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 $1,250 per month in Santiago vs $1,087 in Los Ángeles, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,011 per month in Santiago vs $1,633 in Los Ángeles, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,771 per month in Santiago vs $2,179 in Los Ángeles, rent included.

Santiago costs about 15% more than Los Ángeles, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Santiago and Los Ángeles are more affordable than the global median – Santiago 7% lower, Los Ángeles 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.98 CLP 9,868

$8.41 CLP 7,556

30.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.8 CLP 48.4K

$45.30 CLP 40.7K

18.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.29 CLP 7,452

$7.78 CLP 6,990

6.56%

Cappuccino

$3.12 CLP 2,807

$2.81 CLP 2,527

11.03%

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

$1.77 CLP 1,593

$1.35 CLP 1,217

31.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.25 CLP 1,126

$1.06 CLP 951

17.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.29 CLP 2,960

$3.25 CLP 2,919

1.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.37 CLP 3,924

$4.19 CLP 3,770

4.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 CLP 1,074

$1.25 CLP 1,119

-4.80%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 CLP 1,408

$1.56 CLP 1,404

0.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 CLP 1,975

$1.96 CLP 1,757

12.24%

Eggs

$4.12 CLP 3,705

$3.60 CLP 3,236

14.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.51 CLP 9,444

$10.30 CLP 9,255

2.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.73 CLP 6,052

$6.65 CLP 5,975

1.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.09 CLP 9,967

$11.12 CLP 9,995

-0.27%

Apples (1kg)

$2.11 CLP 1,893

$1.89 CLP 1,699

11.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 CLP 1,393

$1.50 CLP 1,352

3.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.12 CLP 1,905

$1.53 CLP 1,376

38.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.85 CLP 1,662

$1.46 CLP 1,316

26.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 CLP 1,728

$1.24 CLP 1,111

54.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.70 CLP 1,525

$1.39 CLP 1,252

22.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.35 CLP 1,213

$1.21 CLP 1,083

11.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 CLP 1,067

$1.19 CLP 1,065

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.64 CLP 5,073

$5.25 CLP 4,722

7.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.43 CLP 5,780

$6.00 CLP 5,393

7.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 CLP 1,381

$1.59 CLP 1,430

-3.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 CLP 2,325

$2.29 CLP 2,057

13.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.92 CLP 829

$0.63 CLP 562

46.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.51 CLP 38.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.47 CLP 419

$0.47 CLP 422

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

$1.38 CLP 1,238

4.35%

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

$19.2K CLP 17.3M

0.18%

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

$23.0K CLP 20.7M

$21.3K CLP 19.2M

7.72%

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

$130 CLP 117.3K

$134 CLP 120.2K

-2.42%

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

$13.75 CLP 12.4K

$13.52 CLP 12.2K

1.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.14 CLP 19.9K

$22.06 CLP 19.8K

0.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.60 CLP 30.2K

$37.87 CLP 34.0K

-11.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.36 CLP 19.2K

$21.68 CLP 19.5K

-1.48%

Cinema Ticket

$6.59 CLP 5,920

$5.57 CLP 5,003

18.31%

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

$430 CLP 386.8K

$444 CLP 399.1K

-3.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,655 CLP 7.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.9 CLP 50.2K

$49.92 CLP 44.9K

11.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.34 CLP 29.1K

$30.91 CLP 27.8K

4.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.7 CLP 68.0K

$62.0 CLP 55.7K

22.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.4 CLP 75.0K

$81.1 CLP 72.9K

2.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$505 CLP 453.8K

$478 CLP 429.3K

5.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$461 CLP 414.0K

$369 CLP 331.4K

24.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$985 CLP 885.2K

$900 CLP 808.9K

9.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$921 CLP 828.0K

$594 CLP 533.8K

55.12%

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 Los Ángeles: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $505 in Santiago versus $478 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 $54.0 in Santiago versus $45.00 in Los Ángeles. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 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 15% 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 $1,876 per month in Santiago and $1,630 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 $54.0 in Santiago and $45.00 in Los Ángeles. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 6% 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 $1,087, than in Santiago at $1,250. 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.