Cost of Living Comparison Between Puerto Varas and Valdivia Cost of Living Comparison Between Puerto Varas and Valdivia

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,130 in Puerto Varas versus $1,070 in Valdivia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,704 in Puerto Varas versus $1,636 in Valdivia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,278 in Puerto Varas versus $2,201 in Valdivia.

Living in Puerto Varas is roughly 6% more expensive than in Valdivia, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Puerto Varas 15% lower, Valdivia 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.02 CLP 12.1K

$6.54 CLP 6,084

99.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.03 CLP 40.0K

$43.80 CLP 40.8K

-1.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.13 CLP 7,561

$7.19 CLP 6,690

13.07%

Cappuccino

$3.10 CLP 2,886

$2.53 CLP 2,355

22.53%

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

$1.09 CLP 1,015

$2.40 CLP 2,233

-54.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 CLP 818

$1.54 CLP 1,433

-42.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.29 CLP 3,064

$3.82 CLP 3,551

-13.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.07 CLP 3,788

$4.12 CLP 3,834

-1.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 CLP 1,138

$1.23 CLP 1,145

-0.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 CLP 1,456

$1.44 CLP 1,339

8.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 CLP 1,723

$1.70 CLP 1,579

8.82%

Eggs

$3.49 CLP 3,246

$3.10 CLP 2,882

12.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.31 CLP 9,596

$9.40 CLP 8,750

9.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.59 CLP 6,133

$6.87 CLP 6,397

-4.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.15 CLP 10.4K

$13.27 CLP 12.3K

-15.98%

Apples (1kg)

$1.88 CLP 1,752

$2.23 CLP 2,077

-15.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 CLP 1,446

$2.01 CLP 1,869

-22.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.55 CLP 1,439

$1.85 CLP 1,720

-16.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.44 CLP 1,342

$1.88 CLP 1,745

-23.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 CLP 1,185

$2.46 CLP 2,287

-48.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 CLP 1,256

$1.58 CLP 1,472

-14.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.27 CLP 1,179

$1.51 CLP 1,401

-15.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 CLP 1,130

$1.16 CLP 1,079

4.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.24 CLP 4,873

$5.36 CLP 4,988

-2.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.96 CLP 5,541

$4.88 CLP 4,545

22.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 CLP 1,442

$1.54 CLP 1,437

0.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 CLP 2,169

$2.26 CLP 2,098

3.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.62 CLP 573

$0.55 CLP 513

12.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 CLP 446

$1.67 CLP 1,552

-71.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 CLP 1,330

$1.38 CLP 1,280

3.62%

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

$19.5K CLP 18.1M

$15.6K CLP 14.5M

24.89%

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

$21.2K CLP 19.7M

$18.0K CLP 16.7M

17.78%

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

$133 CLP 124.1K

$95.3 CLP 88.7K

39.96%

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

$13.43 CLP 12.5K

$18.78 CLP 17.5K

-28.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.14 CLP 20.6K

$29.28 CLP 27.2K

-24.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.81 CLP 36.1K

$43.25 CLP 40.2K

-10.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.65 CLP 20.1K

$24.37 CLP 22.7K

-11.16%

Cinema Ticket

$5.55 CLP 5,162

$4.81 CLP 4,479

15.38%

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

$433 CLP 402.9K

$270 CLP 251.4K

60.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.6 CLP 47.1K

$52.8 CLP 49.2K

-4.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.74 CLP 28.6K

$18.35 CLP 17.1K

67.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.7 CLP 56.5K

$52.8 CLP 49.1K

14.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.9 CLP 75.3K

$80.2 CLP 74.6K

0.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$473 CLP 439.8K

$610 CLP 567.5K

-22.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 CLP 352.5K

$384 CLP 357.5K

-1.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$893 CLP 830.6K

$1,041 CLP 968.9K

-14.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$596 CLP 554.5K

$597 CLP 555.8K

-0.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,601 CLP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$549 CLP 510.9K

$656 CLP 610.5K

-16.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.18

4.5

15.11%

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

Last update for Puerto Varas: July 27, 2026

Last update for Valdivia: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $473 in Puerto Varas and $610 in Valdivia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Valdivia pays 20% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $43.00 in Puerto Varas vs $44.00 in Valdivia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $229 vs $241 per month, with Puerto Varas cheaper across the board.

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 Varas vs Valdivia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Valdivia wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Puerto Varas. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Valdivia the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 20% lower in Valdivia. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $473 in Puerto Varas versus $610 in Valdivia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Puerto Varas pay roughly 5% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,130 per month in Puerto Varas versus $1,070 in Valdivia – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,070 in Valdivia versus $1,130 in Puerto Varas, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Valdivia but tight or insufficient in Puerto Varas. The gap between the two cities makes Valdivia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Valdivia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Puerto Varas. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.