88
Arica
$92 4.8% $4.2
Getting Around
Concepcion
$47
Arica
$3 * 93.7% $44
Sport & Entertainment
Concepcion
$41
Arica
- * 100%

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 10% higher in Concepcion, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

Good to know
🇨🇱 Concepcion
🇨🇱 Arica
🕒 Local time
09:29 9:29 AM
09:29 9:29 AM
Same time as Concepcion
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
217,537
202,131
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CLP – Chilean Peso Converter

Chilean Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 984 CLP (1,000 CLP = 1.02 USD). 1 EUR = 1,107 CLP (10,000 CLP = 9.04 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Concepcion Arica 2,060 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Concepcion
  • Arica

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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: $1,047 in Concepcion, $110 in Arica – roughly 851% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Concepcion compared to Arica?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,570 per month in Concepcion and $165 in Arica. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city is more expensive overall: Concepcion or Arica?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,047 in Concepcion and $110 in Arica. That's a gap of about 851%.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 2096% more in Concepcion, 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 Arica, where all-in costs run around $110, than in Concepcion at $1,047. In Arica it covers expenses comfortably, while in Concepcion it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Concepcion or Arica?
Families tend to lean toward Arica – 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 Arica. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Concepcion makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Concepcion vs other spots: cost of living compared

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