Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Trujillo and Santiago

For one person, living is cheaper in Trujillo: $867 a month against $1,190 in Santiago, rent and utilities included – about $3,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Trujillo
🇵🇪 Peru
$867
/mo nomad
Santiago
🇨🇱 Chile
$1,190
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Trujillo 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 Trujillo and in Santiago actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $867 per month in Trujillo vs $1,190 in Santiago, rent included.

  • Trujillo $867
  • Santiago $1,190

A couple spends around $1,340 per month in Trujillo vs $1,892 in Santiago, rent included.

  • Trujillo $1,340
  • Santiago $1,892

A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Trujillo vs $2,595 in Santiago, rent included.

  • Trujillo $1,814
  • Santiago $2,595

Trujillo is about 27% cheaper than Santiago, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Trujillo and Santiago are more affordable than the global median – Trujillo 36% lower, Santiago 12% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Trujillo
Santiago
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.50 PEN 12.01
$10.37 CLP 10.2K
-66.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.64 PEN 81.2
$51.7 CLP 50.9K
-54.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.01 PEN 24.07
$8.94 CLP 8,805
-21.59%
Cappuccino
$3.25 PEN 11.17
$3.26 CLP 3,211
-0.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 PEN 3.06
$1.67 CLP 1,640
-46.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 PEN 2.12
$1.23 CLP 1,212
-49.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.98 PEN 6.81
$3.98 CLP 3,914
-50.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 PEN 11.89
$4.54 CLP 4,465
-23.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Trujillo
Santiago
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.31 PEN 4.50
$1.28 CLP 1,263
2.34%
White Bread (500g)
$2.06 PEN 7.08
$1.85 CLP 1,817
11.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.14 PEN 3.92
$1.59 CLP 1,567
-28.30%
Eggs
$3.98 PEN 13.68
$4.10 CLP 4,031
-2.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.81 PEN 26.82
$11.41 CLP 11.2K
-31.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.54 PEN 22.46
$6.69 CLP 6,586
-2.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.20 PEN 31.61
$10.81 CLP 10.6K
-14.89%
Apples (1kg)
$1.67 PEN 5.74
$1.94 CLP 1,905
-13.92%
Banana (1kg)
$0.61 PEN 2.08
$1.52 CLP 1,497
-59.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.60 PEN 2.06
$1.60 CLP 1,577
-62.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.89 PEN 3.07
$1.69 CLP 1,668
-47.34%
Potato (1kg)
$1.00 PEN 3.42
$1.10 CLP 1,084
-9.09%
Onion (1kg)
$1.14 PEN 3.90
$1.52 CLP 1,500
-25.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.24 PEN 4.24
$1.18 CLP 1,164
5.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 PEN 3.93
$1.08 CLP 1,061
5.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.22 PEN 14.49
$5.07 CLP 4,995
-16.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 PEN 19.66
$5.95 CLP 5,858
-3.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 PEN 5.88
$1.49 CLP 1,470
14.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 PEN 5.61
$2.38 CLP 2,342
-31.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Trujillo
Santiago
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.57 PEN 1.94
$0.83 CLP 821
-31.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.65 PEN 60.6
$40.14 CLP 39.5K
-56.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.53 PEN 8.68
$0.40 CLP 393
532.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.21 PEN 7.58
$0.91 CLP 897
142.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.98 PEN 20.55
$11.63 CLP 11.5K
-48.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.70 PEN 5.84
$1.51 CLP 1,486
12.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.5K PEN 60.2K
$17.6K CLP 17.3M
-0.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.8K PEN 95.3K
$22.0K CLP 21.6M
26.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Trujillo
Santiago
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$97.9 PEN 336
$151 CLP 149.0K
-35.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.84 PEN 44.08
$12.34 CLP 12.1K
4.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.05 PEN 92.9
$18.73 CLP 18.4K
44.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Trujillo
Santiago
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.49 PEN 136
$33.71 CLP 33.2K
17.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.79 PEN 19.89
$11.80 CLP 11.6K
-50.93%
Cinema Ticket
$4.40 PEN 15.11
$7.45 CLP 7,334
-40.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Trujillo
Santiago
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$107 PEN 369
$430 CLP 423.7K
-75.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,078 PEN 7,136
$10.8K CLP 10.6M
-80.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Trujillo
Santiago
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.8 PEN 247
$49.65 CLP 48.9K
44.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$14.35 PEN 49.28
$28.94 CLP 28.5K
-50.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$46.03 PEN 158
$65.7 CLP 64.6K
-29.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$43.97 PEN 151
$80.7 CLP 79.4K
-45.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Trujillo
Santiago
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$384 PEN 1,319
$559 CLP 550.4K
-31.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$253 PEN 869
$384 CLP 377.8K
-34.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$744 PEN 2,555
$1,004 CLP 988.4K
-25.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$512 PEN 1,758
$780 CLP 767.9K
-34.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,177 PEN 4,043
$2,640 CLP 2.6M
-55.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,546 CLP 2.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Trujillo
Santiago
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$548 PEN 1,884
$804 CLP 791.0K
-31.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.7
5.39
117.07%

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

Last update for Trujillo: October 11, 2026

Last update for Santiago: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Trujillo
$253
Santiago
$384 51.7% $131
Groceries & Markets
Trujillo
$204
Santiago
$236 15.7% $32
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Trujillo
$138
Santiago
$182 32.4% $45
Eating Out
Trujillo
$111
Santiago
$189 70.8% $79
Clothing & Footwear
Trujillo
$79
Santiago
$101 27.7% $22
Sport & Entertainment
Trujillo
$48
Santiago
$49 0.7% $0.3
Getting Around
Trujillo
$33
Santiago
$48 44.7% $15

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $384 in Trujillo versus $559 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 46% 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 $24.00 in Trujillo versus $52.0 in Santiago. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $204 vs $236 – making Trujillo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇪 Trujillo
🇨🇱 Santiago
🕒 Local time
07:41 7:41 AM
09:41 9:41 AM
2 h ahead of Trujillo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
314,939
6,139,087 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CLP, USD, EUR to PEN – Peruvian Sol Converter

Peruvian Sol exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 3.43 PEN (1 PEN = 0.291 USD). 1 EUR = 3.86 PEN (1 PEN = 0.259 EUR).

Chilean Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 984 CLP (1,000 CLP = 1.02 USD). 1 EUR = 1,107 CLP (10,000 CLP = 9.04 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Trujillo Santiago 2,940 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Trujillo
  • 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
Trujillo vs Santiago: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Santiago cheaper than Trujillo?
Yes – Santiago is pricier by about 37%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Trujillo and $1,785 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 Trujillo, 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 127% less in Trujillo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $107 per month in Trujillo and $430 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 Trujillo or in Santiago?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Trujillo, where all-in costs run around $867, than in Santiago at $1,190. In Trujillo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Santiago it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Trujillo or Santiago more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Trujillo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Trujillo. 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.

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