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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,250 per month in Santiago vs $1,189 in Temuco, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,011 per month in Santiago vs $1,758 in Temuco, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,771 per month in Santiago vs $2,327 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 7% lower, Temuco 12% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.98 CLP 9,868

$7.22 CLP 6,486

52.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.8 CLP 48.4K

$32.40 CLP 29.1K

66.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.29 CLP 7,452

$7.53 CLP 6,764

10.09%

Cappuccino

$3.12 CLP 2,807

$3.93 CLP 3,535

-20.61%

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

$1.77 CLP 1,593

$2.29 CLP 2,055

-22.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.25 CLP 1,126

$1.27 CLP 1,144

-1.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.29 CLP 2,960

$3.69 CLP 3,319

-10.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.37 CLP 3,924

$3.43 CLP 3,080

27.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 CLP 1,074

$1.19 CLP 1,067

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 CLP 1,408

$1.47 CLP 1,324

6.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 CLP 1,975

$1.30 CLP 1,173

69.23%

Eggs

$4.12 CLP 3,705

$3.40 CLP 3,053

21.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.51 CLP 9,444

$9.49 CLP 8,526

10.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.73 CLP 6,052

$6.33 CLP 5,686

6.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.09 CLP 9,967

$12.04 CLP 10.8K

-7.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.11 CLP 1,893

$1.89 CLP 1,700

11.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 CLP 1,393

$2.07 CLP 1,860

-25.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.12 CLP 1,905

$2.21 CLP 1,988

-4.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.85 CLP 1,662

$2.28 CLP 2,052

-18.86%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 CLP 1,728

$2.46 CLP 2,209

-21.95%

Onion (1kg)

$1.70 CLP 1,525

$2.60 CLP 2,333

-34.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.35 CLP 1,213

$1.96 CLP 1,759

-31.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 CLP 1,067

$1.23 CLP 1,107

-3.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.64 CLP 5,073

$4.77 CLP 4,291

18.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.43 CLP 5,780

$5.09 CLP 4,572

26.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 CLP 1,381

$1.57 CLP 1,412

-1.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 CLP 2,325

$2.15 CLP 1,935

20.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.92 CLP 829

$0.88 CLP 788

4.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.51 CLP 38.2K

$35.47 CLP 31.9K

19.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.47 CLP 419

$0.84 CLP 754

-44.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 CLP 1,273

$1.56 CLP 1,399

-8.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.33 CLP 10.2K

$9.58 CLP 8,607

18.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 CLP 1,291

$1.42 CLP 1,274

1.41%

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

$19.2K CLP 17.3M

$13.0K CLP 11.7M

48.27%

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

$23.0K CLP 20.7M

$18.1K CLP 16.2M

27.18%

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

$130 CLP 117.3K

$219 CLP 196.6K

-40.37%

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

$13.75 CLP 12.4K

$11.78 CLP 10.6K

16.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.14 CLP 19.9K

$14.90 CLP 13.4K

48.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.60 CLP 30.2K

$50.6 CLP 45.5K

-33.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.36 CLP 19.2K

$47.64 CLP 42.8K

-55.16%

Cinema Ticket

$6.59 CLP 5,920

$4.72 CLP 4,238

39.62%

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

$430 CLP 386.8K

$227 CLP 204.4K

89.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,655 CLP 7.8M

$2,864 CLP 2.6M

202.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.9 CLP 50.2K

$47.54 CLP 42.7K

17.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.34 CLP 29.1K

$18.02 CLP 16.2K

79.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.7 CLP 68.0K

$68.1 CLP 61.2K

11.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.4 CLP 75.0K

$89.1 CLP 80.1K

-6.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$505 CLP 453.8K

$417 CLP 375.2K

20.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$461 CLP 414.0K

$344 CLP 309.2K

33.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$985 CLP 885.2K

$735 CLP 660.1K

34.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$921 CLP 828.0K

$538 CLP 483.2K

71.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,787 CLP 2.5M

$2,082 CLP 1.9M

33.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,837 CLP 2.5M

$1,780 CLP 1.6M

59.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$856 CLP 769.5K

$555 CLP 498.8K

54.26%

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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Temuco: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $505 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 54% 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: $243 vs $241 – 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 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 $1,876 per month in Santiago and $1,783 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 20% less in Temuco. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $430 per month in Santiago and $227 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 $1,189, than in Santiago at $1,250. 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.