Cost of Living Comparison Between Concepcion and Calama Cost of Living Comparison Between Concepcion and Calama

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,053 in Concepcion versus $1,091 in Calama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,621 in Concepcion versus $1,592 in Calama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,188 in Concepcion versus $2,094 in Calama.

Living in Concepcion costs roughly 3% less than in Calama, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Concepcion 21% lower, Calama 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.61 CLP 6,758

$7.90 CLP 7,014

-3.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.94 CLP 39.9K

$33.27 CLP 29.5K

35.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.62 CLP 7,652

$8.03 CLP 7,127

7.35%

Cappuccino

$2.61 CLP 2,320

$2.14 CLP 1,897

21.96%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 CLP 1,268

$0.94 CLP 833

52.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 CLP 978

$0.96 CLP 850

14.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.94 CLP 3,493

$3.25 CLP 2,885

21.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 CLP 3,468

$4.05 CLP 3,599

-3.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 CLP 1,169

$1.17 CLP 1,042

12.82%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 CLP 1,322

$1.58 CLP 1,400

-5.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.53 CLP 1,358

$1.92 CLP 1,701

-20.31%

Eggs

$3.82 CLP 3,392

$3.57 CLP 3,172

7.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.56 CLP 10.3K

$10.62 CLP 9,424

8.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.79 CLP 6,030

$6.78 CLP 6,017

0.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.01 CLP 10.7K

$11.08 CLP 9,833

8.39%

Apples (1kg)

$1.58 CLP 1,406

$1.89 CLP 1,680

-16.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 CLP 1,192

$1.51 CLP 1,340

-11.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.54 CLP 1,363

$1.60 CLP 1,422

-3.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 CLP 1,357

$1.49 CLP 1,324

2.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 CLP 1,004

$1.28 CLP 1,140

-11.72%

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 CLP 1,202

$1.40 CLP 1,240

-3.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 CLP 997

$1.21 CLP 1,072

-7.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 CLP 1,074

$1.19 CLP 1,056

1.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.53 CLP 4,907

$5.34 CLP 4,742

3.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.38 CLP 4,774

$6.19 CLP 5,497

-13.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 CLP 932

$1.55 CLP 1,379

-32.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 CLP 1,609

$2.21 CLP 1,965

-18.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.61 CLP 542

$0.62 CLP 546

-1.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.11 CLP 30.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.26 CLP 1,116

$0.47 CLP 420

168.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.27 CLP 2,019

$1.52 CLP 1,345

49.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.08 CLP 11.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 CLP 1,217

$1.57 CLP 1,397

-12.74%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$20.4K CLP 18.1M

$19.7K CLP 17.5M

3.82%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.2K CLP 22.3M

$21.8K CLP 19.4M

15.30%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$104 CLP 92.7K

$132 CLP 116.9K

-20.70%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$12.85 CLP 11.4K

$13.64 CLP 12.1K

-5.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.54 CLP 24.4K

$22.20 CLP 19.7K

24.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.94 CLP 24.8K

$38.42 CLP 34.1K

-27.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.81 CLP 9,598

$20.96 CLP 18.6K

-48.43%

Cinema Ticket

$5.89 CLP 5,231

$5.76 CLP 5,113

2.26%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$342 CLP 303.6K

$433 CLP 383.9K

-20.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,579 CLP 4.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.62 CLP 39.6K

$50.5 CLP 44.8K

-11.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.82 CLP 24.7K

$30.42 CLP 27.0K

-8.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.2 CLP 53.5K

$61.2 CLP 54.3K

-1.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.1 CLP 61.3K

$83.1 CLP 73.7K

-16.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$466 CLP 413.9K

$356 CLP 316.0K

30.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$360 CLP 319.2K

$369 CLP 327.1K

-2.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$934 CLP 829.3K

$861 CLP 764.2K

8.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$592 CLP 525.2K

$604 CLP 535.7K

-1.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,294 CLP 2.0M

$1,542 CLP 1.4M

48.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,989 CLP 1.8M

$1,365 CLP 1.2M

45.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$582 CLP 516.7K

$1,240 CLP 1.1M

-53.05%

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 Calama: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $466 in Concepcion and $356 in Calama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calama pays 113% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $45.00 in Concepcion vs $33.00 in Calama. Groceries flip the comparison at $229 vs $231, with Concepcion cheaper for home cooking.

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 Calama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Concepcion wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Calama. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Concepcion the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Calama earns 113% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $466 in Concepcion versus $356 in Calama. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Calama. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,053 per month in Concepcion versus $1,091 in Calama – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,053 in Concepcion versus $1,091 in Calama, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Concepcion but tight or insufficient in Calama. The gap between the two cities makes Concepcion the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Concepcion gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Calama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.