🙂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: Iquique23% lower, Concepcion22% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Iquique
Concepcion
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.96CLP 7,408
$7.69CLP 7,159
3.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.56CLP 40.5K
$47.52CLP 44.2K
-8.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.42CLP 6,902
$8.23CLP 7,657
-9.84%
Cappuccino
$3.54CLP 3,296
$2.90CLP 2,701
22.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30CLP 1,213
$1.43CLP 1,328
-9.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05CLP 973
$1.05CLP 973
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.33CLP 3,094
$4.03CLP 3,750
-17.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72CLP 3,462
$3.87CLP 3,598
-3.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Iquique
Concepcion
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17CLP 1,091
$1.26CLP 1,173
-7.14%
White Bread(500g)
$1.22CLP 1,134
$1.53CLP 1,420
-20.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.37CLP 1,279
$1.52CLP 1,412
-9.87%
Eggs
$3.14CLP 2,922
$3.76CLP 3,499
-16.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.51CLP 9,777
$11.56CLP 10.8K
-9.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.80CLP 10.0K
$7.13CLP 6,632
51.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$12.24CLP 11.4K
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.42CLP 2,251
$1.58CLP 1,472
53.16%
Banana(1kg)
$2.24CLP 2,089
$1.33CLP 1,241
68.42%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.64CLP 1,524
$1.55CLP 1,443
5.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.09CLP 1,011
$1.52CLP 1,416
-28.29%
Potato(1kg)
$0.77CLP 715
$1.14CLP 1,057
-32.46%
Onion(1kg)
$0.66CLP 610
$1.42CLP 1,319
-53.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10CLP 1,024
$1.13CLP 1,055
-2.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.41CLP 1,314
$1.23CLP 1,141
14.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.42CLP 6,901
$5.38CLP 5,010
37.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.10CLP 7,537
$5.17CLP 4,814
56.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.05CLP 974
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82CLP 767
$1.80CLP 1,676
-54.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Iquique
Concepcion
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.73CLP 680
$0.58CLP 538
25.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$34.06CLP 31.7K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.22CLP 1,132
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$2.37CLP 2,201
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$12.92CLP 12.0K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.46CLP 1,362
$1.48CLP 1,380
-1.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.1KCLP 19.7M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$25.1KCLP 23.3M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iquique
Concepcion
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$92.0CLP 85.6K
$109CLP 101.6K
-15.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.79CLP 14.7K
$13.52CLP 12.6K
16.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.70CLP 23.0K
$28.06CLP 26.1K
-11.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Iquique
Concepcion
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.1CLP 49.4K
$30.28CLP 28.2K
75.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$10.53CLP 9,802
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.32CLP 6,810
$5.92CLP 5,512
23.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Iquique
Concepcion
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$271CLP 252.1K
$332CLP 309.1K
-18.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$4,511CLP 4.2M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Iquique
Concepcion
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.86CLP 29.6K
$46.60CLP 43.4K
-31.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.23CLP 22.5K
$23.13CLP 21.5K
4.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$47.84CLP 44.5K
$66.0CLP 61.4K
-27.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$60.9CLP 56.7K
$67.2CLP 62.6K
-9.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Iquique
Concepcion
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$449CLP 417.9K
$494CLP 460.0K
-9.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$407CLP 378.4K
$366CLP 340.4K
11.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$710CLP 660.8K
$967CLP 899.7K
-26.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$801CLP 745.4K
$649CLP 604.3K
23.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,787CLP 1.7M
$2,196CLP 2.0M
-18.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,057CLP 1.9M
$1,867CLP 1.7M
10.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Iquique
Concepcion
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$972CLP 904.1K
$574CLP 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.