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: $1,068 in Concepcion versus $1,083 in Calama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,620 in Concepcion versus $1,617 in Calama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,173 in Concepcion versus $2,150 in Calama.

Living in Concepcion costs roughly 1% less than in Calama, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Concepcion 20% lower, Calama 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.72 CLP 7,184

$8.15 CLP 7,591

-5.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.34 CLP 42.2K

$33.33 CLP 31.0K

36.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.54 CLP 7,957

$7.90 CLP 7,356

8.10%

Cappuccino

$2.68 CLP 2,495

$2.11 CLP 1,963

27.01%

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

$1.47 CLP 1,366

$0.98 CLP 914

50.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.09 CLP 1,017

$0.93 CLP 865

17.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.96 CLP 3,684

$3.29 CLP 3,067

20.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 CLP 3,588

$4.15 CLP 3,862

-7.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 CLP 1,213

$1.23 CLP 1,148

5.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 CLP 1,383

$1.52 CLP 1,419

-1.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 CLP 1,472

$1.89 CLP 1,756

-16.40%

Eggs

$3.69 CLP 3,434

$3.51 CLP 3,267

5.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.65 CLP 10.8K

$10.63 CLP 9,897

9.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.89 CLP 6,416

$6.53 CLP 6,083

5.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.15 CLP 11.3K

$11.08 CLP 10.3K

9.66%

Apples (1kg)

$1.51 CLP 1,406

$1.90 CLP 1,766

-20.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 CLP 1,305

$1.51 CLP 1,404

-7.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.54 CLP 1,432

$1.52 CLP 1,419

1.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.47 CLP 1,370

$1.45 CLP 1,348

1.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.10 CLP 1,021

$1.24 CLP 1,153

-11.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.29 CLP 1,205

$1.39 CLP 1,297

-7.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 CLP 1,094

$1.22 CLP 1,141

-3.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 CLP 1,131

$1.17 CLP 1,091

3.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.44 CLP 5,068

$5.28 CLP 4,921

3.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.05 CLP 4,707

$5.92 CLP 5,512

-14.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 CLP 970

$1.60 CLP 1,487

-35.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 CLP 1,716

$2.22 CLP 2,071

-17.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.63 CLP 582

$0.59 CLP 548

6.78%

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

$1.53 CLP 1,420

50.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.70 CLP 11.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 CLP 1,262

$1.54 CLP 1,438

-11.69%

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

$20.7K CLP 19.3M

$19.6K CLP 18.3M

5.43%

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

$25.1K CLP 23.4M

$21.7K CLP 20.2M

15.58%

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

$101 CLP 94.2K

$131 CLP 121.7K

-22.59%

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

$12.74 CLP 11.9K

$13.71 CLP 12.8K

-7.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.42 CLP 26.5K

$22.29 CLP 20.8K

27.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.38 CLP 25.5K

$38.39 CLP 35.8K

-28.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.57 CLP 9,845

$21.55 CLP 20.1K

-50.95%

Cinema Ticket

$6.06 CLP 5,638

$5.70 CLP 5,309

6.32%

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

$339 CLP 315.9K

$432 CLP 402.4K

-21.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,503 CLP 4.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.96 CLP 40.9K

$50.6 CLP 47.1K

-13.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.87 CLP 26.0K

$30.49 CLP 28.4K

-8.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.0 CLP 55.9K

$62.8 CLP 58.5K

-4.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 CLP 64.9K

$82.9 CLP 77.1K

-15.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 CLP 443.5K

$352 CLP 327.5K

35.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$352 CLP 327.4K

$378 CLP 351.8K

-6.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$938 CLP 873.4K

$847 CLP 788.6K

10.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$596 CLP 554.9K

$590 CLP 549.4K

1.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,176 CLP 2.0M

$1,467 CLP 1.4M

48.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,878 CLP 1.7M

$1,276 CLP 1.2M

47.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$553 CLP 514.8K

$1,160 CLP 1.1M

-52.32%

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 Calama: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Concepcion and $352 in Calama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calama pays 110% 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 $228 vs $229, 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 1% 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, salaries run 110% lower in Calama. 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: $476 in Concepcion versus $352 in Calama. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 0% higher in Calama. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,068 per month in Concepcion versus $1,083 in Calama – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,068 in Concepcion versus $1,083 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 1% less than in Calama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.