Cost of Living Comparison Between Puerto Montt and Santiago Cost of Living Comparison Between Puerto Montt and Santiago

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,110 per month in Puerto Montt vs $1,250 in Santiago, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,648 per month in Puerto Montt vs $2,011 in Santiago, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,186 per month in Puerto Montt vs $2,771 in Santiago, rent included.

Puerto Montt is about 11% cheaper than Santiago, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Puerto Montt and Santiago are more affordable than the global median – Puerto Montt 17% lower, Santiago 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.72 CLP 7,834

$10.98 CLP 9,868

-20.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.31 CLP 34.4K

$53.8 CLP 48.4K

-28.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.38 CLP 6,629

$8.29 CLP 7,452

-10.98%

Cappuccino

$2.99 CLP 2,689

$3.12 CLP 2,807

-4.17%

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

$0.94 CLP 845

$1.77 CLP 1,593

-46.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 CLP 833

$1.25 CLP 1,126

-25.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.15 CLP 2,835

$3.29 CLP 2,960

-4.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.09 CLP 3,678

$4.37 CLP 3,924

-6.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 CLP 1,085

$1.19 CLP 1,074

1.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 CLP 1,404

$1.57 CLP 1,408

-0.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.92 CLP 1,723

$2.20 CLP 1,975

-12.73%

Eggs

$3.45 CLP 3,099

$4.12 CLP 3,705

-16.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.97 CLP 10.8K

$10.51 CLP 9,444

13.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.82 CLP 6,127

$6.73 CLP 6,052

1.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.01 CLP 9,893

$11.09 CLP 9,967

-0.72%

Apples (1kg)

$1.90 CLP 1,712

$2.11 CLP 1,893

-9.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 CLP 1,334

$1.55 CLP 1,393

-4.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.54 CLP 1,385

$2.12 CLP 1,905

-27.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.94 CLP 1,745

$1.85 CLP 1,662

4.86%

Potato (1kg)

$1.29 CLP 1,158

$1.92 CLP 1,728

-32.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.41 CLP 1,271

$1.70 CLP 1,525

-17.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.33 CLP 1,197

$1.35 CLP 1,213

-1.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 CLP 1,369

$1.19 CLP 1,067

27.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.89 CLP 4,391

$5.64 CLP 5,073

-13.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.98 CLP 5,377

$6.43 CLP 5,780

-7.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 CLP 1,302

$1.54 CLP 1,381

-5.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 CLP 2,067

$2.59 CLP 2,325

-11.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.58 CLP 519

$0.92 CLP 829

-36.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.51 CLP 38.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 CLP 429

$0.47 CLP 419

2.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 CLP 1,273

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.33 CLP 10.2K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 CLP 1,235

$1.44 CLP 1,291

-4.86%

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

$19.3K CLP 17.3M

$19.2K CLP 17.3M

0.30%

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

$21.7K CLP 19.5M

$23.0K CLP 20.7M

-5.69%

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

$132 CLP 119.1K

$130 CLP 117.3K

1.55%

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

$11.74 CLP 10.6K

$13.75 CLP 12.4K

-14.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.29 CLP 20.0K

$22.14 CLP 19.9K

0.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.31 CLP 35.3K

$33.60 CLP 30.2K

16.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.05 CLP 18.9K

$21.36 CLP 19.2K

-1.45%

Cinema Ticket

$5.54 CLP 4,983

$6.59 CLP 5,920

-15.93%

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

$441 CLP 396.4K

$430 CLP 386.8K

2.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,655 CLP 7.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.4 CLP 45.3K

$55.9 CLP 50.2K

-9.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.82 CLP 27.7K

$32.34 CLP 29.1K

-4.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.5 CLP 56.2K

$75.7 CLP 68.0K

-17.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.7 CLP 73.5K

$83.4 CLP 75.0K

-1.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 CLP 432.7K

$505 CLP 453.8K

-4.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 CLP 331.5K

$461 CLP 414.0K

-19.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$869 CLP 781.2K

$985 CLP 885.2K

-11.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$599 CLP 538.1K

$921 CLP 828.0K

-35.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,787 CLP 2.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,837 CLP 2.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$856 CLP 769.5K

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 Puerto Montt: June 7, 2026

Last update for Santiago: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Puerto Montt versus $505 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 $38.00 in Puerto Montt versus $54.0 in Santiago. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $243 – making Puerto Montt 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

Puerto Montt vs Santiago: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Santiago costs about 13% more than Puerto Montt, 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 $1,664 per month in Puerto Montt and $1,876 in Santiago. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,110 in Puerto Montt and $1,250 in Santiago. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $441 per month in Puerto Montt and $430 in Santiago. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Puerto Montt, where all-in costs run around $1,110, than in Santiago at $1,250. In Puerto Montt it covers expenses comfortably, while in Santiago it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Puerto Montt – 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 Puerto Montt. 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.