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 $1,103 per month in Puerto Montt vs $1,290 in Santiago, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,660 per month in Puerto Montt vs $2,039 in Santiago, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,217 per month in Puerto Montt vs $2,788 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 18% lower, Santiago 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.45 CLP 7,515

$10.80 CLP 9,603

-21.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.39 CLP 34.1K

$54.2 CLP 48.2K

-29.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.69 CLP 6,838

$8.33 CLP 7,405

-7.68%

Cappuccino

$2.94 CLP 2,611

$3.11 CLP 2,764

-5.47%

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

$0.94 CLP 833

$1.76 CLP 1,569

-46.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.00 CLP 886

$1.28 CLP 1,139

-21.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.28 CLP 2,914

$3.28 CLP 2,919

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.13 CLP 3,677

$4.41 CLP 3,924

-6.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 CLP 1,035

$1.18 CLP 1,048

-1.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 CLP 1,334

$1.57 CLP 1,398

-4.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.92 CLP 1,710

$2.17 CLP 1,932

-11.52%

Eggs

$3.25 CLP 2,893

$4.16 CLP 3,695

-21.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 CLP 10.6K

$10.55 CLP 9,377

13.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.48 CLP 5,760

$6.66 CLP 5,918

-2.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.85 CLP 9,646

$10.83 CLP 9,626

0.18%

Apples (1kg)

$1.89 CLP 1,677

$2.08 CLP 1,849

-9.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 CLP 1,328

$1.63 CLP 1,452

-8.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 CLP 1,421

$2.09 CLP 1,861

-23.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.91 CLP 1,699

$1.84 CLP 1,640

3.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 CLP 1,141

$1.86 CLP 1,650

-31.18%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 CLP 1,245

$1.70 CLP 1,511

-17.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.38 CLP 1,230

$1.33 CLP 1,186

3.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 CLP 1,348

$1.18 CLP 1,051

28.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.86 CLP 4,324

$5.73 CLP 5,099

-15.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.32 CLP 5,618

$6.53 CLP 5,806

-3.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 CLP 1,310

$1.53 CLP 1,363

-3.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 CLP 1,974

$2.51 CLP 2,231

-11.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.62 CLP 554

$0.91 CLP 813

-31.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.61 CLP 37.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.51 CLP 455

$0.51 CLP 457

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 CLP 1,314

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.35 CLP 10.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 CLP 1,270

$1.43 CLP 1,268

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

$19.2K CLP 17.1M

$19.3K CLP 17.2M

-0.44%

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

$21.2K CLP 18.8M

$22.6K CLP 20.1M

-6.20%

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

$133 CLP 118.2K

$130 CLP 116.0K

1.90%

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

$11.62 CLP 10.3K

$13.74 CLP 12.2K

-15.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.25 CLP 19.8K

$21.91 CLP 19.5K

1.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.09 CLP 33.9K

$33.54 CLP 29.8K

13.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.45 CLP 19.1K

$21.03 CLP 18.7K

2.00%

Cinema Ticket

$5.62 CLP 4,994

$6.54 CLP 5,813

-14.07%

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

$433 CLP 385.2K

$437 CLP 388.9K

-0.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,711 CLP 7.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.5 CLP 45.8K

$54.3 CLP 48.3K

-5.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.65 CLP 27.3K

$32.57 CLP 29.0K

-5.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.2 CLP 55.3K

$78.2 CLP 69.5K

-20.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.2 CLP 72.2K

$83.6 CLP 74.4K

-2.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$472 CLP 419.6K

$512 CLP 455.3K

-7.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 CLP 332.8K

$467 CLP 415.6K

-19.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$886 CLP 787.4K

$1,014 CLP 901.6K

-12.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$595 CLP 528.8K

$919 CLP 817.1K

-35.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,857 CLP 2.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,999 CLP 2.7M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$858 CLP 762.9K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Santiago: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $472 in Puerto Montt versus $512 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: $237 vs $242 – 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 $1,655 per month in Puerto Montt and $1,934 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 $1,103 in Puerto Montt and $1,290 in Santiago. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $433 per month in Puerto Montt and $437 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 $1,103, than in Santiago at $1,290. 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.