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: $1,072 in Concepcion versus $623 in Calama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,685 in Concepcion versus $1,267 in Calama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,299 in Concepcion versus $1,912 in Calama.

Living in Concepcion is roughly 72% more expensive than in Calama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Concepcion 22% lower, Calama 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.43 CLP 6,990

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.17 CLP 45.3K

$33.77 CLP 31.8K

42.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.25 CLP 7,760

Cappuccino

$2.85 CLP 2,682

$2.12 CLP 1,994

34.43%

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

$1.49 CLP 1,403

$0.92 CLP 869

61.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 CLP 1,031

$0.94 CLP 880

17.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.96 CLP 3,729

$3.23 CLP 3,038

22.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 CLP 3,689

$5.30 CLP 4,987

-26.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 CLP 1,190

$1.19 CLP 1,123

5.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 CLP 1,439

$0.85 CLP 796

80.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 CLP 1,490

$2.72 CLP 2,561

-41.91%

Eggs

$3.77 CLP 3,545

$5.01 CLP 4,714

-24.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.24 CLP 10.6K

$9.51 CLP 8,955

18.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.17 CLP 6,749

$6.57 CLP 6,187

9.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.21 CLP 11.5K

$7.87 CLP 7,406

55.15%

Apples (1kg)

$1.51 CLP 1,420

$1.25 CLP 1,173

20.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 CLP 1,278

$1.09 CLP 1,024

24.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.56 CLP 1,466

$1.62 CLP 1,525

-3.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.51 CLP 1,421

$1.17 CLP 1,101

29.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.10 CLP 1,031

$0.99 CLP 934

11.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 CLP 1,287

$1.04 CLP 982

31.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 CLP 1,072

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 CLP 1,171

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.39 CLP 5,072

$5.34 CLP 5,024

0.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.18 CLP 4,879

$4.38 CLP 4,120

18.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 CLP 960

$1.09 CLP 1,026

-6.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 CLP 1,645

$1.29 CLP 1,215

35.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.61 CLP 576

$0.94 CLP 887

-35.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.82 CLP 30.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.27 CLP 1,192

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.28 CLP 2,142

$1.49 CLP 1,399

53.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.76 CLP 12.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 CLP 1,318

$1.57 CLP 1,480

-10.83%

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

$21.2K CLP 20.0M

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

$25.1K CLP 23.7M

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

$109 CLP 102.3K

$42.85 CLP 40.3K

153.65%

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

$13.53 CLP 12.7K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.04 CLP 26.4K

$13.75 CLP 12.9K

103.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.00 CLP 28.2K

$53.1 CLP 50.0K

-43.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.63 CLP 10.0K

$21.07 CLP 19.8K

-49.55%

Cinema Ticket

$6.06 CLP 5,703

$4.87 CLP 4,588

24.44%

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

$333 CLP 313.0K

$320 CLP 301.5K

3.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,497 CLP 4.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.19 CLP 44.4K

$38.10 CLP 35.9K

23.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.41 CLP 22.0K

$29.59 CLP 27.9K

-20.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.6 CLP 61.7K

$47.34 CLP 44.5K

38.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.4 CLP 64.4K

$64.4 CLP 60.6K

6.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$506 CLP 476.1K

$353 CLP 332.5K

43.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$367 CLP 345.0K

$108 CLP 101.9K

238.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$963 CLP 906.7K

$844 CLP 794.3K

14.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$657 CLP 618.5K

$639 CLP 601.4K

2.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,230 CLP 2.1M

$1,487 CLP 1.4M

49.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,863 CLP 1.8M

$1,299 CLP 1.2M

43.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$582 CLP 547.8K

$1,164 CLP 1.1M

-49.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.3

6.00%

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

Last update for Concepcion: September 7, 2026

Last update for Calama: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $506 in Concepcion and $353 in Calama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calama pays 100% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $48.00 in Concepcion vs $34.00 in Calama for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $229 vs $183 per month, with Calama cheaper across the board.

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

Calama wins on cost – living expenses run 72% lower than in Concepcion. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Calama the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 100% 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: $506 in Concepcion versus $353 in Calama. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 25% higher in Concepcion. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,072 per month in Concepcion versus $623 in Calama – a 72% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $623 in Calama versus $1,072 in Concepcion, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Calama but tight or insufficient in Concepcion. The gap between the two cities makes Calama 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 Calama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 72% less than in Concepcion. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.