Cost of Living Comparison Between Santiago and Puerto Montt Cost of Living Comparison Between Santiago and Puerto Montt

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,198 per month in Santiago vs $455 in Puerto Montt, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,914 per month in Santiago vs $769 in Puerto Montt, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,631 per month in Santiago vs $1,083 in Puerto Montt, rent included.

Santiago costs about 163% more than Puerto Montt, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Santiago and Puerto Montt are more affordable than the global median – Santiago 12% lower, Puerto Montt 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.44 CLP 9,959

$8.42 CLP 8,036

23.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.0 CLP 50.6K

$36.27 CLP 34.6K

46.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.77 CLP 8,367

$7.51 CLP 7,165

16.78%

Cappuccino

$3.35 CLP 3,196

$2.78 CLP 2,650

20.50%

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

$1.71 CLP 1,628

$0.90 CLP 861

90.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 CLP 1,243

$0.96 CLP 916

35.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.17 CLP 3,977

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.78 CLP 4,561

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 CLP 1,221

$1.17 CLP 1,120

9.40%

White Bread (500g)

$1.76 CLP 1,683

$2.59 CLP 2,467

-32.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 CLP 1,575

$1.45 CLP 1,381

13.79%

Eggs

$4.18 CLP 3,993

$3.21 CLP 3,060

30.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.35 CLP 10.8K

$11.34 CLP 10.8K

0.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.75 CLP 6,438

$5.81 CLP 5,546

16.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.91 CLP 10.4K

$7.24 CLP 6,907

50.69%

Apples (1kg)

$2.00 CLP 1,908

$1.06 CLP 1,011

88.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 CLP 1,468

$1.44 CLP 1,370

6.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 CLP 1,575

$2.65 CLP 2,527

-37.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.80 CLP 1,718

$1.87 CLP 1,784

-3.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.10 CLP 1,049

Onion (1kg)

$1.49 CLP 1,421

$1.59 CLP 1,514

-6.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 CLP 1,182

$1.30 CLP 1,238

-4.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 CLP 1,081

$1.56 CLP 1,490

-27.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.30 CLP 5,053

$4.84 CLP 4,618

9.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.22 CLP 5,937

$5.89 CLP 5,622

5.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 CLP 1,545

$1.44 CLP 1,371

12.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 CLP 2,369

$1.56 CLP 1,488

58.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.81 CLP 769

$0.90 CLP 863

-10.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.63 CLP 39.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.44 CLP 415

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.85 CLP 808

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.79 CLP 11.2K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 CLP 1,482

$1.32 CLP 1,262

17.42%

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

$18.2K CLP 17.4M

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

$21.9K CLP 20.9M

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

$154 CLP 146.9K

$63.9 CLP 61.0K

140.81%

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

$12.82 CLP 12.2K

$11.40 CLP 10.9K

12.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.16 CLP 19.2K

$31.60 CLP 30.2K

-36.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.36 CLP 32.8K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.94 CLP 11.4K

Cinema Ticket

$7.56 CLP 7,217

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

$449 CLP 428.0K

$147 CLP 139.9K

205.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.2K CLP 10.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.6 CLP 48.3K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.29 CLP 27.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.9 CLP 65.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.5 CLP 79.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$574 CLP 548.2K

$529 CLP 505.0K

8.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$391 CLP 372.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,038 CLP 990.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$777 CLP 741.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,663 CLP 2.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,567 CLP 2.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$808 CLP 771.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.39

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

Last update for Santiago: September 15, 2026

Last update for Puerto Montt: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $574 in Santiago versus $529 in Puerto Montt. 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 $36.00 in Puerto Montt. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $239 vs $224 – making Puerto Montt 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 Puerto Montt: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Santiago costs about 163% more than Puerto Montt, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,796 per month in Santiago and $682 in Puerto Montt. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Puerto Montt, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,198 in Santiago and $455 in Puerto Montt. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $449 per month in Santiago and $147 in Puerto Montt. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Puerto Montt, where all-in costs run around $455, than in Santiago at $1,198. In Puerto Montt it covers expenses comfortably, while in Santiago it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Puerto Montt – 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 Puerto Montt. 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.