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 $1,074 per month in Puerto Montt vs $1,256 in Santiago, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,632 per month in Puerto Montt vs $2,031 in Santiago, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,190 per month in Puerto Montt vs $2,806 in Santiago, rent included.

Puerto Montt is about 14% cheaper than Santiago, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Puerto Montt and Santiago are more affordable than the global median – Puerto Montt 19% lower, Santiago 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.59 CLP 7,996

$10.72 CLP 9,972

-19.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.14 CLP 34.6K

$53.0 CLP 49.3K

-29.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.58 CLP 7,056

$8.30 CLP 7,722

-8.67%

Cappuccino

$2.89 CLP 2,694

$3.25 CLP 3,023

-11.08%

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

$0.98 CLP 915

$1.69 CLP 1,573

-42.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 CLP 914

$1.30 CLP 1,207

-24.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.22 CLP 2,993

$3.25 CLP 3,028

-0.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 CLP 3,943

$4.34 CLP 4,039

-2.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 CLP 1,139

$1.18 CLP 1,102

3.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 CLP 1,398

$1.52 CLP 1,416

-1.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 CLP 1,730

$2.12 CLP 1,968

-12.26%

Eggs

$3.43 CLP 3,192

$3.99 CLP 3,716

-14.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.63 CLP 10.8K

$10.27 CLP 9,555

13.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.53 CLP 6,073

$6.87 CLP 6,391

-4.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.91 CLP 10.1K

$10.83 CLP 10.1K

0.74%

Apples (1kg)

$1.83 CLP 1,706

$2.12 CLP 1,968

-13.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 CLP 1,340

$1.63 CLP 1,515

-11.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.59 CLP 1,482

$2.12 CLP 1,972

-25.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.91 CLP 1,780

$1.85 CLP 1,718

3.24%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 CLP 1,147

$1.90 CLP 1,764

-35.26%

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 CLP 1,252

$1.67 CLP 1,553

-19.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.32 CLP 1,231

$1.33 CLP 1,240

-0.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 CLP 1,410

$1.18 CLP 1,101

28.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.98 CLP 4,633

$5.56 CLP 5,175

-10.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.78 CLP 5,379

$6.41 CLP 5,960

-9.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.48 CLP 1,381

$1.56 CLP 1,456

-5.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 CLP 2,083

$2.46 CLP 2,289

-8.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.61 CLP 569

$0.93 CLP 863

-34.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.96 CLP 40.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.47 CLP 435

$0.47 CLP 442

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 CLP 1,313

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.65 CLP 10.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 CLP 1,274

$1.38 CLP 1,288

-0.72%

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

$19.8K CLP 18.4M

$19.7K CLP 18.3M

0.44%

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

$21.6K CLP 20.1M

$23.1K CLP 21.5M

-6.53%

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

$130 CLP 120.8K

$130 CLP 120.6K

0.19%

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

$11.91 CLP 11.1K

$13.50 CLP 12.6K

-11.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.93 CLP 20.4K

$22.10 CLP 20.6K

-0.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.08 CLP 36.4K

$34.69 CLP 32.3K

12.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.29 CLP 19.8K

$21.33 CLP 19.8K

-0.19%

Cinema Ticket

$5.54 CLP 5,151

$6.61 CLP 6,149

-16.19%

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

$439 CLP 408.0K

$439 CLP 408.8K

-0.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,743 CLP 8.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.6 CLP 47.1K

$54.5 CLP 50.7K

-7.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.76 CLP 28.6K

$33.47 CLP 31.1K

-8.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.9 CLP 58.5K

$77.0 CLP 71.7K

-18.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.9 CLP 75.3K

$85.7 CLP 79.7K

-5.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 CLP 453.6K

$515 CLP 479.0K

-5.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$380 CLP 353.7K

$467 CLP 434.3K

-18.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$878 CLP 816.9K

$1,016 CLP 944.9K

-13.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$591 CLP 549.5K

$897 CLP 835.0K

-34.20%

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 741.4K

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Santiago: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Puerto Montt 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 $37.00 in Puerto Montt versus $53.0 in Santiago. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $236 vs $241 – 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 17% 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 $1,611 per month in Puerto Montt 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 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 $1,074 in Puerto Montt and $1,256 in Santiago. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $439 per month in Puerto Montt and $439 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 $1,074, than in Santiago at $1,256. 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.