Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Santiago and Manaus

For one person, living is cheaper in Manaus: $914 a month against $1,206 in Santiago, rent and utilities included – about $3,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Santiago
🇨🇱 Chile
$1,206
/mo nomad
Manaus
🇧🇷 Brazil
$914
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Santiago and in Manaus

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 Manaus actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,206 in Santiago versus $914 in Manaus.

  • Santiago $1,206
  • Manaus $914

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,885 in Santiago versus $1,427 in Manaus.

  • Santiago $1,885
  • Manaus $1,427

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,564 in Santiago versus $1,940 in Manaus.

  • Santiago $2,564
  • Manaus $1,940

Living in Santiago is roughly 32% more expensive than in Manaus, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Santiago 10% lower, Manaus 32% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santiago
Manaus
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.19 CLP 9,931
$6.10 R$30.45
67.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.2 CLP 50.9K
$27.47 R$137
90.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.54 CLP 8,323
$6.97 R$34.80
22.53%
Cappuccino
$3.19 CLP 3,115
$2.28 R$11.40
39.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 CLP 1,637
$1.09 R$5.43
54.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22 CLP 1,191
$0.85 R$4.23
43.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.21 CLP 4,101
$2.76 R$13.80
52.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66 CLP 4,539
$5.24 R$26.18
-11.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santiago
Manaus
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.32 CLP 1,283
$1.46 R$7.29
-9.59%
White Bread (500g)
$1.80 CLP 1,756
$1.66 R$8.27
8.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.58 CLP 1,543
$1.27 R$6.36
24.41%
Eggs
$4.25 CLP 4,141
$2.76 R$13.78
53.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.19 CLP 10.9K
$9.91 R$49.48
12.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.75 CLP 6,580
$4.08 R$20.37
65.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.67 CLP 10.4K
$7.29 R$36.38
46.36%
Apples (1kg)
$2.04 CLP 1,991
$2.47 R$12.35
-17.41%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 CLP 1,497
$1.64 R$8.19
-6.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.59 CLP 1,549
$1.45 R$7.24
9.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.75 CLP 1,708
$2.03 R$10.12
-13.79%
Potato (1kg)
$1.08 CLP 1,051
$1.20 R$5.97
-10.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 CLP 1,476
$1.17 R$5.84
29.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 CLP 1,145
$0.78 R$3.88
50.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 CLP 1,041
$0.69 R$3.46
55.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.14 CLP 5,015
$3.74 R$18.68
37.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.88 CLP 5,732
$9.17 R$45.75
-35.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 CLP 1,513
$1.46 R$7.29
6.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 CLP 2,218
$1.71 R$8.55
32.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Santiago
Manaus
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 CLP 829
$0.96 R$4.77
-11.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.50 CLP 40.5K
$40.10 R$200
3.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.39 CLP 383
$0.99 R$4.93
-60.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.84 CLP 820
$0.93 R$4.64
-9.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.94 CLP 11.6K
$9.73 R$48.58
22.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 CLP 1,467
$1.36 R$6.80
10.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K CLP 17.7M
$23.6K R$117.9K
-23.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.6K CLP 21.1M
$34.6K R$172.8K
-37.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santiago
Manaus
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$151 CLP 147.3K
$122 R$609
23.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.04 CLP 11.7K
$16.07 R$80.2
-25.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.93 CLP 18.5K
$25.37 R$127
-25.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santiago
Manaus
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.81 CLP 33.0K
$25.46 R$127
32.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.72 CLP 11.4K
$25.55 R$128
-54.13%
Cinema Ticket
$7.37 CLP 7,185
$6.56 R$32.76
12.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santiago
Manaus
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$434 CLP 423.3K
$225 R$1,123
92.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.0K CLP 10.7M
$5,143 R$25.7K
113.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santiago
Manaus
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.9 CLP 49.6K
$50.5 R$252
0.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.16 CLP 28.4K
$32.20 R$161
-9.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.4 CLP 65.7K
$59.3 R$296
13.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.3 CLP 78.2K
$70.5 R$352
13.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santiago
Manaus
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$555 CLP 540.8K
$638 R$3,186
-13.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$372 CLP 363.2K
$234 R$1,169
58.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,009 CLP 984.3K
$1,086 R$5,421
-7.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$779 CLP 759.1K
$465 R$2,323
67.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,671 CLP 2.6M
$1,800 R$8,987
48.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,622 CLP 2.6M
$1,309 R$6,534
100.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santiago
Manaus
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$791 CLP 771.7K
$530 R$2,644
49.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.39
10.33
-47.82%

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

Last update for Santiago: October 4, 2026

Last update for Manaus: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Santiago
$372
Manaus
$234 37.1% $138
Groceries & Markets
Santiago
$236
Manaus
$204 13.7% $32
Eating Out
Santiago
$187
Manaus
$129 31.1% $58
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santiago
$182
Manaus
$163 10.2% $19
Clothing & Footwear
Santiago
$102
Manaus
$96 6.7% $6.8
Getting Around
Santiago
$50
Manaus
$50 0.1% $0.1
Sport & Entertainment
Santiago
$49
Manaus
$39 20.5% $10

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $555 in Santiago and $638 in Manaus. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Santiago pays 49% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $52.0 in Santiago vs $27.00 in Manaus for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $236 vs $204 per month, with Manaus cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇱 Santiago
🇧🇷 Manaus
🕒 Local time
08:25 8:25 AM
07:25 7:25 AM
1 h behind Santiago
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
6,139,087 Capital
2,063,689
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, USD, EUR to CLP – Chilean Peso Converter

Chilean Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 975 CLP (1,000 CLP = 1.03 USD). 1 EUR = 1,093 CLP (10,000 CLP = 9.15 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 4.99 BRL (1 BRL = 0.2 USD). 1 EUR = 5.59 BRL (1 BRL = 0.179 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Santiago Manaus 3,550 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Santiago
  • Manaus

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 Manaus: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Manaus cheaper than Santiago?
Manaus is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 32% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Santiago or Manaus?
Average pay runs 49% higher in Santiago, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Santiago and Manaus?
Rent for a central apartment: $555 in Santiago versus $638 in Manaus. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Santiago and in Manaus?
Supermarket bills run roughly 16% higher in Santiago. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Santiago or in Manaus?
Dining out is cheaper in Manaus – a meal for two runs $27.00 versus $52.0 in Santiago. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Santiago or in Manaus?
At $914 in Manaus versus $1,206 in Santiago, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Manaus but tight or insufficient in Santiago. The gap between the two cities makes Manaus the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Santiago or in Manaus?
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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Manaus gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in Santiago. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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