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 $1,250 per month in Santiago vs $1,110 in Puerto Montt, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,011 per month in Santiago vs $1,648 in Puerto Montt, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,771 per month in Santiago vs $2,186 in Puerto Montt, rent included.

Santiago costs about 13% more than Puerto Montt, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Santiago and Puerto Montt are more affordable than the global median – Santiago 7% lower, Puerto Montt 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.98 CLP 9,868

$8.72 CLP 7,834

25.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.8 CLP 48.4K

$38.31 CLP 34.4K

40.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.29 CLP 7,452

$7.38 CLP 6,629

12.33%

Cappuccino

$3.12 CLP 2,807

$2.99 CLP 2,689

4.35%

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

$1.77 CLP 1,593

$0.94 CLP 845

88.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.25 CLP 1,126

$0.93 CLP 833

34.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.29 CLP 2,960

$3.15 CLP 2,835

4.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.37 CLP 3,924

$4.09 CLP 3,678

6.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 CLP 1,074

$1.21 CLP 1,085

-1.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 CLP 1,408

$1.56 CLP 1,404

0.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 CLP 1,975

$1.92 CLP 1,723

14.58%

Eggs

$4.12 CLP 3,705

$3.45 CLP 3,099

19.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.51 CLP 9,444

$11.97 CLP 10.8K

-12.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.73 CLP 6,052

$6.82 CLP 6,127

-1.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.09 CLP 9,967

$11.01 CLP 9,893

0.73%

Apples (1kg)

$2.11 CLP 1,893

$1.90 CLP 1,712

11.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 CLP 1,393

$1.48 CLP 1,334

4.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.12 CLP 1,905

$1.54 CLP 1,385

37.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.85 CLP 1,662

$1.94 CLP 1,745

-4.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 CLP 1,728

$1.29 CLP 1,158

48.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.70 CLP 1,525

$1.41 CLP 1,271

20.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.35 CLP 1,213

$1.33 CLP 1,197

1.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 CLP 1,067

$1.52 CLP 1,369

-21.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.64 CLP 5,073

$4.89 CLP 4,391

15.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.43 CLP 5,780

$5.98 CLP 5,377

7.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 CLP 1,381

$1.45 CLP 1,302

6.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 CLP 2,325

$2.30 CLP 2,067

12.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.92 CLP 829

$0.58 CLP 519

58.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.51 CLP 38.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.47 CLP 419

$0.48 CLP 429

-2.08%

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

$1.37 CLP 1,235

5.11%

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

$19.2K CLP 17.3M

$19.3K CLP 17.3M

-0.30%

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

$23.0K CLP 20.7M

$21.7K CLP 19.5M

6.03%

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

$130 CLP 117.3K

$132 CLP 119.1K

-1.52%

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

$13.75 CLP 12.4K

$11.74 CLP 10.6K

17.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.14 CLP 19.9K

$22.29 CLP 20.0K

-0.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.60 CLP 30.2K

$39.31 CLP 35.3K

-14.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.36 CLP 19.2K

$21.05 CLP 18.9K

1.47%

Cinema Ticket

$6.59 CLP 5,920

$5.54 CLP 4,983

18.95%

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

$430 CLP 386.8K

$441 CLP 396.4K

-2.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,655 CLP 7.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.9 CLP 50.2K

$50.4 CLP 45.3K

10.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.34 CLP 29.1K

$30.82 CLP 27.7K

4.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.7 CLP 68.0K

$62.5 CLP 56.2K

21.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.4 CLP 75.0K

$81.7 CLP 73.5K

2.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$505 CLP 453.8K

$482 CLP 432.7K

4.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$461 CLP 414.0K

$369 CLP 331.5K

24.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$985 CLP 885.2K

$869 CLP 781.2K

13.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$921 CLP 828.0K

$599 CLP 538.1K

53.87%

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 Puerto Montt: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $505 in Santiago versus $482 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 $54.0 in Santiago versus $38.00 in Puerto Montt. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $241 – 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 13% more than Puerto Montt, 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 $1,664 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 $1,250 in Santiago and $1,110 in Puerto Montt. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $430 per month in Santiago and $441 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 $1,110, than in Santiago at $1,250. 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.