Cost of Living Comparison Between Coquimbo and Santiago Cost of Living Comparison Between Coquimbo and Santiago

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,072 in Coquimbo versus $1,288 in Santiago.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,619 in Coquimbo versus $2,020 in Santiago.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,166 in Coquimbo versus $2,752 in Santiago.

Living in Coquimbo costs roughly 17% less than in Santiago, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Coquimbo 20% lower, Santiago 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.47 CLP 7,891

$10.72 CLP 9,983

-20.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.95 CLP 41.9K

$54.8 CLP 51.0K

-17.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.99 CLP 7,444

$8.16 CLP 7,601

-2.08%

Cappuccino

$2.74 CLP 2,554

$3.16 CLP 2,941

-13.29%

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

$1.30 CLP 1,209

$1.78 CLP 1,660

-26.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.06 CLP 986

$1.25 CLP 1,162

-15.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.30 CLP 3,070

$3.31 CLP 3,086

-0.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.20 CLP 3,912

$4.24 CLP 3,946

-0.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 CLP 990

$1.18 CLP 1,101

-10.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 CLP 1,422

$1.53 CLP 1,429

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 CLP 1,732

$2.18 CLP 2,031

-14.68%

Eggs

$3.50 CLP 3,257

$4.19 CLP 3,898

-16.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.65 CLP 9,919

$10.65 CLP 9,913

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.53 CLP 6,082

$6.59 CLP 6,135

-0.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 CLP 10.0K

$11.13 CLP 10.4K

-3.23%

Apples (1kg)

$1.88 CLP 1,754

$2.09 CLP 1,947

-10.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 CLP 1,402

$1.55 CLP 1,440

-2.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.58 CLP 1,473

$2.07 CLP 1,923

-23.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.51 CLP 1,403

$1.86 CLP 1,730

-18.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 CLP 1,143

$1.95 CLP 1,820

-36.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 CLP 1,262

$1.63 CLP 1,514

-16.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 CLP 1,135

$1.28 CLP 1,194

-4.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 CLP 1,084

$1.25 CLP 1,160

-7.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.54 CLP 5,160

$5.75 CLP 5,359

-3.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.95 CLP 5,540

$6.50 CLP 6,051

-8.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.56 CLP 1,453

$1.56 CLP 1,452

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 CLP 2,053

$2.48 CLP 2,308

-11.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.63 CLP 585

$0.85 CLP 788

-25.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.60 CLP 39.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.47 CLP 435

$0.51 CLP 477

-7.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.45 CLP 1,351

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.30 CLP 10.5K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 CLP 1,285

$1.39 CLP 1,290

-0.72%

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

$19.8K CLP 18.4M

$19.5K CLP 18.2M

1.30%

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

$21.1K CLP 19.7M

$22.6K CLP 21.0M

-6.38%

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

$134 CLP 124.7K

$134 CLP 124.6K

0.07%

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

$13.77 CLP 12.8K

$13.59 CLP 12.7K

1.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.36 CLP 20.8K

$22.02 CLP 20.5K

1.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.47 CLP 35.8K

$34.67 CLP 32.3K

10.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.89 CLP 19.5K

$21.24 CLP 19.8K

-1.65%

Cinema Ticket

$5.65 CLP 5,260

$6.29 CLP 5,857

-10.17%

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

$433 CLP 403.4K

$436 CLP 406.4K

-0.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,744 CLP 8.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.7 CLP 47.3K

$55.3 CLP 51.5K

-8.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.37 CLP 28.3K

$32.30 CLP 30.1K

-5.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.1 CLP 56.9K

$77.3 CLP 71.9K

-20.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.9 CLP 77.2K

$85.5 CLP 79.6K

-3.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$472 CLP 439.2K

$515 CLP 479.3K

-8.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$367 CLP 341.9K

$462 CLP 430.1K

-20.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$879 CLP 818.2K

$989 CLP 920.7K

-11.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$594 CLP 553.4K

$920 CLP 856.6K

-35.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,871 CLP 2.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,757 CLP 2.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$644 CLP 599.9K

$803 CLP 747.6K

-19.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.18

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

Last update for Coquimbo: July 13, 2026

Last update for Santiago: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $472 in Coquimbo and $515 in Santiago. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Santiago pays 25% 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 Coquimbo vs $55.0 in Santiago for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $226 vs $243 per month, with Coquimbo 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

Coquimbo vs Santiago: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Coquimbo and Santiago differ by about 20% in total monthly costs ($1,072 vs $1,288 including rent). Coquimbo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 25% lower in Santiago. 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: $472 in Coquimbo versus $515 in Santiago. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $433 in Coquimbo versus $436 in Santiago. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Coquimbo – a meal for two runs $45.00 versus $55.0 in Santiago. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,072 in Coquimbo versus $1,288 in Santiago, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Coquimbo but tight or insufficient in Santiago. The gap between the two cities makes Coquimbo 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 Coquimbo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Santiago. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.