Cost of Living Comparison Between Iquique and Valdivia Cost of Living Comparison Between Iquique and Valdivia

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,036 in Iquique versus $1,021 in Valdivia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,634 in Iquique versus $1,583 in Valdivia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,232 in Iquique versus $2,145 in Valdivia.

Living in Iquique is roughly 2% more expensive than in Valdivia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Iquique 24% lower, Valdivia 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.72 CLP 7,417

$6.59 CLP 6,334

17.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.54 CLP 40.9K

$47.56 CLP 45.7K

-10.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.21 CLP 6,930

$6.97 CLP 6,692

3.44%

Cappuccino

$3.43 CLP 3,299

$2.11 CLP 2,023

62.56%

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

$1.27 CLP 1,223

$2.06 CLP 1,975

-38.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.99 CLP 949

$1.27 CLP 1,222

-22.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.19 CLP 3,067

$3.62 CLP 3,474

-11.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 CLP 3,570

$3.61 CLP 3,465

3.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 CLP 1,099

$1.16 CLP 1,117

-1.72%

White Bread (500g)

$1.16 CLP 1,112

$1.32 CLP 1,267

-12.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 CLP 1,275

$1.58 CLP 1,521

-15.82%

Eggs

$3.05 CLP 2,934

$3.14 CLP 3,012

-2.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.40 CLP 9,991

$9.26 CLP 8,895

12.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.37 CLP 9,959

$6.50 CLP 6,243

59.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.07 CLP 12.6K

Apples (1kg)

$2.33 CLP 2,243

$2.16 CLP 2,072

7.87%

Banana (1kg)

$2.20 CLP 2,114

$1.97 CLP 1,890

11.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 CLP 1,535

$1.79 CLP 1,716

-10.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.07 CLP 1,030

$1.84 CLP 1,766

-41.85%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 CLP 725

$2.37 CLP 2,275

-68.35%

Onion (1kg)

$0.61 CLP 587

$1.54 CLP 1,476

-60.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 CLP 986

$1.52 CLP 1,462

-32.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 CLP 1,286

$1.17 CLP 1,128

14.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.12 CLP 6,839

$5.24 CLP 5,038

35.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.13 CLP 7,807

$4.62 CLP 4,435

75.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.57 CLP 1,509

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 CLP 838

$2.16 CLP 2,077

-59.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.70 CLP 673

$0.59 CLP 562

18.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 CLP 977

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 CLP 1,385

$1.44 CLP 1,382

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

$15.3K CLP 14.7M

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

$18.1K CLP 17.4M

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

$90.6 CLP 87.0K

$93.0 CLP 89.3K

-2.60%

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

$15.40 CLP 14.8K

$13.69 CLP 13.2K

12.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.10 CLP 23.1K

$31.64 CLP 30.4K

-23.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.6 CLP 50.5K

$41.56 CLP 39.9K

26.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.21 CLP 23.3K

Cinema Ticket

$7.19 CLP 6,905

$4.73 CLP 4,545

52.01%

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

$265 CLP 255.0K

$249 CLP 238.8K

6.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,114 CLP 3.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.80 CLP 30.6K

$53.0 CLP 50.9K

-39.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.73 CLP 22.8K

$17.82 CLP 17.1K

33.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.28 CLP 45.4K

$50.3 CLP 48.3K

-5.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.7 CLP 57.3K

$77.4 CLP 74.3K

-22.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$426 CLP 409.2K

$592 CLP 569.1K

-28.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$393 CLP 377.3K

$384 CLP 368.8K

2.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$694 CLP 666.3K

$994 CLP 954.9K

-30.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$794 CLP 762.4K

$564 CLP 541.5K

40.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,752 CLP 1.7M

$4,518 CLP 4.3M

-61.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,985 CLP 1.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$946 CLP 908.6K

$632 CLP 607.1K

49.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

4.5

66.67%

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

Last update for Iquique: September 15, 2026

Last update for Valdivia: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $426 in Iquique and $592 in Valdivia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Iquique pays 50% 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: $43.00 in Iquique vs $48.00 in Valdivia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $202 vs $234 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 Valdivia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Iquique and Valdivia differ by about 2% in total monthly costs ($1,036 vs $1,021 including rent). Valdivia is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 50% higher in Iquique, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $426 in Iquique versus $592 in Valdivia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Iquique pay roughly 16% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,036 per month in Iquique versus $1,021 in Valdivia – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,021 in Valdivia versus $1,036 in Iquique, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Valdivia but tight or insufficient in Iquique. The gap between the two cities makes Valdivia 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 Valdivia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Iquique. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.