Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sioux Falls, SD and Santiago

For one person, living is cheaper in Santiago: $1,206 a month against $2,154 in Sioux Falls, SD, rent and utilities included – about $11,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Sioux Falls, SD
🇺🇸 United States
$2,154
/mo nomad
Santiago
🇨🇱 Chile
$1,206
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Sioux Falls, SD and in Santiago

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Sioux Falls, SD and in Santiago actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,154 per month in Sioux Falls, SD vs $1,206 in Santiago, rent included.

  • Sioux Falls, SD $2,154
  • Santiago $1,206

A couple spends around $3,162 per month in Sioux Falls, SD vs $1,885 in Santiago, rent included.

  • Sioux Falls, SD $3,162
  • Santiago $1,885

A family of three spends $4,170 per month in Sioux Falls, SD vs $2,564 in Santiago, rent included.

  • Sioux Falls, SD $4,170
  • Santiago $2,564

Sioux Falls, SD costs about 79% more than Santiago, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Sioux Falls, SD sits 61% above the global median, while Santiago is 10% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sioux Falls, SD
Santiago
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.80 $11.80
$10.19 CLP 9,931
15.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.4 $75.4
$52.2 CLP 50.9K
44.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.02 $10.02
$8.54 CLP 8,323
17.33%
Cappuccino
$4.29 $4.29
$3.19 CLP 3,115
34.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 $2.65
$1.68 CLP 1,637
57.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90 $1.90
$1.22 CLP 1,191
55.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.04 $4.04
$4.21 CLP 4,101
-4.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.62 $6.62
$4.66 CLP 4,539
42.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sioux Falls, SD
Santiago
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.82 $0.82
$1.32 CLP 1,283
-37.88%
White Bread (500g)
$2.83 $2.83
$1.80 CLP 1,756
57.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.88 $4.88
$1.58 CLP 1,543
208.86%
Eggs
$3.60 $3.60
$4.25 CLP 4,141
-15.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.42 $12.42
$11.19 CLP 10.9K
10.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.70 $9.70
$6.75 CLP 6,580
43.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.60 $15.60
$10.67 CLP 10.4K
46.20%
Apples (1kg)
$4.58 $4.58
$2.04 CLP 1,991
124.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 $1.59
$1.53 CLP 1,497
3.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.50 $3.50
$1.59 CLP 1,549
120.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.60 $3.60
$1.75 CLP 1,708
105.71%
Potato (1kg)
$2.11 $2.11
$1.08 CLP 1,051
95.37%
Onion (1kg)
$3.31 $3.31
$1.51 CLP 1,476
119.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.06 $2.06
$1.17 CLP 1,145
76.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 $1.73
$1.07 CLP 1,041
61.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.48 $9.48
$5.14 CLP 5,015
84.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.10 $11.10
$5.88 CLP 5,732
88.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13 $2.13
$1.55 CLP 1,513
37.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 $2.66
$2.27 CLP 2,218
17.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Sioux Falls, SD
Santiago
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.47 $1.47
$0.85 CLP 829
72.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.15 $30.15
$41.50 CLP 40.5K
-27.35%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.85 $3.85
$0.39 CLP 383
887.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.70 $1.70
$0.84 CLP 820
102.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.30 $35.30
$11.94 CLP 11.6K
195.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.00 $1.00
$1.50 CLP 1,467
-33.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5K $35.5K
$18.1K CLP 17.7M
96.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K $25.1K
$21.6K CLP 21.1M
16.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sioux Falls, SD
Santiago
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$245 $245
$151 CLP 147.3K
62.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$45.55 $45.55
$12.04 CLP 11.7K
278.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.3 $56.3
$18.93 CLP 18.5K
197.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sioux Falls, SD
Santiago
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.12 $44.12
$33.81 CLP 33.0K
30.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.82 $34.82
$11.72 CLP 11.4K
197.10%
Cinema Ticket
$12.32 $12.32
$7.37 CLP 7,185
67.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sioux Falls, SD
Santiago
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,006 $1,006
$434 CLP 423.3K
131.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,684 $7,684
$11.0K CLP 10.7M
-30.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sioux Falls, SD
Santiago
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.26 $33.26
$50.9 CLP 49.6K
-34.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.10 $30.10
$29.16 CLP 28.4K
3.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 $117
$67.4 CLP 65.7K
74.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135 $135
$80.3 CLP 78.2K
67.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sioux Falls, SD
Santiago
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,355 $1,355
$555 CLP 540.8K
144.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$934 $934
$372 CLP 363.2K
150.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,070 $2,070
$1,009 CLP 984.3K
105.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,514 $1,514
$779 CLP 759.1K
94.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,504 $2,504
$2,671 CLP 2.6M
-6.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,191 $2,191
$2,622 CLP 2.6M
-16.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sioux Falls, SD
Santiago
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,346 $4,346
$791 CLP 771.7K
449.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.87
5.39
27.46%

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

Last update for Sioux Falls, SD: October 5, 2026

Last update for Santiago: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Sioux Falls, SD
$934
Santiago
$372 60.1% $561
Groceries & Markets
Sioux Falls, SD
$347
Santiago
$236 32% $111
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sioux Falls, SD
$347
Santiago
$182 47.6% $165
Eating Out
Sioux Falls, SD
$228
Santiago
$187 17.7% $40
Clothing & Footwear
Sioux Falls, SD
$142
Santiago
$102 27.8% $40
Sport & Entertainment
Sioux Falls, SD
$69
Santiago
$49 29.4% $20
Getting Around
Sioux Falls, SD
$48
Santiago
$50 2.3% $1.1

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,355 in Sioux Falls, SD versus $555 in Santiago. 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 449% higher in Sioux Falls, SD, 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 $75.0 in Sioux Falls, SD versus $52.0 in Santiago. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $347 vs $236 – making Santiago the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Sioux Falls, SD
🇨🇱 Santiago
🕒 Local time
03:33 3:33 AM
05:33 5:33 AM
2 h ahead of Sioux Falls, SD
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
192,517
6,139,087 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CLP, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Chilean Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 975 CLP (1,000 CLP = 1.03 USD). 1 EUR = 1,094 CLP (10,000 CLP = 9.14 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Sioux Falls, SD Santiago 8,960 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Sioux Falls, SD
  • Santiago

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
Sioux Falls, SD vs Santiago: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Santiago cheaper than Sioux Falls, SD?
Yes – Sioux Falls, SD is pricier by about 79%, 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 $3,231 per month in Sioux Falls, SD and $1,809 in Santiago. 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.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 38% less in Santiago. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,006 per month in Sioux Falls, SD and $434 in Santiago. 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 Sioux Falls, SD or in Santiago?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Santiago, where all-in costs run around $1,206, than in Sioux Falls, SD at $2,154. In Santiago it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sioux Falls, SD it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Sioux Falls, SD or Santiago 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 safer, Sioux Falls, SD or Santiago?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
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, Sioux Falls, SD makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Sioux Falls, SD vs other spots: cost of living compared

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