Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Long Island, NY and Santiago

For one person, living is cheaper in Santiago: $1,190 a month against $3,867 in Long Island, NY, rent and utilities included – about $32,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Long Island, NY
🇺🇸 United States
$3,867
/mo nomad
Santiago
🇨🇱 Chile
$1,190
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Long Island, NY and in Santiago

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Long Island, NY and in Santiago actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,867 per month in Long Island, NY vs $1,190 in Santiago, rent included.

  • Long Island, NY $3,867
  • Santiago $1,190

A couple spends around $5,541 per month in Long Island, NY vs $1,892 in Santiago, rent included.

  • Long Island, NY $5,541
  • Santiago $1,892

A family of three spends $7,215 per month in Long Island, NY vs $2,595 in Santiago, rent included.

  • Long Island, NY $7,215
  • Santiago $2,595

Long Island, NY costs about 225% more than Santiago, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Long Island, NY sits 186% above the global median, while Santiago is 12% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Long Island, NY
Santiago
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.36 $25.36
$10.37 CLP 10.2K
144.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101 $101
$51.7 CLP 50.9K
95.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.94 $10.94
$8.94 CLP 8,805
22.37%
Cappuccino
$5.07 $5.07
$3.26 CLP 3,211
55.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 $2.14
$1.67 CLP 1,640
28.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 $1.59
$1.23 CLP 1,212
29.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.06 $8.06
$3.98 CLP 3,914
102.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.87 $7.87
$4.54 CLP 4,465
73.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Long Island, NY
Santiago
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.27 $1.27
$1.28 CLP 1,263
-0.78%
White Bread (500g)
$4.23 $4.23
$1.85 CLP 1,817
128.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.91 $1.91
$1.59 CLP 1,567
20.13%
Eggs
$5.07 $5.07
$4.10 CLP 4,031
23.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.14 $7.14
$11.41 CLP 11.2K
-37.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.65 $11.65
$6.69 CLP 6,586
74.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.63 $16.63
$10.81 CLP 10.6K
53.84%
Apples (1kg)
$4.11 $4.11
$1.94 CLP 1,905
111.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.26 $1.26
$1.52 CLP 1,497
-17.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 $2.15
$1.60 CLP 1,577
34.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.06 $6.06
$1.69 CLP 1,668
258.58%
Potato (1kg)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.10 CLP 1,084
-1.82%
Onion (1kg)
$2.25 $2.25
$1.52 CLP 1,500
48.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.48 $1.48
$1.18 CLP 1,164
25.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.83 $2.83
$1.08 CLP 1,061
162.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.27 $11.27
$5.07 CLP 4,995
122.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.38 $17.38
$5.95 CLP 5,858
192.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 $1.70
$1.49 CLP 1,470
14.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.06 $4.06
$2.38 CLP 2,342
70.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Long Island, NY
Santiago
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.76 $2.76
$0.83 CLP 821
232.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$131 $131
$40.14 CLP 39.5K
225.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.05 $3.05
$0.40 CLP 393
662.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.08 $2.08
$0.91 CLP 897
128.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.16 $24.16
$11.63 CLP 11.5K
107.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.51 CLP 1,486
-25.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K $36.7K
$17.6K CLP 17.3M
108.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$22.0K CLP 21.6M
15.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Long Island, NY
Santiago
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$190 $190
$151 CLP 149.0K
25.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.53 $48.53
$12.34 CLP 12.1K
293.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.4 $54.4
$18.73 CLP 18.4K
190.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Long Island, NY
Santiago
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.55 $31.55
$33.71 CLP 33.2K
-6.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$102 $102
$11.80 CLP 11.6K
766.02%
Cinema Ticket
$14.23 $14.23
$7.45 CLP 7,334
91.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Long Island, NY
Santiago
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,219 $2,219
$430 CLP 423.7K
415.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.0K $24.0K
$10.8K CLP 10.6M
122.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Long Island, NY
Santiago
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.01 $40.01
$49.65 CLP 48.9K
-19.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.5 $56.5
$28.94 CLP 28.5K
95.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.7 $75.7
$65.7 CLP 64.6K
15.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$158 $158
$80.7 CLP 79.4K
96.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Long Island, NY
Santiago
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,715 $2,715
$559 CLP 550.4K
385.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,463 $2,463
$384 CLP 377.8K
541.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,300 $5,300
$1,004 CLP 988.4K
427.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,883 $3,883
$780 CLP 767.9K
397.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,360 $4,360
$2,640 CLP 2.6M
65.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,364 $4,364
$2,546 CLP 2.5M
71.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Long Island, NY
Santiago
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,983 $4,983
$804 CLP 791.0K
520.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.63
5.39
23.01%

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

Last update for Long Island, NY: October 12, 2026

Last update for Santiago: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Long Island, NY
$2.5K
Santiago
$384 84.4% $2.1K
Groceries & Markets
Long Island, NY
$378
Santiago
$236 37.6% $142
Eating Out
Long Island, NY
$368
Santiago
$189 48.4% $178
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Long Island, NY
$293
Santiago
$182 37.8% $111
Getting Around
Long Island, NY
$155
Santiago
$48 68.8% $107
Clothing & Footwear
Long Island, NY
$149
Santiago
$101 31.9% $47
Sport & Entertainment
Long Island, NY
$60
Santiago
$49 19% $11

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,715 in Long Island, NY versus $559 in Santiago. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 520% higher in Long Island, NY, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Long Island, NY versus $52.0 in Santiago. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $378 vs $236 – making Santiago the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Long Island, NY
🇨🇱 Santiago
🕒 Local time
16:33 4:33 PM
17:33 5:33 PM
1 h ahead of Long Island, NY
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
7,804,968
6,139,087 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CLP, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.889 EUR).

Chilean Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 984 CLP (1,000 CLP = 1.02 USD). 1 EUR = 1,107 CLP (10,000 CLP = 9.04 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Long Island, NY Santiago 8,260 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Long Island, NY
  • Santiago

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Long Island, NY vs Santiago: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Long Island, NY and in Santiago compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $3,867 in Long Island, NY, $1,190 in Santiago – roughly 225% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Long Island, NY compared to Santiago?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,800 per month in Long Island, NY and $1,785 in Santiago. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Long Island, NY and Santiago?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Santiago, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Long Island, NY and Santiago?
Kindergarten costs $2,219 per month in Long Island, NY and $430 in Santiago. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 60% more in Long Island, NY, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Santiago, where all-in costs run around $1,190, than in Long Island, NY at $3,867. In Santiago it covers expenses comfortably, while in Long Island, NY it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Long Island, NY and Santiago?
It depends on your priorities. Long Island, NY has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,190 in Santiago to $3,867 in Long Island, NY. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Long Island, NY or Santiago safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Long Island, NY and Santiago?
If budget matters most, go with Santiago. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Long Island, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Long Island, NY vs other spots: cost of living compared

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