Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Santiago and Simpson Bay

For one person, living is cheaper in Santiago: $1,206 a month against $3,851 in Simpson Bay, rent and utilities included – about $31,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Santiago
🇨🇱 Chile
$1,206
/mo nomad
Simpson Bay
🇸🇽 Sint Maarten
$3,851
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Santiago and in Simpson Bay

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

A single person spends $1,206 per month in Santiago vs $3,851 in Simpson Bay, rent included.

  • Santiago $1,206
  • Simpson Bay $3,851

A couple spends around $1,885 per month in Santiago vs $6,504 in Simpson Bay, rent included.

  • Santiago $1,885
  • Simpson Bay $6,504

A family of three spends $2,564 per month in Santiago vs $9,157 in Simpson Bay, rent included.

  • Santiago $2,564
  • Simpson Bay $9,157

Santiago is about 69% cheaper than Simpson Bay, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Santiago sits 10% below the global median, while Simpson Bay is 187% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santiago
Simpson Bay
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.19 CLP 9,931
$19.11 ANG 34.22
-46.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.2 CLP 50.9K
$131 ANG 234
-60.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.54 CLP 8,323
$12.78 ANG 22.88
-33.18%
Cappuccino
$3.19 CLP 3,115
$4.44 ANG 7.96
-28.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 CLP 1,637
$2.91 ANG 5.22
-42.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22 CLP 1,191
$3.04 ANG 5.44
-59.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.21 CLP 4,101
$5.43 ANG 9.73
-22.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66 CLP 4,539
$4.11 ANG 7.36
13.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santiago
Simpson Bay
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.32 CLP 1,283
$4.03 ANG 7.21
-67.25%
White Bread (500g)
$1.80 CLP 1,756
$2.81 ANG 5.02
-35.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.58 CLP 1,543
$3.09 ANG 5.53
-48.87%
Eggs
$4.25 CLP 4,141
$4.49 ANG 8.04
-5.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.19 CLP 10.9K
$24.93 ANG 44.63
-55.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.75 CLP 6,580
$13.40 ANG 23.98
-49.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.67 CLP 10.4K
$16.98 ANG 30.39
-37.16%
Apples (1kg)
$2.04 CLP 1,991
$4.26 ANG 7.63
-52.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 CLP 1,497
$3.55 ANG 6.35
-56.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.59 CLP 1,549
$6.32 ANG 11.31
-74.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.75 CLP 1,708
$5.06 ANG 9.05
-65.42%
Potato (1kg)
$1.08 CLP 1,051
$3.96 ANG 7.08
-72.73%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 CLP 1,476
$3.44 ANG 6.16
-56.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 CLP 1,145
$3.06 ANG 5.47
-61.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 CLP 1,041
$1.47 ANG 2.64
-27.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.14 CLP 5,015
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$5.88 CLP 5,732
$15.22 ANG 27.24
-61.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 CLP 1,513
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 CLP 2,218
$1.79 ANG 3.20
26.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Santiago
Simpson Bay
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 CLP 829
$3.08 ANG 5.51
-72.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.50 CLP 40.5K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.39 CLP 383
$15.22 ANG 27.24
-97.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.84 CLP 820
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.94 CLP 11.6K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 CLP 1,467
$1.27 ANG 2.27
18.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K CLP 17.7M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.6K CLP 21.1M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santiago
Simpson Bay
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$151 CLP 147.3K
$502 ANG 899
-69.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.04 CLP 11.7K
$35.56 ANG 63.7
-66.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.93 CLP 18.5K
$87.6 ANG 157
-78.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santiago
Simpson Bay
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.81 CLP 33.0K
$74.8 ANG 134
-54.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.72 CLP 11.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.37 CLP 7,185
$8.18 ANG 14.65
-9.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santiago
Simpson Bay
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$434 CLP 423.3K
$761 ANG 1,362
-42.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.0K CLP 10.7M
$12.0K ANG 21.6K
-8.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santiago
Simpson Bay
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.9 CLP 49.6K
$50.6 ANG 90.6
0.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.16 CLP 28.4K
$39.59 ANG 70.9
-26.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.4 CLP 65.7K
$99.5 ANG 178
-32.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.3 CLP 78.2K
$59.5 ANG 106
34.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santiago
Simpson Bay
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$555 CLP 540.8K
$2,330 ANG 4,171
-76.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$372 CLP 363.2K
$2,273 ANG 4,069
-83.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,009 CLP 984.3K
$6,007 ANG 10.8K
-83.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$779 CLP 759.1K
$5,604 ANG 10.0K
-86.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,671 CLP 2.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,622 CLP 2.6M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santiago
Simpson Bay
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$791 CLP 771.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.39
0
-

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

Last update for Santiago: October 4, 2026

Last update for Simpson Bay: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Santiago
$372
Simpson Bay
–
Groceries & Markets
Santiago
$236
Simpson Bay
–
Eating Out
Santiago
$187
Simpson Bay
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santiago
$182
Simpson Bay
–
Clothing & Footwear
Santiago
$102
Simpson Bay
–
Getting Around
Santiago
$50
Simpson Bay
–
Sport & Entertainment
Santiago
$49
Simpson Bay
–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $555 in Santiago versus $2,330 in Simpson Bay. 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 $52.0 in Santiago versus $131 in Simpson Bay. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $236 vs $467 – making Santiago the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇱 Santiago
🇸🇽 Simpson Bay
🕒 Local time
08:30 8:30 AM
07:30 7:30 AM
1 h behind Santiago
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
6,139,087 Capital
6,000
Exchange rates and currency converter

ANG, 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).

Netherlands Antillean Guilder exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.79 ANG (1 ANG = 0.559 USD). 1 EUR = 2.01 ANG (1 ANG = 0.499 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Santiago Simpson Bay 5,780 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Santiago
  • Simpson Bay

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 Simpson Bay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Simpson Bay cheaper than Santiago?
Yes – Simpson Bay is pricier by about 219%, 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 $1,809 per month in Santiago and $5,776 in Simpson Bay. 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.
What are total monthly expenses in Santiago and in Simpson Bay?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,206 in Santiago and $3,851 in Simpson Bay. That's a gap of about 219%.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $434 per month in Santiago and $761 in Simpson Bay. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Santiago or in Simpson Bay?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Santiago, where all-in costs run around $1,206, than in Simpson Bay at $3,851. In Santiago it covers expenses comfortably, while in Simpson Bay it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Santiago or Simpson Bay 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 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, Simpson Bay makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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