🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,026 in Iquique versus $1,068 in Concepcion.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,702 in Iquique versus $1,620 in Concepcion.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,377 in Iquique versus $2,173 in Concepcion.
🌍Living in Iquique costs roughly 4% less than in Concepcion, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Iquique23% lower, Concepcion20% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Iquique
Concepcion
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.01CLP 7,463
$7.72CLP 7,184
3.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.94CLP 40.9K
$45.34CLP 42.2K
-3.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.21CLP 6,718
$8.54CLP 7,957
-15.57%
Cappuccino
$3.58CLP 3,336
$2.68CLP 2,495
33.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35CLP 1,258
$1.47CLP 1,366
-8.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02CLP 951
$1.09CLP 1,017
-6.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.48CLP 3,244
$3.96CLP 3,684
-12.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71CLP 3,456
$3.85CLP 3,588
-3.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Iquique
Concepcion
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.20CLP 1,119
$1.30CLP 1,213
-7.69%
White Bread(500g)
$1.22CLP 1,138
$1.49CLP 1,383
-18.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.41CLP 1,313
$1.58CLP 1,472
-10.76%
Eggs
$3.47CLP 3,227
$3.69CLP 3,434
-5.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.42CLP 9,703
$11.65CLP 10.8K
-10.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.65CLP 6,196
$6.89CLP 6,416
-3.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.81CLP 10.1K
$12.15CLP 11.3K
-11.03%
Apples(1kg)
$1.89CLP 1,759
$1.51CLP 1,406
25.17%
Banana(1kg)
$2.39CLP 2,223
$1.40CLP 1,305
70.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.55CLP 1,442
$1.54CLP 1,432
0.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.12CLP 1,042
$1.47CLP 1,370
-23.81%
Potato(1kg)
$0.82CLP 767
$1.10CLP 1,021
-25.45%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67CLP 622
$1.29CLP 1,205
-48.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.25CLP 1,168
$1.18CLP 1,094
5.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18CLP 1,095
$1.21CLP 1,131
-2.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.45CLP 5,071
$5.44CLP 5,068
0.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.20CLP 7,636
$5.05CLP 4,707
62.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54CLP 1,434
$1.04CLP 970
48.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30CLP 2,138
$1.84CLP 1,716
25.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Iquique
Concepcion
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.67CLP 620
$0.63CLP 582
6.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$34.17CLP 31.8K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.47CLP 435
$1.25CLP 1,168
-62.40%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$2.31CLP 2,152
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$12.70CLP 11.8K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.44CLP 1,341
$1.36CLP 1,262
5.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.8KCLP 18.4M
$20.7KCLP 19.3M
-4.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.3KCLP 19.8M
$25.1KCLP 23.4M
-15.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iquique
Concepcion
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.7CLP 76.1K
$101CLP 94.2K
-19.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37CLP 12.5K
$12.74CLP 11.9K
4.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.65CLP 20.2K
$28.42CLP 26.5K
-23.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Iquique
Concepcion
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.71CLP 39.8K
$27.38CLP 25.5K
55.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.02CLP 19.6K
$10.57CLP 9,845
98.86%
Cinema Ticket
$5.80CLP 5,397
$6.06CLP 5,638
-4.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Iquique
Concepcion
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$440CLP 409.8K
$339CLP 315.9K
29.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$4,503CLP 4.2M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Iquique
Concepcion
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.76CLP 29.6K
$43.96CLP 40.9K
-27.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.53CLP 22.8K
$27.87CLP 26.0K
-11.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$48.65CLP 45.3K
$60.0CLP 55.9K
-18.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$61.4CLP 57.2K
$69.7CLP 64.9K
-11.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Iquique
Concepcion
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$438CLP 408.0K
$476CLP 443.5K
-8.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$397CLP 369.5K
$352CLP 327.4K
12.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$757CLP 705.4K
$938CLP 873.4K
-19.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$842CLP 784.5K
$596CLP 554.9K
41.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,812CLP 1.7M
$2,176CLP 2.0M
-16.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,077CLP 1.9M
$1,878CLP 1.7M
10.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Iquique
Concepcion
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,004CLP 934.9K
$553CLP 514.8K
81.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.5
5.3
41.51%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Iquique: July 12, 2026
Last update for Concepcion: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $438 in Iquique and $476 in Concepcion. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Iquique pays 82% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $44.00 in Iquique vs $45.00 in Concepcion for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $228 vs $228 per month, with Iquique 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
Iquique vs Concepcion: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Iquique and in Concepcion?
Iquique and Concepcion differ by about 4% in total monthly costs ($1,026 vs $1,068 including rent). Iquique is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Iquique or Concepcion?
Average pay runs 82% higher in Iquique, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Iquique and in Concepcion?
Rent for a central apartment: $438 in Iquique versus $476 in Concepcion. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Iquique and Concepcion?
Childcare runs $440 in Iquique versus $339 in Concepcion. 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 Iquique – a meal for two runs $44.00 versus $45.00 in Concepcion. 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 $1,026 in Iquique versus $1,068 in Concepcion, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Iquique but tight or insufficient in Concepcion. The gap between the two cities makes Iquique the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Iquique and Concepcion?
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: Iquique or Concepcion?
Expats usually find Iquique gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Concepcion. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.