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 $455 per month in Puerto Montt vs $1,198 in Santiago, rent included.

A couple spends around $769 per month in Puerto Montt vs $1,914 in Santiago, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,083 per month in Puerto Montt vs $2,631 in Santiago, rent included.

Puerto Montt is about 62% cheaper than Santiago, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Puerto Montt and Santiago are more affordable than the global median – Puerto Montt 67% lower, Santiago 12% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.42 CLP 8,036

$10.44 CLP 9,959

-19.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.27 CLP 34.6K

$53.0 CLP 50.6K

-31.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.51 CLP 7,165

$8.77 CLP 8,367

-14.37%

Cappuccino

$2.78 CLP 2,650

$3.35 CLP 3,196

-17.01%

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

$0.90 CLP 861

$1.71 CLP 1,628

-47.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.96 CLP 916

$1.30 CLP 1,243

-26.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.17 CLP 3,977

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.78 CLP 4,561

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 CLP 1,120

$1.28 CLP 1,221

-8.59%

White Bread (500g)

$2.59 CLP 2,467

$1.76 CLP 1,683

47.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.45 CLP 1,381

$1.65 CLP 1,575

-12.12%

Eggs

$3.21 CLP 3,060

$4.18 CLP 3,993

-23.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.34 CLP 10.8K

$11.35 CLP 10.8K

-0.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.81 CLP 5,546

$6.75 CLP 6,438

-13.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.24 CLP 6,907

$10.91 CLP 10.4K

-33.64%

Apples (1kg)

$1.06 CLP 1,011

$2.00 CLP 1,908

-47.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 CLP 1,370

$1.54 CLP 1,468

-6.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.65 CLP 2,527

$1.65 CLP 1,575

60.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.87 CLP 1,784

$1.80 CLP 1,718

3.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.10 CLP 1,049

Onion (1kg)

$1.59 CLP 1,514

$1.49 CLP 1,421

6.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.30 CLP 1,238

$1.24 CLP 1,182

4.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.56 CLP 1,490

$1.13 CLP 1,081

38.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.84 CLP 4,618

$5.30 CLP 5,053

-8.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.89 CLP 5,622

$6.22 CLP 5,937

-5.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 CLP 1,371

$1.62 CLP 1,545

-11.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 CLP 1,488

$2.48 CLP 2,369

-37.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 CLP 863

$0.81 CLP 769

11.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.63 CLP 39.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.44 CLP 415

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.85 CLP 808

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.79 CLP 11.2K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 CLP 1,262

$1.55 CLP 1,482

-14.84%

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

$18.2K CLP 17.4M

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

$21.9K CLP 20.9M

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

$63.9 CLP 61.0K

$154 CLP 146.9K

-58.47%

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

$11.40 CLP 10.9K

$12.82 CLP 12.2K

-11.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.60 CLP 30.2K

$20.16 CLP 19.2K

56.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.36 CLP 32.8K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.94 CLP 11.4K

Cinema Ticket

$7.56 CLP 7,217

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

$147 CLP 139.9K

$449 CLP 428.0K

-67.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.2K CLP 10.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.6 CLP 48.3K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.29 CLP 27.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.9 CLP 65.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.5 CLP 79.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$529 CLP 505.0K

$574 CLP 548.2K

-7.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$391 CLP 372.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,038 CLP 990.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$777 CLP 741.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,663 CLP 2.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,567 CLP 2.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$808 CLP 771.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.39

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

Last update for Puerto Montt: September 14, 2026

Last update for Santiago: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $529 in Puerto Montt versus $574 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 $36.00 in Puerto Montt versus $53.0 in Santiago. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $224 vs $239 – 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 163% more than Puerto Montt, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $682 per month in Puerto Montt and $1,796 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 $455 in Puerto Montt and $1,198 in Santiago. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $147 per month in Puerto Montt and $449 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 $455, than in Santiago at $1,198. 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.