Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Santiago and Marathon

For one person, living is cheaper in Santiago: $1,183 a month against $2,218 in Marathon, rent and utilities included – about $12,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Santiago
🇨🇱 Chile
$1,183
/mo nomad
Marathon
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,218
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Santiago and in Marathon

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

A single person spends $1,183 per month in Santiago vs $2,218 in Marathon, rent included.

  • Santiago $1,183
  • Marathon $2,218

A couple spends around $1,882 per month in Santiago vs $3,213 in Marathon, rent included.

  • Santiago $1,882
  • Marathon $3,213

A family of three spends $2,581 per month in Santiago vs $4,209 in Marathon, rent included.

  • Santiago $2,581
  • Marathon $4,209

Santiago is about 47% cheaper than Marathon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Santiago sits 13% below the global median, while Marathon is 64% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santiago
Marathon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.15 CLP 9,995
$17.17 CA$24.27
-40.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.9 CLP 51.1K
$66.1 CA$93.4
-21.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.56 CLP 8,423
$10.61 CA$15.00
-19.32%
Cappuccino
$3.15 CLP 3,101
$3.65 CA$5.16
-13.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71 CLP 1,685
$1.93 CA$2.72
-11.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 CLP 1,255
$1.60 CA$2.26
-20.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.18 CLP 4,118
$5.13 CA$7.25
-18.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46 CLP 4,390
$5.57 CA$7.88
-19.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santiago
Marathon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.29 CLP 1,269
$1.99 CA$2.81
-35.18%
White Bread (500g)
$1.76 CLP 1,737
$2.52 CA$3.56
-30.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.66 CLP 1,630
$3.27 CA$4.62
-49.24%
Eggs
$4.21 CLP 4,140
$3.42 CA$4.83
23.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.08 CLP 10.9K
$10.04 CA$14.19
10.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.75 CLP 6,641
$11.16 CA$15.78
-39.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.76 CLP 10.6K
$14.71 CA$20.80
-26.85%
Apples (1kg)
$1.96 CLP 1,927
$3.85 CA$5.44
-49.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 CLP 1,518
$1.29 CA$1.82
19.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.58 CLP 1,560
$3.69 CA$5.21
-57.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.74 CLP 1,713
$3.77 CA$5.32
-53.85%
Potato (1kg)
$1.09 CLP 1,075
$2.48 CA$3.51
-56.05%
Onion (1kg)
$1.53 CLP 1,509
$2.13 CA$3.01
-28.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 CLP 1,163
$2.44 CA$3.45
-51.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 CLP 1,060
$1.55 CA$2.19
-30.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.18 CLP 5,101
$14.15 CA$20.01
-63.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.17 CLP 6,070
$12.51 CA$17.68
-50.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.53 CLP 1,511
$2.55 CA$3.60
-40.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 CLP 2,325
$3.01 CA$4.25
-21.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Santiago
Marathon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 CLP 824
$2.32 CA$3.28
-63.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.44 CLP 40.8K
$62.1 CA$87.8
-33.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.42 CLP 416
$2.95 CA$4.18
-85.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.88 CLP 869
$1.41 CA$1.99
-37.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.49 CLP 11.3K
$23.24 CA$32.86
-50.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 CLP 1,462
$1.13 CA$1.60
31.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.2K CLP 17.0M
$27.6K CA$39.0K
-37.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K CLP 25.2M
$19.1K CA$27.0K
33.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santiago
Marathon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$149 CLP 146.3K
$132 CA$187
12.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.11 CLP 11.9K
$38.75 CA$54.8
-68.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.13 CLP 18.8K
$54.5 CA$77.1
-64.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santiago
Marathon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.30 CLP 32.8K
$39.87 CA$56.4
-16.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.51 CLP 11.3K
$17.63 CA$24.92
-34.71%
Cinema Ticket
$7.32 CLP 7,208
$11.17 CA$15.79
-34.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santiago
Marathon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$436 CLP 429.2K
$760 CA$1,074
-42.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.0K CLP 10.8M
$12.8K CA$18.0K
-14.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santiago
Marathon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.17 CLP 48.4K
$53.5 CA$75.6
-8.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.11 CLP 28.7K
$37.54 CA$53.1
-22.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$65.5 CLP 64.5K
$84.0 CA$119
-22.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.1 CLP 78.9K
$103 CA$145
-21.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santiago
Marathon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$554 CLP 545.8K
$1,241 CA$1,754
-55.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$383 CLP 376.6K
$1,114 CA$1,575
-65.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,002 CLP 986.5K
$1,930 CA$2,728
-48.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$775 CLP 762.5K
$1,701 CA$2,405
-54.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,708 CLP 2.7M
$4,211 CA$5,953
-35.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,613 CLP 2.6M
$3,537 CA$5,000
-26.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santiago
Marathon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$778 CLP 766.3K
$1,720 CA$2,431
-54.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.39
4.66
15.67%

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

Last update for Santiago: October 17, 2026

Last update for Marathon: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Santiago
$383
Marathon
$1.1K 191% $731
Groceries & Markets
Santiago
$236
Marathon
$346 46.7% $110
Eating Out
Santiago
$186
Marathon
$264 41.5% $77
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santiago
$180
Marathon
$225 25.3% $45
Clothing & Footwear
Santiago
$101
Marathon
$125 24% $24
Getting Around
Santiago
$50
Marathon
$81 63.9% $32
Sport & Entertainment
Santiago
$48
Marathon
$62 29.7% $14

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $554 in Santiago versus $1,241 in Marathon. 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 121% higher in Marathon, 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 $66.0 in Marathon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $236 vs $346 – making Santiago the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇱 Santiago
🇨🇦 Marathon
🕒 Local time
12:32 12:32 PM
11:32 11:32 AM
1 h behind Santiago
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
6,139,087 Capital
3,300
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, USD, EUR to CLP – Chilean Peso Converter

Chilean Peso exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 984 CLP (1,000 CLP = 1.02 USD). 1 EUR = 1,107 CLP (10,000 CLP = 9.04 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Santiago Marathon 9,270 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Santiago
  • Marathon

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 Marathon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Marathon cheaper than Santiago?
Yes – Marathon is pricier by about 87%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,775 per month in Santiago and $3,326 in Marathon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $436 per month in Santiago and $760 in Marathon. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Santiago and in Marathon?
Groceries cost about 47% more in Marathon, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Santiago or in Marathon?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Santiago, where all-in costs run around $1,183, than in Marathon at $2,218. In Santiago it covers expenses comfortably, while in Marathon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Santiago or Marathon more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Santiago or Marathon?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Santiago. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Marathon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Santiago vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?