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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,198 per month in Santiago vs $1,113 in Temuco, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,914 per month in Santiago vs $1,656 in Temuco, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,631 per month in Santiago vs $2,199 in Temuco, rent included.

Santiago costs about 8% more than Temuco, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Santiago and Temuco are more affordable than the global median – Santiago 12% lower, Temuco 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.44 CLP 9,959

$7.66 CLP 7,309

36.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.0 CLP 50.6K

$31.48 CLP 30.0K

68.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.77 CLP 8,367

$7.14 CLP 6,817

22.83%

Cappuccino

$3.35 CLP 3,196

$3.87 CLP 3,693

-13.44%

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

$1.71 CLP 1,628

$2.25 CLP 2,143

-24.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 CLP 1,243

$1.15 CLP 1,093

13.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.17 CLP 3,977

$3.72 CLP 3,553

12.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.78 CLP 4,561

$3.35 CLP 3,199

42.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 CLP 1,221

$1.18 CLP 1,121

8.47%

White Bread (500g)

$1.76 CLP 1,683

$1.43 CLP 1,366

23.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 CLP 1,575

$1.33 CLP 1,265

24.06%

Eggs

$4.18 CLP 3,993

$3.48 CLP 3,317

20.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.35 CLP 10.8K

$9.25 CLP 8,828

22.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.75 CLP 6,438

$6.05 CLP 5,774

11.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.91 CLP 10.4K

$11.72 CLP 11.2K

-6.91%

Apples (1kg)

$2.00 CLP 1,908

$1.87 CLP 1,781

6.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 CLP 1,468

$2.06 CLP 1,965

-25.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 CLP 1,575

$2.03 CLP 1,939

-18.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.80 CLP 1,718

$2.24 CLP 2,141

-19.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.10 CLP 1,049

$2.40 CLP 2,291

-54.17%

Onion (1kg)

$1.49 CLP 1,421

$2.64 CLP 2,519

-43.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 CLP 1,182

$1.88 CLP 1,792

-34.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 CLP 1,081

$1.21 CLP 1,154

-6.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.30 CLP 5,053

$4.76 CLP 4,545

11.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.22 CLP 5,937

$4.89 CLP 4,665

27.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 CLP 1,545

$1.56 CLP 1,493

3.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 CLP 2,369

$2.17 CLP 2,072

14.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.81 CLP 769

$0.90 CLP 861

-10.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.63 CLP 39.7K

$34.55 CLP 33.0K

20.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.44 CLP 415

$0.87 CLP 828

-49.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.85 CLP 808

$1.53 CLP 1,463

-44.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.79 CLP 11.2K

$9.48 CLP 9,047

24.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 CLP 1,482

$1.36 CLP 1,296

13.97%

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

$18.2K CLP 17.4M

$12.5K CLP 12.0M

45.39%

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

$21.9K CLP 20.9M

$17.7K CLP 16.9M

23.44%

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

$154 CLP 146.9K

$140 CLP 133.2K

10.28%

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

$12.82 CLP 12.2K

$11.45 CLP 10.9K

11.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.16 CLP 19.2K

$23.22 CLP 22.2K

-13.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.36 CLP 32.8K

$48.19 CLP 46.0K

-28.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.94 CLP 11.4K

$46.11 CLP 44.0K

-74.11%

Cinema Ticket

$7.56 CLP 7,217

$4.79 CLP 4,568

57.83%

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

$449 CLP 428.0K

$218 CLP 207.8K

105.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.2K CLP 10.7M

$2,845 CLP 2.7M

295.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.6 CLP 48.3K

$44.53 CLP 42.5K

13.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.29 CLP 27.9K

$18.01 CLP 17.2K

62.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.9 CLP 65.8K

$65.5 CLP 62.5K

5.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.5 CLP 79.7K

$84.3 CLP 80.4K

-0.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$574 CLP 548.2K

$400 CLP 382.0K

43.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$391 CLP 372.6K

$332 CLP 316.7K

17.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,038 CLP 990.0K

$733 CLP 699.7K

41.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$777 CLP 741.5K

$522 CLP 498.2K

48.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,663 CLP 2.5M

$2,064 CLP 2.0M

29.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,567 CLP 2.4M

$1,696 CLP 1.6M

51.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$808 CLP 771.1K

$542 CLP 516.8K

49.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.39

4.8

12.29%

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

Last update for Santiago: September 15, 2026

Last update for Temuco: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $574 in Santiago versus $400 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 49% 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 $31.00 in Temuco. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $239 vs $236 – 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 8%, 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 $1,796 per month in Santiago and $1,670 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 $449 per month in Santiago and $218 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 $1,113, than in Santiago at $1,198. 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.