Cost of Living Comparison Between Santiago and Calama Cost of Living Comparison Between Santiago and Calama

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,256 in Santiago versus $1,095 in Calama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,031 in Santiago versus $1,605 in Calama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,806 in Santiago versus $2,115 in Calama.

Living in Santiago is roughly 15% more expensive than in Calama, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Santiago 6% lower, Calama 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.72 CLP 9,972

$8.17 CLP 7,599

31.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.0 CLP 49.3K

$33.06 CLP 30.8K

60.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.30 CLP 7,722

$8.02 CLP 7,466

3.49%

Cappuccino

$3.25 CLP 3,023

$2.10 CLP 1,951

54.76%

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

$1.69 CLP 1,573

$1.00 CLP 932

69.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 CLP 1,207

$0.94 CLP 874

38.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.25 CLP 3,028

$3.32 CLP 3,086

-2.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.34 CLP 4,039

$4.13 CLP 3,846

5.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 CLP 1,102

$1.22 CLP 1,140

-3.28%

White Bread (500g)

$1.52 CLP 1,416

$1.51 CLP 1,409

0.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.12 CLP 1,968

$1.91 CLP 1,781

10.99%

Eggs

$3.99 CLP 3,716

$3.45 CLP 3,209

15.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.27 CLP 9,555

$10.61 CLP 9,869

-3.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.87 CLP 6,391

$6.80 CLP 6,325

1.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.83 CLP 10.1K

$10.79 CLP 10.0K

0.37%

Apples (1kg)

$2.12 CLP 1,968

$1.83 CLP 1,698

15.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 CLP 1,515

$1.57 CLP 1,463

3.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.12 CLP 1,972

$1.60 CLP 1,493

32.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.85 CLP 1,718

$1.46 CLP 1,355

26.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 CLP 1,764

$1.28 CLP 1,188

48.44%

Onion (1kg)

$1.67 CLP 1,553

$1.40 CLP 1,300

19.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.33 CLP 1,240

$1.21 CLP 1,127

9.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 CLP 1,101

$1.17 CLP 1,092

0.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.56 CLP 5,175

$5.48 CLP 5,100

1.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.41 CLP 5,960

$5.75 CLP 5,348

11.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.56 CLP 1,456

$1.56 CLP 1,452

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 CLP 2,289

$2.33 CLP 2,164

5.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 CLP 863

$0.57 CLP 533

63.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.96 CLP 40.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.47 CLP 442

$0.51 CLP 472

-7.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 CLP 1,313

$1.46 CLP 1,356

-3.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.65 CLP 10.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 CLP 1,288

$1.59 CLP 1,481

-13.21%

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

$19.7K CLP 18.3M

$19.3K CLP 18.0M

1.77%

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

$23.1K CLP 21.5M

$21.4K CLP 19.9M

8.19%

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

$130 CLP 120.6K

$134 CLP 124.8K

-3.39%

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

$13.50 CLP 12.6K

$13.74 CLP 12.8K

-1.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.10 CLP 20.6K

$21.91 CLP 20.4K

0.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.69 CLP 32.3K

$38.09 CLP 35.4K

-8.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.33 CLP 19.8K

$21.35 CLP 19.9K

-0.09%

Cinema Ticket

$6.61 CLP 6,149

$5.82 CLP 5,414

13.57%

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

$439 CLP 408.8K

$443 CLP 412.5K

-0.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,743 CLP 8.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.5 CLP 50.7K

$51.5 CLP 47.9K

5.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.47 CLP 31.1K

$29.75 CLP 27.7K

12.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.0 CLP 71.7K

$60.8 CLP 56.5K

26.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.7 CLP 79.7K

$82.2 CLP 76.4K

4.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$515 CLP 479.0K

$346 CLP 322.1K

48.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$467 CLP 434.3K

$370 CLP 344.4K

26.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,016 CLP 944.9K

$851 CLP 791.9K

19.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$897 CLP 835.0K

$597 CLP 555.2K

50.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,749 CLP 2.6M

$1,455 CLP 1.4M

88.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,714 CLP 2.5M

$1,265 CLP 1.2M

114.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$797 CLP 741.4K

$1,184 CLP 1.1M

-32.69%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Calama: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $515 in Santiago and $346 in Calama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calama pays 49% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $53.0 in Santiago vs $33.00 in Calama for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $241 vs $229 per month, with Calama 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 Calama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calama wins on cost – living expenses run 15% lower than in Santiago. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Calama the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 49% lower in Calama. 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: $515 in Santiago versus $346 in Calama. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Santiago. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,256 per month in Santiago versus $1,095 in Calama – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,095 in Calama versus $1,256 in Santiago, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Calama but tight or insufficient in Santiago. The gap between the two cities makes Calama 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 Calama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Santiago. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.