Cost of Living Comparison Between Santiago and Los Ángeles Cost of Living Comparison Between Santiago and Los Ángeles

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,256 per month in Santiago vs $1,099 in Los Ángeles, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,031 per month in Santiago vs $1,649 in Los Ángeles, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,806 per month in Santiago vs $2,200 in Los Ángeles, rent included.

Santiago costs about 14% more than Los Ángeles, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Santiago and Los Ángeles are more affordable than the global median – Santiago 6% lower, Los Ángeles 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.72 CLP 9,996

$8.80 CLP 8,207

21.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.0 CLP 49.4K

$44.26 CLP 41.3K

19.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.30 CLP 7,741

$7.81 CLP 7,287

6.27%

Cappuccino

$3.25 CLP 3,030

$2.75 CLP 2,568

18.18%

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

$1.69 CLP 1,577

$1.31 CLP 1,222

29.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 CLP 1,210

$1.06 CLP 991

22.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.25 CLP 3,036

$3.15 CLP 2,938

3.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.34 CLP 4,048

$4.13 CLP 3,856

5.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 CLP 1,104

$1.19 CLP 1,109

-0.84%

White Bread (500g)

$1.52 CLP 1,420

$1.53 CLP 1,424

-0.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.12 CLP 1,973

$1.89 CLP 1,760

12.17%

Eggs

$3.99 CLP 3,725

$3.57 CLP 3,333

11.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.27 CLP 9,578

$10.62 CLP 9,904

-3.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.87 CLP 6,407

$6.85 CLP 6,389

0.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.83 CLP 10.1K

$10.82 CLP 10.1K

0.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.12 CLP 1,973

$1.91 CLP 1,777

10.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 CLP 1,519

$1.50 CLP 1,401

8.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.12 CLP 1,977

$1.55 CLP 1,444

36.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.85 CLP 1,723

$1.51 CLP 1,408

22.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 CLP 1,769

$1.24 CLP 1,155

53.23%

Onion (1kg)

$1.67 CLP 1,557

$1.42 CLP 1,325

17.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.33 CLP 1,243

$1.20 CLP 1,123

10.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 CLP 1,104

$1.22 CLP 1,137

-3.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.56 CLP 5,187

$5.40 CLP 5,038

2.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.41 CLP 5,974

$5.88 CLP 5,489

9.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.56 CLP 1,460

$1.59 CLP 1,487

-1.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 CLP 2,294

$2.31 CLP 2,155

6.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 CLP 865

$0.58 CLP 541

60.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.96 CLP 40.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.47 CLP 443

$0.48 CLP 445

-2.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 CLP 1,317

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.65 CLP 10.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 CLP 1,291

$1.44 CLP 1,340

-4.17%

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

$19.7K CLP 18.4M

$19.2K CLP 17.9M

2.63%

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

$23.1K CLP 21.6M

$21.0K CLP 19.6M

9.95%

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

$130 CLP 120.8K

$134 CLP 124.7K

-3.11%

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

$13.50 CLP 12.6K

$13.70 CLP 12.8K

-1.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.10 CLP 20.6K

$22.38 CLP 20.9K

-1.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.69 CLP 32.4K

$38.41 CLP 35.8K

-9.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.33 CLP 19.9K

$21.13 CLP 19.7K

0.95%

Cinema Ticket

$6.61 CLP 6,164

$5.57 CLP 5,194

18.67%

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

$439 CLP 409.8K

0.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,743 CLP 8.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.5 CLP 50.8K

$51.5 CLP 48.1K

5.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.47 CLP 31.2K

$29.83 CLP 27.8K

12.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.0 CLP 71.8K

$62.5 CLP 58.3K

23.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.7 CLP 79.9K

$81.8 CLP 76.3K

4.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$515 CLP 480.1K

$474 CLP 442.4K

8.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$467 CLP 435.3K

$369 CLP 343.9K

26.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,016 CLP 947.2K

$896 CLP 835.8K

13.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$897 CLP 837.0K

$588 CLP 548.3K

52.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,749 CLP 2.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,714 CLP 2.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$797 CLP 743.2K

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 Los Ángeles: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $515 in Santiago versus $474 in Los Ángeles. 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 $53.0 in Santiago versus $44.00 in Los Ángeles. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $230 – making Los Ángeles the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Los Ángeles: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Santiago costs about 14% more than Los Ángeles, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,884 per month in Santiago and $1,648 in Los Ángeles. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Los Ángeles, 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 $53.0 in Santiago and $44.00 in Los Ángeles. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 5% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Los Ángeles, where all-in costs run around $1,099, than in Santiago at $1,256. In Los Ángeles it covers expenses comfortably, while in Santiago it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Los Ángeles – 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 Los Ángeles. 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.