Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Minneapolis, MN and Santiago

For one person, living is cheaper in Santiago: $1,206 a month against $2,735 in Minneapolis, MN, rent and utilities included – about $18,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Minneapolis, MN
🇺🇸 United States
$2,735
/mo nomad
Santiago
🇨🇱 Chile
$1,206
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Minneapolis, MN 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 Minneapolis, MN and in Santiago actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,735 in Minneapolis, MN versus $1,206 in Santiago.

  • Minneapolis, MN $2,735
  • Santiago $1,206

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,128 in Minneapolis, MN versus $1,885 in Santiago.

  • Minneapolis, MN $4,128
  • Santiago $1,885

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,521 in Minneapolis, MN versus $2,564 in Santiago.

  • Minneapolis, MN $5,521
  • Santiago $2,564

Living in Minneapolis, MN is roughly 127% more expensive than in Santiago, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Minneapolis, MN is 104% above, Santiago is 10% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Minneapolis, MN
Santiago
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.15 $22.15
$10.19 CLP 9,931
117.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.0 $81.0
$52.2 CLP 50.9K
55.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.04 $12.04
$8.54 CLP 8,323
40.98%
Cappuccino
$6.56 $6.56
$3.19 CLP 3,115
105.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12 $3.12
$1.68 CLP 1,637
85.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 $2.25
$1.22 CLP 1,191
84.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.19 $7.19
$4.21 CLP 4,101
70.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.93 $7.93
$4.66 CLP 4,539
70.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Minneapolis, MN
Santiago
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.91 $0.91
$1.32 CLP 1,283
-31.06%
White Bread (500g)
$3.60 $3.60
$1.80 CLP 1,756
100.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.51 $6.51
$1.58 CLP 1,543
312.03%
Eggs
$3.60 $3.60
$4.25 CLP 4,141
-15.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.45 $10.45
$11.19 CLP 10.9K
-6.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.40 $13.40
$6.75 CLP 6,580
98.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.58 $19.58
$10.67 CLP 10.4K
83.51%
Apples (1kg)
$5.94 $5.94
$2.04 CLP 1,991
191.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.87 $1.87
$1.53 CLP 1,497
22.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.63 $6.63
$1.59 CLP 1,549
316.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.33 $5.33
$1.75 CLP 1,708
204.57%
Potato (1kg)
$4.44 $4.44
$1.08 CLP 1,051
311.11%
Onion (1kg)
$4.14 $4.14
$1.51 CLP 1,476
174.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.34 $2.34
$1.17 CLP 1,145
100.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.55 $2.55
$1.07 CLP 1,041
138.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.89 $12.89
$5.14 CLP 5,015
150.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.10 $16.10
$5.88 CLP 5,732
173.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 $2.90
$1.55 CLP 1,513
87.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.53 $5.53
$2.27 CLP 2,218
143.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Minneapolis, MN
Santiago
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.95 $1.95
$0.85 CLP 829
129.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$85.3 $85.3
$41.50 CLP 40.5K
105.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.92 $4.92
$0.39 CLP 383
1161.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.75 $1.75
$0.84 CLP 820
108.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.01 $24.01
$11.94 CLP 11.6K
101.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.50 CLP 1,467
-30.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.6K $36.6K
$18.1K CLP 17.7M
102.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$21.6K CLP 21.1M
19.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Minneapolis, MN
Santiago
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$182 $182
$151 CLP 147.3K
20.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.9 $54.9
$12.04 CLP 11.7K
355.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.0 $71.0
$18.93 CLP 18.5K
274.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Minneapolis, MN
Santiago
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$65.7 $65.7
$33.81 CLP 33.0K
94.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.32 $27.32
$11.72 CLP 11.4K
133.11%
Cinema Ticket
$15.92 $15.92
$7.37 CLP 7,185
116.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Minneapolis, MN
Santiago
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,345 $1,345
$434 CLP 423.3K
209.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$35.6K $35.6K
$11.0K CLP 10.7M
223.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Minneapolis, MN
Santiago
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.6 $57.6
$50.9 CLP 49.6K
13.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.87 $43.87
$29.16 CLP 28.4K
50.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.4 $98.4
$67.4 CLP 65.7K
46.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 $106
$80.3 CLP 78.2K
32.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Minneapolis, MN
Santiago
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,808 $1,808
$555 CLP 540.8K
226.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,261 $1,261
$372 CLP 363.2K
238.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,865 $2,865
$1,009 CLP 984.3K
183.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,155 $2,155
$779 CLP 759.1K
176.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,337 $3,337
$2,671 CLP 2.6M
24.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,163 $2,163
$2,622 CLP 2.6M
-17.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Minneapolis, MN
Santiago
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,249 $4,249
$791 CLP 771.7K
436.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.66
5.39
23.56%

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

Last update for Minneapolis, MN: October 5, 2026

Last update for Santiago: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Minneapolis, MN
$1.3K
Santiago
$372 70.5% $889
Groceries & Markets
Minneapolis, MN
$456
Santiago
$236 48.2% $220
Eating Out
Minneapolis, MN
$365
Santiago
$187 48.7% $178
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Minneapolis, MN
$307
Santiago
$182 40.8% $125
Clothing & Footwear
Minneapolis, MN
$138
Santiago
$102 25.6% $35
Getting Around
Minneapolis, MN
$107
Santiago
$50 53.6% $57
Sport & Entertainment
Minneapolis, MN
$98
Santiago
$49 50.2% $49

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,808 in Minneapolis, MN and $555 in Santiago. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Minneapolis, MN pays 437% 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: $81.0 in Minneapolis, MN vs $52.0 in Santiago for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $456 vs $236 per month, with Santiago cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Minneapolis, MN
🇨🇱 Santiago
🕒 Local time
06:37 6:37 AM
08:37 8:37 AM
2 h ahead of Minneapolis, MN
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
429,954
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 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Chilean Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 975 CLP (1,000 CLP = 1.03 USD). 1 EUR = 1,093 CLP (10,000 CLP = 9.15 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Minneapolis, MN Santiago 9,010 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Minneapolis, MN
  • 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
Minneapolis, MN vs Santiago: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Minneapolis, MN or Santiago?
Santiago wins on cost – living expenses run 127% lower than in Minneapolis, MN. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Santiago the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Minneapolis, MN or in Santiago?
Average pay runs 437% higher in Minneapolis, MN, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Minneapolis, MN compared to Santiago?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,808 in Minneapolis, MN versus $555 in Santiago. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Minneapolis, MN and in Santiago?
Childcare runs $1,345 in Minneapolis, MN versus $434 in Santiago. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Minneapolis, MN or in Santiago?
Supermarket bills run roughly 93% higher in Minneapolis, MN. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Minneapolis, MN or in Santiago?
At $1,206 in Santiago versus $2,735 in Minneapolis, MN, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Santiago but tight or insufficient in Minneapolis, MN. The gap between the two cities makes Santiago the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Minneapolis, MN or Santiago?
Both work as nomad bases, but Santiago delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,206 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Santiago hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Santiago gentler on the wallet – expenses run 127% less than in Minneapolis, MN. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Minneapolis, MN vs other spots: cost of living compared

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