Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Santiago and Diego Martin

For one person, living is cheaper in Santiago: $1,190 a month against $1,343 in Diego Martin, rent and utilities included – about $1,800 less a year. The total is higher in Diego Martin despite lower rent and utilities.

Santiago
🇨🇱 Chile
$1,190
/mo nomad
Diego Martin
🇹🇹 Trinidad And Tobago
$1,343
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Santiago and in Diego Martin

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

A single person spends $1,190 per month in Santiago vs $1,343 in Diego Martin, rent included.

  • Santiago $1,190
  • Diego Martin $1,343

A couple spends around $1,892 per month in Santiago vs $2,296 in Diego Martin, rent included.

  • Santiago $1,892
  • Diego Martin $2,296

A family of three spends $2,595 per month in Santiago vs $3,249 in Diego Martin, rent included.

  • Santiago $2,595
  • Diego Martin $3,249

Santiago is about 11% cheaper than Diego Martin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Santiago sits 12% below the global median, while Diego Martin is 0% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santiago
Diego Martin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.37 CLP 10.2K
$11.69 TTD 78.6
-11.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.7 CLP 50.9K
$87.3 TTD 587
-40.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.94 CLP 8,805
$8.67 TTD 58.3
3.11%
Cappuccino
$3.26 CLP 3,211
$3.80 TTD 25.54
-14.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 CLP 1,640
$1.22 TTD 8.22
36.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23 CLP 1,212
$0.87 TTD 5.84
41.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.98 CLP 3,914
$2.23 TTD 14.97
78.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.54 CLP 4,465
$3.74 TTD 25.14
21.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santiago
Diego Martin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.28 CLP 1,263
$2.46 TTD 16.53
-47.97%
White Bread (500g)
$1.85 CLP 1,817
$2.35 TTD 15.78
-21.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.59 CLP 1,567
$2.78 TTD 18.73
-42.81%
Eggs
$4.10 CLP 4,031
$4.43 TTD 29.78
-7.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.41 CLP 11.2K
$6.79 TTD 45.69
68.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.69 CLP 6,586
$9.89 TTD 66.5
-32.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.81 CLP 10.6K
$8.92 TTD 60.0
21.19%
Apples (1kg)
$1.94 CLP 1,905
$5.57 TTD 37.47
-65.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 CLP 1,497
$2.45 TTD 16.50
-37.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 CLP 1,577
$3.60 TTD 24.24
-55.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.69 CLP 1,668
$4.30 TTD 28.93
-60.70%
Potato (1kg)
$1.10 CLP 1,084
$0.70 TTD 4.72
57.14%
Onion (1kg)
$1.52 CLP 1,500
$0.76 TTD 5.12
100.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 CLP 1,164
$1.49 TTD 10.05
-20.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 CLP 1,061
$1.17 TTD 7.85
-7.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.07 CLP 4,995
$5.44 TTD 36.62
-6.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.95 CLP 5,858
$17.52 TTD 118
-66.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.49 CLP 1,470
$1.48 TTD 9.99
0.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 CLP 2,342
$2.98 TTD 20.06
-20.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Santiago
Diego Martin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 CLP 821
$0.87 TTD 5.83
-4.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.14 CLP 39.5K
$73.4 TTD 493
-45.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.40 CLP 393
$1.00 TTD 6.73
-60.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.91 CLP 897
$0.91 TTD 6.15
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.63 CLP 11.5K
$14.85 TTD 99.9
-21.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.51 CLP 1,486
$1.17 TTD 7.84
29.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K CLP 17.3M
$14.4K TTD 97.0K
21.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K CLP 21.6M
$41.3K TTD 278.0K
-46.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santiago
Diego Martin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$151 CLP 149.0K
$44.68 TTD 301
238.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.34 CLP 12.1K
$41.43 TTD 279
-70.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.73 CLP 18.4K
$44.69 TTD 301
-58.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santiago
Diego Martin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.71 CLP 33.2K
$43.24 TTD 291
-22.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.80 CLP 11.6K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.45 CLP 7,334
$8.84 TTD 59.5
-15.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santiago
Diego Martin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$430 CLP 423.7K
$398 TTD 2,677
8.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.8K CLP 10.6M
$10.7K TTD 71.9K
1.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santiago
Diego Martin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.65 CLP 48.9K
$53.9 TTD 362
-7.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.94 CLP 28.5K
$36.76 TTD 247
-21.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$65.7 CLP 64.6K
$86.7 TTD 584
-24.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.7 CLP 79.4K
$88.5 TTD 595
-8.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santiago
Diego Martin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$559 CLP 550.4K
$666 TTD 4,481
-16.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$384 CLP 377.8K
$434 TTD 2,917
-11.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,004 CLP 988.4K
$1,443 TTD 9,704
-30.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$780 CLP 767.9K
$954 TTD 6,414
-18.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,640 CLP 2.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,546 CLP 2.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santiago
Diego Martin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$804 CLP 791.0K
$1,735 TTD 11.7K
-53.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.39
5.75
-6.26%

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

Last update for Santiago: October 11, 2026

Last update for Diego Martin: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Santiago
$384
Diego Martin
$434 13% $50
Groceries & Markets
Santiago
$236
Diego Martin
$324 37.3% $88
Eating Out
Santiago
$189
Diego Martin
$192 1.4% $2.6
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santiago
$182
Diego Martin
$131 28.3% $52
Clothing & Footwear
Santiago
$101
Diego Martin
$120 18.2% $18
Sport & Entertainment
Santiago
$49
Diego Martin
$61 25.3% $12
Getting Around
Santiago
$48
Diego Martin
$82 70.1% $34

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $559 in Santiago versus $666 in Diego Martin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 116% higher in Diego Martin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Santiago versus $87.0 in Diego Martin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $236 vs $324 – making Santiago the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇱 Santiago
🇹🇹 Diego Martin
🕒 Local time
06:58 6:58 AM
05:58 5:58 AM
1 h behind Santiago
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
6,139,087 Capital
25,370
Exchange rates and currency converter

TTD, USD, EUR to CLP – Chilean Peso Converter

Chilean Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 984 CLP (1,000 CLP = 1.02 USD). 1 EUR = 1,107 CLP (10,000 CLP = 9.04 EUR).

Trinidad and Tobago Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 6.73 TTD (1 TTD = 0.149 USD). 1 EUR = 7.56 TTD (1 TTD = 0.132 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Santiago Diego Martin 5,010 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Santiago
  • Diego Martin

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
Santiago vs Diego Martin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Santiago or Diego Martin?
Diego Martin costs about 13% more than Santiago, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Santiago and in Diego Martin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,785 per month in Santiago and $2,015 in Diego Martin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Santiago or Diego Martin?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Santiago, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Santiago or in Diego Martin?
Groceries cost about 37% more in Diego Martin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Santiago and in Diego Martin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Santiago and $87.0 in Diego Martin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Santiago or in Diego Martin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Santiago, where all-in costs run around $1,190, than in Diego Martin at $1,343. In Santiago it covers expenses comfortably, while in Diego Martin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Santiago – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Santiago compared to Diego Martin?
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.
Should I move to Santiago or to Diego Martin?
If budget matters most, go with Santiago. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Diego Martin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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