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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,290 per month in Santiago vs $1,200 in Temuco, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,039 per month in Santiago vs $1,768 in Temuco, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,788 per month in Santiago vs $2,335 in Temuco, rent included.

Santiago costs about 7% more than Temuco, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Santiago and Temuco are more affordable than the global median – Santiago 4% lower, Temuco 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.80 CLP 9,673

$6.99 CLP 6,260

54.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.2 CLP 48.5K

$32.11 CLP 28.8K

68.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.33 CLP 7,459

$7.74 CLP 6,936

7.62%

Cappuccino

$3.11 CLP 2,784

$3.87 CLP 3,470

-19.64%

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

$1.76 CLP 1,581

$2.32 CLP 2,082

-24.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 CLP 1,147

$1.28 CLP 1,144

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.28 CLP 2,940

$3.69 CLP 3,309

-11.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 CLP 3,952

$3.47 CLP 3,111

27.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 CLP 1,056

$1.18 CLP 1,054

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 CLP 1,408

$1.47 CLP 1,316

6.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 CLP 1,946

$1.31 CLP 1,170

65.65%

Eggs

$4.16 CLP 3,722

$3.54 CLP 3,172

17.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.55 CLP 9,445

$9.63 CLP 8,623

9.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.66 CLP 5,961

$6.05 CLP 5,414

10.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.83 CLP 9,696

$12.01 CLP 10.8K

-9.83%

Apples (1kg)

$2.08 CLP 1,862

$1.95 CLP 1,748

6.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 CLP 1,463

$2.09 CLP 1,873

-22.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.09 CLP 1,875

$2.13 CLP 1,905

-1.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.84 CLP 1,652

$2.25 CLP 2,013

-18.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 CLP 1,662

$2.47 CLP 2,215

-24.70%

Onion (1kg)

$1.70 CLP 1,522

$2.60 CLP 2,328

-34.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.33 CLP 1,195

$1.93 CLP 1,730

-31.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 CLP 1,059

$1.19 CLP 1,064

-0.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.73 CLP 5,136

$4.78 CLP 4,284

19.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.53 CLP 5,848

$5.16 CLP 4,624

26.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.53 CLP 1,373

$1.58 CLP 1,412

-3.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 CLP 2,248

$2.13 CLP 1,910

17.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 CLP 819

$0.86 CLP 767

5.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.61 CLP 38.2K

$34.54 CLP 30.9K

23.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.51 CLP 461

$0.84 CLP 749

-39.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 CLP 1,323

$1.55 CLP 1,391

-4.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.35 CLP 10.2K

$9.97 CLP 8,932

13.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 CLP 1,277

$1.41 CLP 1,267

1.42%

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

$19.3K CLP 17.3M

$13.2K CLP 11.8M

46.47%

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

$22.6K CLP 20.2M

$18.3K CLP 16.4M

23.02%

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

$130 CLP 116.9K

$217 CLP 194.0K

-39.77%

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

$13.74 CLP 12.3K

$11.89 CLP 10.7K

15.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.91 CLP 19.6K

$14.96 CLP 13.4K

46.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.54 CLP 30.0K

$49.69 CLP 44.5K

-32.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.03 CLP 18.8K

$48.98 CLP 43.9K

-57.06%

Cinema Ticket

$6.54 CLP 5,855

$4.83 CLP 4,330

35.40%

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

$437 CLP 391.7K

$228 CLP 204.3K

91.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,711 CLP 7.8M

$2,869 CLP 2.6M

203.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 CLP 48.7K

$45.94 CLP 41.1K

18.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.57 CLP 29.2K

$18.48 CLP 16.5K

76.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.2 CLP 70.0K

$69.4 CLP 62.2K

12.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.6 CLP 74.9K

$88.3 CLP 79.1K

-5.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$512 CLP 458.7K

$422 CLP 377.9K

21.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$467 CLP 418.6K

$343 CLP 307.1K

36.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,014 CLP 908.2K

$740 CLP 662.8K

37.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$919 CLP 823.1K

$524 CLP 469.1K

75.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,857 CLP 2.6M

$2,187 CLP 2.0M

30.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,999 CLP 2.7M

$1,837 CLP 1.6M

63.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$858 CLP 768.5K

$585 CLP 523.8K

46.72%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Temuco: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $512 in Santiago versus $422 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 47% 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 $54.0 in Santiago versus $32.00 in Temuco. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $240 – making Temuco 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 Temuco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Santiago is pricier by about 7%, 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 $1,934 per month in Santiago and $1,800 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 23% less in Temuco. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $437 per month in Santiago and $228 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 $1,200, than in Santiago at $1,290. 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.