Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Oaxaca de Juarez and Santiago

For one person, living costs are similar in Oaxaca de Juarez and in Santiago: $1,154 and $1,190 a month, rent and utilities included.

Oaxaca de Juarez
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,154
/mo nomad
Santiago
🇨🇱 Chile
$1,190
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,154 in Oaxaca de Juarez versus $1,190 in Santiago.

  • Oaxaca de Juarez $1,154
  • Santiago $1,190

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,781 in Oaxaca de Juarez versus $1,892 in Santiago.

  • Oaxaca de Juarez $1,781
  • Santiago $1,892

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,408 in Oaxaca de Juarez versus $2,595 in Santiago.

  • Oaxaca de Juarez $2,408
  • Santiago $2,595

Living in Oaxaca de Juarez costs roughly 3% less than in Santiago, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Oaxaca de Juarez 15% lower, Santiago 12% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oaxaca de Juarez
Santiago
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.48 MX$120
$10.37 CLP 10.2K
-37.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.81 MX$606
$51.7 CLP 50.9K
-36.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.33 MX$154
$8.94 CLP 8,805
-6.82%
Cappuccino
$2.82 MX$52.1
$3.26 CLP 3,211
-13.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$27.83
$1.67 CLP 1,640
-9.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 MX$14.59
$1.23 CLP 1,212
-35.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.48 MX$45.90
$3.98 CLP 3,914
-37.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 MX$70.0
$4.54 CLP 4,465
-16.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oaxaca de Juarez
Santiago
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.33 MX$24.59
$1.28 CLP 1,263
3.91%
White Bread (500g)
$3.13 MX$57.8
$1.85 CLP 1,817
69.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.12 MX$20.62
$1.59 CLP 1,567
-29.56%
Eggs
$1.74 MX$32.21
$4.10 CLP 4,031
-57.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.44 MX$119
$11.41 CLP 11.2K
-43.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.49 MX$101
$6.69 CLP 6,586
-17.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.27 MX$208
$10.81 CLP 10.6K
4.26%
Apples (1kg)
$2.14 MX$39.46
$1.94 CLP 1,905
10.31%
Banana (1kg)
$1.23 MX$22.80
$1.52 CLP 1,497
-19.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 MX$35.14
$1.60 CLP 1,577
18.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.53 MX$9.81
$1.69 CLP 1,668
-68.64%
Potato (1kg)
$2.01 MX$37.18
$1.10 CLP 1,084
82.73%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 MX$36.93
$1.52 CLP 1,500
31.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.11 MX$20.58
$1.18 CLP 1,164
-5.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 MX$17.46
$1.08 CLP 1,061
-12.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.24 MX$78.3
$5.07 CLP 4,995
-16.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.40 MX$174
$5.95 CLP 5,858
57.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.47 MX$27.11
$1.49 CLP 1,470
-1.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63 MX$48.64
$2.38 CLP 2,342
10.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Oaxaca de Juarez
Santiago
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.53 MX$9.81
$0.83 CLP 821
-36.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$40.14 CLP 39.5K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.89 MX$71.9
$0.40 CLP 393
872.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 MX$36.12
$0.91 CLP 897
114.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.89 MX$201
$11.63 CLP 11.5K
-6.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 MX$25.17
$1.51 CLP 1,486
-9.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K MX$396.0K
$17.6K CLP 17.3M
21.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.4K MX$450.4K
$22.0K CLP 21.6M
10.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oaxaca de Juarez
Santiago
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.5 MX$1,155
$151 CLP 149.0K
-58.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.03 MX$204
$12.34 CLP 12.1K
-10.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.19 MX$447
$18.73 CLP 18.4K
29.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oaxaca de Juarez
Santiago
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.34 MX$819
$33.71 CLP 33.2K
31.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$11.80 CLP 11.6K
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.58 MX$103
$7.45 CLP 7,334
-25.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oaxaca de Juarez
Santiago
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$422 MX$7,795
$430 CLP 423.7K
-2.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.0K MX$369.3K
$10.8K CLP 10.6M
85.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oaxaca de Juarez
Santiago
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5 MX$988
$49.65 CLP 48.9K
7.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.6 MX$1,138
$28.94 CLP 28.5K
112.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 MX$1,887
$65.7 CLP 64.6K
55.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.3 MX$1,816
$80.7 CLP 79.4K
21.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oaxaca de Juarez
Santiago
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$696 MX$12.9K
$559 CLP 550.4K
24.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$481 MX$8,885
$384 CLP 377.8K
25.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 MX$22.3K
$1,004 CLP 988.4K
20.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$892 MX$16.5K
$780 CLP 767.9K
14.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,640 CLP 2.6M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,546 CLP 2.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oaxaca de Juarez
Santiago
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$804 CLP 791.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.96
5.39
103.34%

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

Last update for Oaxaca de Juarez: 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
Oaxaca de Juarez
$481
Santiago
$384 20.2% $97
Groceries & Markets
Oaxaca de Juarez
$222
Santiago
$236 6.2% $14
Clothing & Footwear
Oaxaca de Juarez
$142
Santiago
$101 28.7% $41
Eating Out
Oaxaca de Juarez
$140
Santiago
$189 35.4% $50
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oaxaca de Juarez
$98
Santiago
$182 86.7% $85
Sport & Entertainment
Oaxaca de Juarez
$56
Santiago
$49 12.4% $6.9
Getting Around
Oaxaca de Juarez
$16 *
Santiago
$48 207% $33

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $696 in Oaxaca de Juarez and $559 in Santiago. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $33.00 in Oaxaca de Juarez vs $52.0 in Santiago for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $222 vs $236 per month, with Oaxaca de Juarez cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Oaxaca de Juarez
🇨🇱 Santiago
🕒 Local time
05:31 5:31 AM
08:31 8:31 AM
3 h ahead of Oaxaca de Juarez
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
258,913
6,139,087 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CLP, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

Chilean Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 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
  • Oaxaca de Juarez Santiago 6,260 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Oaxaca de Juarez
  • 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
Oaxaca de Juarez vs Santiago: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Oaxaca de Juarez or Santiago?
Oaxaca de Juarez wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Santiago. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Oaxaca de Juarez the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Oaxaca de Juarez and in Santiago?
You'd need roughly $1,731 in Oaxaca de Juarez and $1,785 in Santiago to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Oaxaca de Juarez compared to Santiago?
Rent for a central apartment: $696 in Oaxaca de Juarez versus $559 in Santiago. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Oaxaca de Juarez or in Santiago?
Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Santiago. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Oaxaca de Juarez compared to Santiago?
All in, you'll spend $1,154 per month in Oaxaca de Juarez versus $1,190 in Santiago – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Oaxaca de Juarez or in Santiago?
At $1,154 in Oaxaca de Juarez versus $1,190 in Santiago, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Oaxaca de Juarez but tight or insufficient in Santiago. The gap between the two cities makes Oaxaca de Juarez the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Oaxaca de Juarez or Santiago?
Both work as nomad bases, but Oaxaca de Juarez delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,154 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Oaxaca de Juarez hard to pass up.
How safe is Oaxaca de Juarez compared to Santiago?
Safety-wise, Oaxaca de Juarez and Santiago are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Oaxaca de Juarez gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Santiago. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Oaxaca de Juarez vs other spots: cost of living compared

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