Cost of Living Comparison Between Santiago and Temuco Cost of Living Comparison Between Santiago and Temuco

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,256 per month in Santiago vs $1,193 in Temuco, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,031 per month in Santiago vs $1,736 in Temuco, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,806 per month in Santiago vs $2,279 in Temuco, rent included.

Santiago costs about 5% more than Temuco, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Santiago and Temuco are more affordable than the global median – Santiago 6% lower, Temuco 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.72 CLP 9,972

$7.21 CLP 6,706

48.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.0 CLP 49.3K

$32.62 CLP 30.4K

62.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.30 CLP 7,722

$7.43 CLP 6,910

11.71%

Cappuccino

$3.25 CLP 3,023

$3.89 CLP 3,617

-16.45%

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

$1.69 CLP 1,573

$2.33 CLP 2,166

-27.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 CLP 1,207

$1.23 CLP 1,141

5.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.25 CLP 3,028

$3.83 CLP 3,566

-15.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.34 CLP 4,039

$3.46 CLP 3,220

25.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 CLP 1,102

$1.18 CLP 1,101

White Bread (500g)

$1.52 CLP 1,416

$1.47 CLP 1,372

3.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.12 CLP 1,968

$1.37 CLP 1,271

54.74%

Eggs

$3.99 CLP 3,716

$3.45 CLP 3,214

15.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.27 CLP 9,555

$9.64 CLP 8,966

6.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.87 CLP 6,391

$6.37 CLP 5,927

7.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.83 CLP 10.1K

$12.11 CLP 11.3K

-10.57%

Apples (1kg)

$2.12 CLP 1,968

$1.93 CLP 1,795

9.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 CLP 1,515

$2.06 CLP 1,919

-20.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.12 CLP 1,972

$2.19 CLP 2,038

-3.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.85 CLP 1,718

$2.22 CLP 2,068

-16.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 CLP 1,764

$2.49 CLP 2,314

-23.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.67 CLP 1,553

$2.68 CLP 2,496

-37.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.33 CLP 1,240

$1.93 CLP 1,797

-31.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 CLP 1,101

$1.19 CLP 1,104

-0.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.56 CLP 5,175

$4.83 CLP 4,498

15.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.41 CLP 5,960

$5.02 CLP 4,674

27.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.56 CLP 1,456

$1.63 CLP 1,515

-4.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 CLP 2,289

$2.24 CLP 2,088

9.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 CLP 863

$0.87 CLP 812

6.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.96 CLP 40.0K

$35.22 CLP 32.8K

21.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.47 CLP 442

$0.88 CLP 820

-46.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 CLP 1,313

$1.53 CLP 1,425

-7.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.65 CLP 10.8K

$9.92 CLP 9,232

17.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 CLP 1,288

$1.45 CLP 1,345

-4.83%

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

$19.7K CLP 18.3M

$13.0K CLP 12.1M

51.84%

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

$23.1K CLP 21.5M

$18.5K CLP 17.2M

24.94%

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

$130 CLP 120.6K

$211 CLP 196.6K

-38.68%

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

$13.50 CLP 12.6K

$11.86 CLP 11.0K

13.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.10 CLP 20.6K

$14.93 CLP 13.9K

48.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.69 CLP 32.3K

$50.0 CLP 46.5K

-30.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.33 CLP 19.8K

$48.95 CLP 45.5K

-56.42%

Cinema Ticket

$6.61 CLP 6,149

$4.84 CLP 4,500

36.57%

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

$439 CLP 408.8K

$232 CLP 215.9K

89.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,743 CLP 8.1M

$2,914 CLP 2.7M

200.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.5 CLP 50.7K

$46.83 CLP 43.6K

16.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.47 CLP 31.1K

$18.67 CLP 17.4K

79.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.0 CLP 71.7K

$69.1 CLP 64.3K

11.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.7 CLP 79.7K

$88.5 CLP 82.3K

-3.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$515 CLP 479.0K

$417 CLP 387.6K

23.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$467 CLP 434.3K

$342 CLP 317.9K

36.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,016 CLP 944.9K

$730 CLP 679.3K

39.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$897 CLP 835.0K

$538 CLP 500.8K

66.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,749 CLP 2.6M

$2,083 CLP 1.9M

31.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,714 CLP 2.5M

$1,697 CLP 1.6M

59.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$797 CLP 741.4K

$540 CLP 502.1K

47.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.18

4.8

7.92%

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

Last update for Santiago: July 27, 2026

Last update for Temuco: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $515 in Santiago versus $417 in Temuco. 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 48% higher in Santiago, 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 $53.0 in Santiago versus $33.00 in Temuco. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Santiago vs $242 in Temuco – so Santiago wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Temuco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Santiago is pricier by about 5%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,884 per month in Santiago and $1,789 in Temuco. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 22% less in Temuco. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $439 per month in Santiago and $232 in Temuco. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Temuco, where all-in costs run around $1,193, than in Santiago at $1,256. In Temuco it covers expenses comfortably, while in Santiago it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Temuco – 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 Temuco. 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.