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: $1,141 in Puerto Varas versus $1,021 in Valdivia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,652 in Puerto Varas versus $1,583 in Valdivia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,163 in Puerto Varas versus $2,145 in Valdivia.

Living in Puerto Varas is roughly 12% more expensive than in Valdivia, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Puerto Varas 17% lower, Valdivia 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.65 CLP 12.1K

$6.59 CLP 6,291

91.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.98 CLP 40.1K

$47.56 CLP 45.4K

-11.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.10 CLP 7,729

$6.97 CLP 6,647

16.21%

Cappuccino

$3.38 CLP 3,224

$2.11 CLP 2,010

60.19%

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

$1.01 CLP 962

$2.06 CLP 1,962

-50.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 CLP 761

$1.27 CLP 1,214

-37.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.62 CLP 3,450

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 CLP 3,442

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 CLP 1,114

$1.16 CLP 1,110

0.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.91 CLP 1,821

$1.32 CLP 1,259

44.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 CLP 1,500

$1.58 CLP 1,511

-0.63%

Eggs

$3.21 CLP 3,065

$3.14 CLP 2,992

2.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.69 CLP 8,295

$9.26 CLP 8,835

-6.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.56 CLP 4,352

$6.50 CLP 6,201

-29.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 CLP 8,248

$13.07 CLP 12.5K

-33.89%

Apples (1kg)

$1.72 CLP 1,640

$2.16 CLP 2,058

-20.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.96 CLP 1,871

$1.97 CLP 1,877

-0.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.65 CLP 2,532

$1.79 CLP 1,704

48.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.96 CLP 1,869

$1.84 CLP 1,755

6.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.60 CLP 1,529

$2.37 CLP 2,260

-32.49%

Onion (1kg)

$1.27 CLP 1,212

$1.54 CLP 1,466

-17.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 CLP 1,333

$1.52 CLP 1,452

-7.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 CLP 1,120

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.09 CLP 4,854

$5.24 CLP 5,004

-2.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.61 CLP 4,395

$4.62 CLP 4,405

-0.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 CLP 1,381

$1.57 CLP 1,499

-7.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.21 CLP 1,158

$2.16 CLP 2,063

-43.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 CLP 1,037

$0.59 CLP 559

84.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 CLP 971

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 CLP 1,372

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

$15.3K CLP 14.6M

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

$18.1K CLP 17.3M

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

$265 CLP 252.4K

$93.0 CLP 88.7K

184.52%

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

$16.60 CLP 15.8K

$13.69 CLP 13.1K

21.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.64 CLP 30.2K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.52 CLP 30.1K

$41.56 CLP 39.7K

-24.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.21 CLP 23.1K

Cinema Ticket

$4.73 CLP 4,514

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

$498 CLP 475.6K

$249 CLP 237.2K

100.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,172 CLP 5.9M

$3,114 CLP 3.0M

98.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.69 CLP 19.7K

$53.0 CLP 50.5K

-60.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$15.81 CLP 15.1K

$17.82 CLP 17.0K

-11.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.8 CLP 59.0K

$50.3 CLP 48.0K

22.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.4 CLP 73.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$631 CLP 602.1K

$592 CLP 565.3K

6.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$424 CLP 404.9K

$384 CLP 366.4K

10.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$848 CLP 808.9K

$994 CLP 948.5K

-14.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$616 CLP 587.3K

$564 CLP 537.8K

9.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,518 CLP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$552 CLP 526.9K

$632 CLP 603.0K

-12.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

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

Last update for Puerto Varas: September 13, 2026

Last update for Valdivia: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $631 in Puerto Varas and $592 in Valdivia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Valdivia pays 14% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $42.00 in Puerto Varas vs $48.00 in Valdivia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $211 vs $234 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 12% 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 14% 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: $631 in Puerto Varas versus $592 in Valdivia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Puerto Varas pay roughly 11% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,141 per month in Puerto Varas versus $1,021 in Valdivia – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,021 in Valdivia versus $1,141 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 12% less than in Puerto Varas. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.