Cost of Living Comparison Between Valdivia and Arica Cost of Living Comparison Between Valdivia and Arica

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,057 per month in Valdivia vs $1,079 in Arica, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Valdivia vs $1,659 in Arica, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,147 per month in Valdivia vs $2,239 in Arica, rent included.

Valdivia is about 2% cheaper than Arica, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Valdivia and Arica are more affordable than the global median – Valdivia 21% lower, Arica 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.32 CLP 5,610

$8.42 CLP 7,477

-24.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.69 CLP 38.8K

$44.91 CLP 39.9K

-2.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 CLP 6,413

$8.10 CLP 7,191

-10.74%

Cappuccino

$2.54 CLP 2,253

$2.72 CLP 2,414

-6.62%

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

$2.41 CLP 2,137

$1.30 CLP 1,150

85.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 CLP 1,312

$1.07 CLP 950

38.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.86 CLP 3,429

$3.19 CLP 2,832

21.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 CLP 3,567

$4.06 CLP 3,605

-0.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 CLP 1,060

$1.20 CLP 1,065

-0.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 CLP 1,267

$1.49 CLP 1,326

-4.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 CLP 1,462

$1.86 CLP 1,654

-11.29%

Eggs

$3.13 CLP 2,777

$3.50 CLP 3,103

-10.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.23 CLP 8,191

$10.37 CLP 9,201

-10.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.92 CLP 6,140

$6.55 CLP 5,811

5.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.33 CLP 11.8K

$10.79 CLP 9,574

23.54%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 CLP 1,986

$1.80 CLP 1,593

24.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 CLP 1,733

$1.57 CLP 1,390

24.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.84 CLP 1,631

$1.57 CLP 1,394

17.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.95 CLP 1,732

$1.50 CLP 1,331

30.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.44 CLP 2,168

$1.29 CLP 1,143

89.15%

Onion (1kg)

$1.63 CLP 1,445

$1.40 CLP 1,246

16.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.58 CLP 1,401

$1.23 CLP 1,090

28.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 CLP 1,070

$1.17 CLP 1,036

3.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.36 CLP 4,756

$5.55 CLP 4,923

-3.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.19 CLP 4,605

$5.27 CLP 4,681

-1.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 CLP 1,437

$1.62 CLP 1,435

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 CLP 1,990

$2.30 CLP 2,043

-2.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 CLP 528

$0.62 CLP 554

-3.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.67 CLP 1,479

$0.50 CLP 447

234.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 CLP 1,268

$1.39 CLP 1,232

2.88%

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

$15.8K CLP 14.1M

$19.4K CLP 17.2M

-18.43%

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

$18.1K CLP 16.1M

$21.4K CLP 19.0M

-15.35%

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

$97.8 CLP 86.8K

$132 CLP 117.3K

-26.03%

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

$19.03 CLP 16.9K

$13.47 CLP 12.0K

41.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.10 CLP 25.8K

$22.22 CLP 19.7K

30.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.85 CLP 38.0K

$38.02 CLP 33.7K

12.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.36 CLP 21.6K

$21.58 CLP 19.2K

12.88%

Cinema Ticket

$4.92 CLP 4,363

$5.56 CLP 4,934

-11.51%

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

$272 CLP 241.6K

$431 CLP 382.4K

-36.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.0 CLP 47.9K

$49.70 CLP 44.1K

8.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.42 CLP 16.3K

$30.13 CLP 26.7K

-38.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$51.4 CLP 45.6K

$56.2 CLP 49.9K

-8.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.6 CLP 70.6K

$80.8 CLP 71.7K

-1.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$612 CLP 543.5K

$485 CLP 430.4K

26.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$393 CLP 349.2K

$372 CLP 330.2K

5.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,057 CLP 938.0K

$895 CLP 794.1K

18.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$590 CLP 523.4K

$605 CLP 536.6K

-2.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,853 CLP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$680 CLP 603.2K

$571 CLP 507.1K

18.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

5.18

-13.13%

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

Last update for Valdivia: June 1, 2026

Last update for Arica: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $612 in Valdivia versus $485 in Arica. 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 19% higher in Valdivia, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Valdivia versus $45.00 in Arica. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Valdivia vs $226 in Arica – so Arica wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Valdivia vs Arica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,057 in Valdivia, $1,079 in Arica – roughly 2% apart. Arica costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,585 per month in Valdivia and $1,619 in Arica. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Valdivia, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Valdivia and $45.00 in Arica. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Arica – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Valdivia, where all-in costs run around $1,057, than in Arica at $1,079. In Valdivia it covers expenses comfortably, while in Arica it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Valdivia – 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 Valdivia. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Arica makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.