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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,062 per month in Valdivia vs $1,100 in Arica, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,610 per month in Valdivia vs $1,669 in Arica, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,157 per month in Valdivia vs $2,237 in Arica, rent included.

Valdivia is about 3% cheaper than Arica, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Valdivia and Arica are more affordable than the global median – Valdivia 20% lower, Arica 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.61 CLP 6,154

$8.43 CLP 7,851

-21.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.26 CLP 39.4K

$44.30 CLP 41.3K

-4.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.94 CLP 6,458

$8.20 CLP 7,635

-15.37%

Cappuccino

$2.51 CLP 2,335

$2.71 CLP 2,521

-7.38%

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

$2.31 CLP 2,151

$1.30 CLP 1,210

77.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 CLP 1,428

$1.06 CLP 989

44.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.81 CLP 3,551

$3.29 CLP 3,065

15.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 CLP 3,666

$4.28 CLP 3,986

-7.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 CLP 1,148

$1.19 CLP 1,104

3.36%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 CLP 1,329

$1.50 CLP 1,401

-4.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 CLP 1,523

$1.85 CLP 1,723

-11.35%

Eggs

$3.17 CLP 2,955

$3.50 CLP 3,260

-9.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.38 CLP 8,737

$10.31 CLP 9,599

-9.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.95 CLP 6,474

$6.73 CLP 6,270

3.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.38 CLP 12.5K

$10.79 CLP 10.0K

24.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.22 CLP 2,063

$1.89 CLP 1,759

17.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.94 CLP 1,804

$1.57 CLP 1,465

23.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.83 CLP 1,706

$1.60 CLP 1,492

14.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 CLP 1,833

$1.50 CLP 1,394

31.33%

Potato (1kg)

$2.44 CLP 2,275

$1.24 CLP 1,158

96.77%

Onion (1kg)

$1.58 CLP 1,474

$1.36 CLP 1,269

16.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.58 CLP 1,474

$1.22 CLP 1,136

29.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 CLP 1,123

$1.23 CLP 1,146

-1.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.25 CLP 4,892

$5.27 CLP 4,904

-0.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.78 CLP 4,454

$6.39 CLP 5,946

-25.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 CLP 1,486

$1.54 CLP 1,431

3.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 CLP 1,989

$2.32 CLP 2,161

-7.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 CLP 550

$0.58 CLP 537

1.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.59 CLP 1,476

$0.51 CLP 471

211.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 CLP 1,318

$1.38 CLP 1,286

2.90%

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

$15.6K CLP 14.6M

$19.7K CLP 18.4M

-20.80%

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

$18.2K CLP 17.0M

$21.5K CLP 20.0M

-15.01%

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

$96.1 CLP 89.5K

$134 CLP 125.1K

-28.43%

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

$18.60 CLP 17.3K

$13.49 CLP 12.6K

37.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.22 CLP 27.2K

$22.09 CLP 20.6K

32.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.96 CLP 40.0K

$38.36 CLP 35.7K

11.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.61 CLP 22.9K

$21.43 CLP 20.0K

14.84%

Cinema Ticket

$4.90 CLP 4,560

$5.81 CLP 5,410

-15.66%

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

$275 CLP 255.7K

$435 CLP 404.7K

-36.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 CLP 50.9K

$50.6 CLP 47.1K

8.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.60 CLP 17.3K

$30.88 CLP 28.8K

-39.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$52.2 CLP 48.6K

$56.2 CLP 52.3K

-7.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.0 CLP 76.3K

$83.9 CLP 78.2K

-2.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$598 CLP 556.8K

$481 CLP 448.4K

24.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$383 CLP 357.0K

$366 CLP 340.9K

4.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,039 CLP 967.9K

$875 CLP 815.2K

18.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$593 CLP 552.5K

$582 CLP 542.4K

1.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,745 CLP 4.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$661 CLP 615.1K

$537 CLP 499.7K

23.08%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Arica: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $598 in Valdivia versus $481 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 23% 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 $42.00 in Valdivia versus $44.00 in Arica. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Valdivia vs $229 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: $1,062 in Valdivia, $1,100 in Arica – roughly 4% apart. Arica costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,593 per month in Valdivia and $1,651 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 $42.00 in Valdivia and $44.00 in Arica. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 5% 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 $1,062, than in Arica at $1,100. 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.