🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $589 in Coquimbo versus $1,061 in Valdivia.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $978 in Coquimbo versus $1,606 in Valdivia.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,367 in Coquimbo versus $2,150 in Valdivia.
🌍Living in Coquimbo costs roughly 45% less than in Valdivia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Coquimbo57% lower, Valdivia23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Coquimbo
Valdivia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.29CLP 6,857
$6.49CLP 6,108
12.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.64CLP 44.8K
$47.88CLP 45.1K
-0.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.34CLP 5,963
$6.91CLP 6,503
-8.25%
Cappuccino
$3.83CLP 3,600
$2.12CLP 2,000
80.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19CLP 1,123
$2.13CLP 2,005
-44.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09CLP 1,030
$1.37CLP 1,286
-20.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.40CLP 4,138
$3.65CLP 3,433
20.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.96CLP 4,666
$3.78CLP 3,562
31.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Coquimbo
Valdivia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06CLP 995
$1.22CLP 1,150
-13.11%
White Bread(500g)
$3.25CLP 3,059
$1.38CLP 1,296
135.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.26CLP 1,190
$1.69CLP 1,588
-25.44%
Eggs
$2.73CLP 2,565
$3.06CLP 2,879
-10.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.40CLP 7,909
$9.51CLP 8,949
-11.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$6.53CLP 6,150
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$13.45CLP 12.7K
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.41CLP 1,326
$2.30CLP 2,169
-38.70%
Banana(1kg)
$1.88CLP 1,766
$1.91CLP 1,798
-1.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.04CLP 978
$1.89CLP 1,780
-44.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.01CLP 947
$1.87CLP 1,759
-45.99%
Potato(1kg)
-
$2.44CLP 2,301
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.25CLP 1,174
$1.62CLP 1,526
-22.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.62CLP 581
$1.56CLP 1,467
-60.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40CLP 1,319
$1.21CLP 1,142
15.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.38CLP 5,063
$5.44CLP 5,121
-1.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.73CLP 8,219
$4.78CLP 4,498
82.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.59CLP 1,500
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69CLP 4,410
$2.12CLP 1,999
121.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Coquimbo
Valdivia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.87CLP 820
$0.58CLP 550
50.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.04CLP 983
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.43CLP 1,344
$1.47CLP 1,384
-2.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$15.6KCLP 14.7M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$18.3KCLP 17.2M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Coquimbo
Valdivia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$108CLP 102.1K
$95.1CLP 89.5K
14.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.82CLP 12.1K
$14.29CLP 13.4K
-10.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$32.63CLP 30.7K
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Coquimbo
Valdivia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.94CLP 25.4K
$42.16CLP 39.7K
-36.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.31CLP 4,997
$24.53CLP 23.1K
-78.35%
Cinema Ticket
$4.37CLP 4,110
$4.78CLP 4,497
-8.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Coquimbo
Valdivia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$264CLP 248.5K
$255CLP 240.4K
3.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$30.3KCLP 28.5M
$3,226CLP 3.0M
840.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Coquimbo
Valdivia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.50CLP 45.6K
$53.4CLP 50.3K
-9.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.66CLP 25.1K
$18.73CLP 17.6K
42.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$64.4CLP 60.6K
$52.7CLP 49.6K
22.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.9CLP 80.8K
$81.0CLP 76.2K
6.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Coquimbo
Valdivia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$610CLP 574.3K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$389CLP 366.3K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,022CLP 961.8K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$582CLP 547.7K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,742CLP 4.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Coquimbo
Valdivia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$631CLP 594.0K
$659CLP 620.3K
-4.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
4.5
11.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Coquimbo: September 8, 2026
Last update for Valdivia: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Valdivia pays 4% 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: $48.00 in Coquimbo vs $48.00 in Valdivia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $160 vs $240 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 Valdivia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Coquimbo and in Valdivia?
Coquimbo and Valdivia differ by about 80% in total monthly costs ($589 vs $1,061 including rent). Coquimbo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 4% lower in Valdivia. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Coquimbo and Valdivia?
Childcare runs $264 in Coquimbo versus $255 in Valdivia. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Coquimbo – a meal for two runs $48.00 versus $48.00 in Valdivia. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $589 in Coquimbo versus $1,061 in Valdivia, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Coquimbo but tight or insufficient in Valdivia. The gap between the two cities makes Coquimbo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Coquimbo and Valdivia?
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.
Where should expats move: Coquimbo or Valdivia?
Expats usually find Coquimbo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 80% less than in Valdivia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.