Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between San Pedro de Atacama and Santiago

For one person, living is cheaper in San Pedro de Atacama: $1,076 a month against $1,183 in Santiago, rent and utilities included – about $1,300 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

52

Cost of Living Index in San Pedro de Atacama
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San Pedro de Atacama Living Index
57

Cost of Living Index in Santiago
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Santiago Living Index

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San Pedro de Atacama

🇨🇱 Chile

$1,076

/mo nomad

Santiago

🇨🇱 Chile

$1,183

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in San Pedro de Atacama and in Santiago

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in San Pedro de Atacama and in Santiago actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,076 per month in San Pedro de Atacama vs $1,183 in Santiago, rent included.

San Pedro de Atacama $1,076
Santiago $1,183

A couple spends around $1,633 per month in San Pedro de Atacama vs $1,882 in Santiago, rent included.

San Pedro de Atacama $1,633
Santiago $1,882

A family of three spends $2,191 per month in San Pedro de Atacama vs $2,581 in Santiago, rent included.

San Pedro de Atacama $2,191
Santiago $2,581

San Pedro de Atacama is about 9% cheaper than Santiago, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both San Pedro de Atacama and Santiago are more affordable than the global median – San Pedro de Atacama 21% lower, Santiago 13% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.25 CLP 7,135

$10.15 CLP 9,995

-28.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.15 CLP 43.5K

$51.9 CLP 51.1K

-14.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.21 CLP 8,083

$8.56 CLP 8,423

-4.09%

Cappuccino

$2.81 CLP 2,771

$3.15 CLP 3,101

-10.79%

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

$1.58 CLP 1,554

$1.71 CLP 1,685

-7.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.22 CLP 1,197

$1.28 CLP 1,255

-4.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.59 CLP 3,539

$4.18 CLP 4,118

-14.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 CLP 3,956

$4.46 CLP 4,390

-9.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 CLP 1,211

$1.29 CLP 1,269

-4.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 CLP 1,441

$1.76 CLP 1,737

-17.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 CLP 1,674

$1.66 CLP 1,630

2.41%

Eggs

$3.70 CLP 3,642

$4.21 CLP 4,140

-12.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.31 CLP 10.2K

$11.08 CLP 10.9K

-6.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.84 CLP 6,733

$6.75 CLP 6,641

1.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.47 CLP 11.3K

$10.76 CLP 10.6K

6.60%

Apples (1kg)

$1.96 CLP 1,929

$1.96 CLP 1,927

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 CLP 1,589

$1.54 CLP 1,518

4.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.75 CLP 1,723

$1.58 CLP 1,560

10.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.68 CLP 1,658

$1.74 CLP 1,713

-3.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.64 CLP 1,619

$1.09 CLP 1,075

50.46%

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 CLP 1,518

$1.53 CLP 1,509

0.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.35 CLP 1,329

$1.18 CLP 1,163

14.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 CLP 1,165

$1.08 CLP 1,060

9.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.06 CLP 4,986

$5.18 CLP 5,101

-2.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.17 CLP 5,092

$6.17 CLP 6,070

-16.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 CLP 1,516

$1.53 CLP 1,511

0.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 CLP 2,218

$2.36 CLP 2,325

-4.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.61 CLP 601

$0.84 CLP 824

-27.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.44 CLP 40.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.71 CLP 700

$0.42 CLP 416

69.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.88 CLP 869

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.49 CLP 11.3K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 CLP 1,403

$1.49 CLP 1,462

-4.03%

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

$17.7K CLP 17.4M

$17.2K CLP 17.0M

2.69%

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

$19.1K CLP 18.8M

$25.6K CLP 25.2M

-25.24%

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

$132 CLP 130.3K

$149 CLP 146.3K

-10.90%

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

$13.60 CLP 13.4K

$12.11 CLP 11.9K

12.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.89 CLP 21.6K

$19.13 CLP 18.8K

14.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.84 CLP 37.3K

$33.30 CLP 32.8K

13.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.99 CLP 22.6K

$11.51 CLP 11.3K

99.74%

Cinema Ticket

$5.31 CLP 5,226

$7.32 CLP 7,208

-27.46%

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

$385 CLP 379.4K

$436 CLP 429.2K

-11.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,576 CLP 8.4M

$11.0K CLP 10.8M

-21.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.73 CLP 47.0K

$49.17 CLP 48.4K

-2.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.86 CLP 24.5K

$29.11 CLP 28.7K

-14.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.4 CLP 61.4K

$65.5 CLP 64.5K

-4.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.9 CLP 80.6K

$80.1 CLP 78.9K

2.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$485 CLP 477.4K

$554 CLP 545.8K

-12.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$372 CLP 366.2K

$383 CLP 376.6K

-2.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$904 CLP 889.7K

$1,002 CLP 986.5K

-9.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$598 CLP 588.4K

$775 CLP 762.5K

-22.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,312 CLP 2.3M

$2,708 CLP 2.7M

-14.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 CLP 2.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$778 CLP 766.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.01

5.39

-7.05%

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

Last update for San Pedro de Atacama: October 18, 2026

Last update for Santiago: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

San Pedro de Atacama

$372 34.6%

Santiago

$383 32.3% 2.8% $11

Groceries & Markets

San Pedro de Atacama

$233 21.7%

Santiago

$236 20% 1.2% $2.9

Monthly Utilities & Internet

San Pedro de Atacama

$168 15.6%

Santiago

$180 15.2% 7.1% $12

Eating Out

San Pedro de Atacama

$154 14.3%

Santiago

$186 15.8% 21.4% $33

Clothing & Footwear

San Pedro de Atacama

$98 9.1%

Santiago

$101 8.5% 3.2% $3.1

Sport & Entertainment

San Pedro de Atacama

$48 4.5%

Santiago

$48 4.1% 1.1% $0.5

Getting Around

San Pedro de Atacama

$3.2 * 0.3%

Santiago

$50 4.2% 1476% $46

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $485 in San Pedro de Atacama versus $554 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 $44.00 in San Pedro de Atacama versus $52.0 in Santiago. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $233 vs $236 – making San Pedro de Atacama the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇨🇱 San Pedro de Atacama

🇨🇱 Santiago

🕒 Local time

07:53 7:53 AM

Same time as San Pedro de Atacama

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

5,347

6,139,087 Capital

💱 Currency

Chilean Peso CLP $

📈 Exchange rate

10,000 CLP = 10.16 USD

10,000 CLP = 9.04 EUR

10,000 CLP = 10.16 USD

10,000 CLP = 9.04 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

San Pedro de Atacama Santiago 1,190 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

San Pedro de Atacama
Santiago

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

San Pedro de Atacama vs Santiago: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Santiago is pricier by about 10%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in transport.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,614 per month in San Pedro de Atacama and $1,775 in Santiago. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in San Pedro de Atacama, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in San Pedro de Atacama and $52.0 in Santiago. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 1% more in Santiago, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in San Pedro de Atacama, where all-in costs run around $1,076, than in Santiago at $1,183. In San Pedro de Atacama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Santiago it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward San Pedro de Atacama – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with San Pedro de Atacama. 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.