Cost of Living Comparison Between Los Ángeles and Santiago Cost of Living Comparison Between Los Ángeles and Santiago

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,099 per month in Los Ángeles vs $1,256 in Santiago, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,649 per month in Los Ángeles vs $2,031 in Santiago, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,200 per month in Los Ángeles vs $2,806 in Santiago, rent included.

Los Ángeles is about 13% cheaper than Santiago, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Los Ángeles and Santiago are more affordable than the global median – Los Ángeles 17% lower, Santiago 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.80 CLP 8,207

$10.72 CLP 9,996

-17.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.26 CLP 41.3K

$53.0 CLP 49.4K

-16.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.81 CLP 7,287

$8.30 CLP 7,741

-5.90%

Cappuccino

$2.75 CLP 2,568

$3.25 CLP 3,030

-15.38%

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

$1.31 CLP 1,222

$1.69 CLP 1,577

-22.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.06 CLP 991

$1.30 CLP 1,210

-18.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.15 CLP 2,938

$3.25 CLP 3,036

-3.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.13 CLP 3,856

$4.34 CLP 4,048

-4.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 CLP 1,109

$1.18 CLP 1,104

0.85%

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 CLP 1,424

$1.52 CLP 1,420

0.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.89 CLP 1,760

$2.12 CLP 1,973

-10.85%

Eggs

$3.57 CLP 3,333

$3.99 CLP 3,725

-10.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.62 CLP 9,904

$10.27 CLP 9,578

3.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.85 CLP 6,389

$6.87 CLP 6,407

-0.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.82 CLP 10.1K

$10.83 CLP 10.1K

-0.09%

Apples (1kg)

$1.91 CLP 1,777

$2.12 CLP 1,973

-9.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 CLP 1,401

$1.63 CLP 1,519

-7.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.55 CLP 1,444

$2.12 CLP 1,977

-26.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.51 CLP 1,408

$1.85 CLP 1,723

-18.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 CLP 1,155

$1.90 CLP 1,769

-34.74%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 CLP 1,325

$1.67 CLP 1,557

-14.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 CLP 1,123

$1.33 CLP 1,243

-9.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 CLP 1,137

$1.18 CLP 1,104

3.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.40 CLP 5,038

$5.56 CLP 5,187

-2.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.88 CLP 5,489

$6.41 CLP 5,974

-8.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 CLP 1,487

$1.56 CLP 1,460

1.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 CLP 2,155

$2.46 CLP 2,294

-6.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.58 CLP 541

$0.93 CLP 865

-37.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.96 CLP 40.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 CLP 445

$0.47 CLP 443

2.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 CLP 1,317

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.65 CLP 10.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 CLP 1,340

$1.38 CLP 1,291

4.35%

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

$19.2K CLP 17.9M

$19.7K CLP 18.4M

-2.56%

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

$21.0K CLP 19.6M

$23.1K CLP 21.6M

-9.05%

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

$134 CLP 124.7K

$130 CLP 120.8K

3.21%

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

$13.70 CLP 12.8K

$13.50 CLP 12.6K

1.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.38 CLP 20.9K

$22.10 CLP 20.6K

1.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.41 CLP 35.8K

$34.69 CLP 32.4K

10.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.13 CLP 19.7K

$21.33 CLP 19.9K

-0.94%

Cinema Ticket

$5.57 CLP 5,194

$6.61 CLP 6,164

-15.73%

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

$439 CLP 409.8K

-0.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,743 CLP 8.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.5 CLP 48.1K

$54.5 CLP 50.8K

-5.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.83 CLP 27.8K

$33.47 CLP 31.2K

-10.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.5 CLP 58.3K

$77.0 CLP 71.8K

-18.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.8 CLP 76.3K

$85.7 CLP 79.9K

-4.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$474 CLP 442.4K

$515 CLP 480.1K

-7.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 CLP 343.9K

$467 CLP 435.3K

-21.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$896 CLP 835.8K

$1,016 CLP 947.2K

-11.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$588 CLP 548.3K

$897 CLP 837.0K

-34.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,749 CLP 2.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,714 CLP 2.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$797 CLP 743.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.18

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

Last update for Los Ángeles: July 27, 2026

Last update for Santiago: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $474 in Los Ángeles versus $515 in Santiago. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Los Ángeles versus $53.0 in Santiago. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $230 vs $241 – making Los Ángeles the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Los Ángeles vs Santiago: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Santiago costs about 14% more than Los Ángeles, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,648 per month in Los Ángeles and $1,884 in Santiago. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Los Ángeles, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Los Ángeles and $53.0 in Santiago. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 5% more in Santiago, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Los Ángeles, where all-in costs run around $1,099, than in Santiago at $1,256. In Los Ángeles it covers expenses comfortably, while in Santiago it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Los Ángeles – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Los Ángeles. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Santiago makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.