Cost of Living Comparison Between Iquique and Concepcion Cost of Living Comparison Between Iquique and Concepcion

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,063 in Iquique versus $1,075 in Concepcion.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,657 in Iquique versus $1,709 in Concepcion.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,251 in Iquique versus $2,342 in Concepcion.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Iquique 23% lower, Concepcion 22% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Iquique
Concepcion
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.96 CLP 7,408
$7.69 CLP 7,159
3.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.56 CLP 40.5K
$47.52 CLP 44.2K
-8.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.42 CLP 6,902
$8.23 CLP 7,657
-9.84%
Cappuccino
$3.54 CLP 3,296
$2.90 CLP 2,701
22.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30 CLP 1,213
$1.43 CLP 1,328
-9.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 CLP 973
$1.05 CLP 973
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.33 CLP 3,094
$4.03 CLP 3,750
-17.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 CLP 3,462
$3.87 CLP 3,598
-3.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Iquique
Concepcion
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 CLP 1,091
$1.26 CLP 1,173
-7.14%
White Bread (500g)
$1.22 CLP 1,134
$1.53 CLP 1,420
-20.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.37 CLP 1,279
$1.52 CLP 1,412
-9.87%
Eggs
$3.14 CLP 2,922
$3.76 CLP 3,499
-16.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.51 CLP 9,777
$11.56 CLP 10.8K
-9.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.80 CLP 10.0K
$7.13 CLP 6,632
51.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$12.24 CLP 11.4K
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.42 CLP 2,251
$1.58 CLP 1,472
53.16%
Banana (1kg)
$2.24 CLP 2,089
$1.33 CLP 1,241
68.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.64 CLP 1,524
$1.55 CLP 1,443
5.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.09 CLP 1,011
$1.52 CLP 1,416
-28.29%
Potato (1kg)
$0.77 CLP 715
$1.14 CLP 1,057
-32.46%
Onion (1kg)
$0.66 CLP 610
$1.42 CLP 1,319
-53.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 CLP 1,024
$1.13 CLP 1,055
-2.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.41 CLP 1,314
$1.23 CLP 1,141
14.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.42 CLP 6,901
$5.38 CLP 5,010
37.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.10 CLP 7,537
$5.17 CLP 4,814
56.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.05 CLP 974
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 CLP 767
$1.80 CLP 1,676
-54.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Iquique
Concepcion
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.73 CLP 680
$0.58 CLP 538
25.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$34.06 CLP 31.7K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$1.22 CLP 1,132
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$2.37 CLP 2,201
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$12.92 CLP 12.0K
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 CLP 1,362
$1.48 CLP 1,380
-1.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.1K CLP 19.7M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$25.1K CLP 23.3M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iquique
Concepcion
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$92.0 CLP 85.6K
$109 CLP 101.6K
-15.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.79 CLP 14.7K
$13.52 CLP 12.6K
16.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.70 CLP 23.0K
$28.06 CLP 26.1K
-11.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Iquique
Concepcion
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.1 CLP 49.4K
$30.28 CLP 28.2K
75.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$10.53 CLP 9,802
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.32 CLP 6,810
$5.92 CLP 5,512
23.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Iquique
Concepcion
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$271 CLP 252.1K
$332 CLP 309.1K
-18.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$4,511 CLP 4.2M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Iquique
Concepcion
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.86 CLP 29.6K
$46.60 CLP 43.4K
-31.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.23 CLP 22.5K
$23.13 CLP 21.5K
4.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$47.84 CLP 44.5K
$66.0 CLP 61.4K
-27.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$60.9 CLP 56.7K
$67.2 CLP 62.6K
-9.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Iquique
Concepcion
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$449 CLP 417.9K
$494 CLP 460.0K
-9.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$407 CLP 378.4K
$366 CLP 340.4K
11.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$710 CLP 660.8K
$967 CLP 899.7K
-26.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$801 CLP 745.4K
$649 CLP 604.3K
23.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,787 CLP 1.7M
$2,196 CLP 2.0M
-18.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,057 CLP 1.9M
$1,867 CLP 1.7M
10.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Iquique
Concepcion
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$972 CLP 904.1K
$574 CLP 533.8K
69.39%
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: August 29, 2026

Last update for Concepcion: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $449 in Iquique and $494 in Concepcion. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Iquique pays 69% 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 $48.00 in Concepcion for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $208 vs $230 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 1% in total monthly costs ($1,063 vs $1,075 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 69% 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: $449 in Iquique versus $494 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 $271 in Iquique versus $332 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 $48.00 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 $1,063 in Iquique versus $1,075 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 1% less than in Concepcion. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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