Cost of Living Comparison Between Santiago and Ancud Cost of Living Comparison Between Santiago and Ancud

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,250 in Santiago versus $1,066 in Ancud.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,011 in Santiago versus $1,612 in Ancud.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,771 in Santiago versus $2,159 in Ancud.

Living in Santiago is roughly 17% more expensive than Ancud, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Santiago 7% lower, Ancud 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.98 CLP 9,868

$8.73 CLP 7,845

25.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.8 CLP 48.4K

$44.15 CLP 39.7K

21.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.29 CLP 7,452

$7.79 CLP 6,998

6.42%

Cappuccino

$3.12 CLP 2,807

$2.80 CLP 2,518

11.43%

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

$1.77 CLP 1,593

$1.29 CLP 1,162

37.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.25 CLP 1,126

$1.07 CLP 958

16.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.29 CLP 2,960

$3.25 CLP 2,922

1.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.37 CLP 3,924

$4.30 CLP 3,866

1.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 CLP 1,074

$1.22 CLP 1,101

-2.46%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 CLP 1,408

$1.53 CLP 1,375

2.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 CLP 1,975

$1.91 CLP 1,720

15.18%

Eggs

$4.12 CLP 3,705

$3.63 CLP 3,260

13.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.51 CLP 9,444

$10.32 CLP 9,277

1.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.73 CLP 6,052

$6.49 CLP 5,835

3.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.09 CLP 9,967

$10.83 CLP 9,729

2.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.11 CLP 1,893

$1.86 CLP 1,674

13.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 CLP 1,393

$1.56 CLP 1,405

-0.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.12 CLP 1,905

$1.52 CLP 1,365

39.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.85 CLP 1,662

$1.46 CLP 1,316

26.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 CLP 1,728

$1.29 CLP 1,158

48.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.70 CLP 1,525

$1.39 CLP 1,252

22.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.35 CLP 1,213

$1.27 CLP 1,139

6.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 CLP 1,067

$1.23 CLP 1,107

-3.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.64 CLP 5,073

$5.48 CLP 4,922

2.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.43 CLP 5,780

$6.04 CLP 5,432

6.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 CLP 1,381

$1.61 CLP 1,446

-4.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 CLP 2,325

$2.22 CLP 1,991

16.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.92 CLP 829

$0.63 CLP 565

46.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.51 CLP 38.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.47 CLP 419

$0.50 CLP 450

-6.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 CLP 1,273

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.33 CLP 10.2K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 CLP 1,291

$1.42 CLP 1,275

1.41%

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

$19.2K CLP 17.3M

$19.5K CLP 17.5M

-1.32%

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

$23.0K CLP 20.7M

$21.1K CLP 18.9M

9.14%

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

$130 CLP 117.3K

$132 CLP 118.2K

-0.80%

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

$13.75 CLP 12.4K

$13.66 CLP 12.3K

0.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.14 CLP 19.9K

$21.53 CLP 19.3K

2.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.60 CLP 30.2K

$39.14 CLP 35.2K

-14.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.36 CLP 19.2K

$21.47 CLP 19.3K

-0.51%

Cinema Ticket

$6.59 CLP 5,920

$5.71 CLP 5,136

15.41%

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

$430 CLP 386.8K

$439 CLP 394.5K

-1.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,655 CLP 7.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.9 CLP 50.2K

$51.0 CLP 45.8K

9.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.34 CLP 29.1K

$30.42 CLP 27.3K

6.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.7 CLP 68.0K

$61.9 CLP 55.7K

22.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.4 CLP 75.0K

$82.2 CLP 73.9K

1.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$505 CLP 453.8K

$487 CLP 438.0K

3.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$461 CLP 414.0K

$380 CLP 341.5K

21.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$985 CLP 885.2K

$878 CLP 789.4K

12.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$921 CLP 828.0K

$582 CLP 523.0K

58.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,787 CLP 2.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,837 CLP 2.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$856 CLP 769.5K

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 Santiago: June 6, 2026

Last update for Ancud: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $505 in Santiago and $487 in Ancud. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $54.0 in Santiago vs $44.00 in Ancud for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $229 per month, with Ancud 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

Santiago vs Ancud: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ancud is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,876 in Santiago and $1,599 in Ancud to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $505 in Santiago versus $487 in Ancud. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Santiago. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,250 per month in Santiago versus $1,066 in Ancud – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,066 in Ancud versus $1,250 in Santiago, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ancud but tight or insufficient in Santiago. The gap between the two cities makes Ancud 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 Ancud gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Santiago. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.