Cost of Living Comparison Between Santiago and Arica Cost of Living Comparison Between Santiago and Arica

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,233 per month in Santiago vs $116 in Arica, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,947 per month in Santiago vs $188 in Arica, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,660 per month in Santiago vs $261 in Arica, rent included.

Santiago costs about 965% more than Arica, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Santiago and Arica are more affordable than the global median – Santiago 10% lower, Arica 92% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.81 CLP 10.1K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.9 CLP 49.4K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.15 CLP 8,546

Cappuccino

$3.38 CLP 3,160

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

$1.74 CLP 1,624

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 CLP 1,225

$1.25 CLP 1,171

4.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.30 CLP 4,019

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.94 CLP 4,614

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 CLP 1,277

$1.09 CLP 1,020

25.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.86 CLP 1,733

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 CLP 1,577

Eggs

$4.14 CLP 3,862

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.39 CLP 10.6K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.78 CLP 6,334

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.35 CLP 10.6K

Apples (1kg)

$2.01 CLP 1,875

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 CLP 1,539

Oranges (1kg)

$1.75 CLP 1,629

Tomato (1kg)

$1.78 CLP 1,666

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 CLP 1,044

Onion (1kg)

$1.61 CLP 1,504

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.32 CLP 1,233

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 CLP 1,050

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.61 CLP 5,242

Wine (Bottle)

$6.27 CLP 5,853

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 CLP 1,493

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 CLP 2,343

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 CLP 780

$0.77 CLP 715

7.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.10 CLP 39.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 CLP 386

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.89 CLP 831

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.16 CLP 11.3K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.59 CLP 1,483

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

$18.3K CLP 17.1M

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

$22.5K CLP 21.0M

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

$155 CLP 144.6K

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

$13.12 CLP 12.3K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.80 CLP 19.4K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.92 CLP 32.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.43 CLP 11.6K

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 CLP 7,176

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

$456 CLP 425.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.4K CLP 10.6M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.2 CLP 49.7K

$42.81 CLP 40.0K

24.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.18 CLP 28.2K

$21.15 CLP 19.7K

42.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.1 CLP 65.4K

$57.2 CLP 53.4K

22.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.3 CLP 79.7K

$97.8 CLP 91.4K

-12.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$555 CLP 518.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$389 CLP 362.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,084 CLP 1.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$818 CLP 763.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,686 CLP 2.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,689 CLP 2.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$836 CLP 780.6K

$538 CLP 502.2K

55.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.39

7.80%

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

Last update for Santiago: August 30, 2026

Last update for Arica: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 55% higher in Santiago, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 Arica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,233 in Santiago, $116 in Arica – roughly 965% apart. Santiago costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,849 per month in Santiago and $174 in Arica. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,233 in Santiago and $116 in Arica. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 2138% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Arica, where all-in costs run around $116, than in Santiago at $1,233. In Arica it covers expenses comfortably, while in Santiago it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Arica – 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 Arica. 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.