Cost of Living Comparison Between Valdivia and Calama Cost of Living Comparison Between Valdivia and Calama

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,070 in Valdivia versus $1,095 in Calama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,636 in Valdivia versus $1,605 in Calama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,201 in Valdivia versus $2,115 in Calama.

Living in Valdivia costs roughly 2% less than in Calama, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Valdivia 20% lower, Calama 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.54 CLP 6,084

$8.17 CLP 7,599

-19.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.80 CLP 40.8K

$33.06 CLP 30.8K

32.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.19 CLP 6,690

$8.02 CLP 7,466

-10.35%

Cappuccino

$2.53 CLP 2,355

$2.10 CLP 1,951

20.48%

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

$2.40 CLP 2,233

$1.00 CLP 932

140.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 CLP 1,433

$0.94 CLP 874

63.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.82 CLP 3,551

$3.32 CLP 3,086

15.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.12 CLP 3,834

$4.13 CLP 3,846

-0.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 CLP 1,145

$1.22 CLP 1,140

0.82%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 CLP 1,339

$1.51 CLP 1,409

-4.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 CLP 1,579

$1.91 CLP 1,781

-10.99%

Eggs

$3.10 CLP 2,882

$3.45 CLP 3,209

-10.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.40 CLP 8,750

$10.61 CLP 9,869

-11.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.87 CLP 6,397

$6.80 CLP 6,325

1.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.27 CLP 12.3K

$10.79 CLP 10.0K

22.98%

Apples (1kg)

$2.23 CLP 2,077

$1.83 CLP 1,698

21.86%

Banana (1kg)

$2.01 CLP 1,869

$1.57 CLP 1,463

28.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 CLP 1,720

$1.60 CLP 1,493

15.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.88 CLP 1,745

$1.46 CLP 1,355

28.77%

Potato (1kg)

$2.46 CLP 2,287

$1.28 CLP 1,188

92.19%

Onion (1kg)

$1.58 CLP 1,472

$1.40 CLP 1,300

12.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.51 CLP 1,401

$1.21 CLP 1,127

24.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 CLP 1,079

$1.17 CLP 1,092

-0.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.36 CLP 4,988

$5.48 CLP 5,100

-2.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.88 CLP 4,545

$5.75 CLP 5,348

-15.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 CLP 1,437

$1.56 CLP 1,452

-1.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 CLP 2,098

$2.33 CLP 2,164

-3.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 CLP 513

$0.57 CLP 533

-3.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.67 CLP 1,552

$0.51 CLP 472

227.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 CLP 1,356

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 CLP 1,280

$1.59 CLP 1,481

-13.21%

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

$15.6K CLP 14.5M

$19.3K CLP 18.0M

-19.39%

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

$18.0K CLP 16.7M

$21.4K CLP 19.9M

-15.82%

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

$95.3 CLP 88.7K

$134 CLP 124.8K

-28.96%

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

$18.78 CLP 17.5K

$13.74 CLP 12.8K

36.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.28 CLP 27.2K

$21.91 CLP 20.4K

33.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.25 CLP 40.2K

$38.09 CLP 35.4K

13.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.37 CLP 22.7K

$21.35 CLP 19.9K

14.15%

Cinema Ticket

$4.81 CLP 4,479

$5.82 CLP 5,414

-17.35%

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

$270 CLP 251.4K

$443 CLP 412.5K

-39.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.8 CLP 49.2K

$51.5 CLP 47.9K

2.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.35 CLP 17.1K

$29.75 CLP 27.7K

-38.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$52.8 CLP 49.1K

$60.8 CLP 56.5K

-13.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.2 CLP 74.6K

$82.2 CLP 76.4K

-2.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$610 CLP 567.5K

$346 CLP 322.1K

76.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$384 CLP 357.5K

$370 CLP 344.4K

3.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,041 CLP 968.9K

$851 CLP 791.9K

22.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$597 CLP 555.8K

$597 CLP 555.2K

0.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,601 CLP 4.3M

$1,455 CLP 1.4M

216.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,265 CLP 1.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$656 CLP 610.5K

$1,184 CLP 1.1M

-44.56%

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 28, 2026

Last update for Calama: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $610 in Valdivia and $346 in Calama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calama pays 80% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $44.00 in Valdivia vs $33.00 in Calama for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $241 vs $229 per month, with Calama cheaper across the board.

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 Calama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Valdivia wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Calama. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Valdivia the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 80% lower in Calama. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $610 in Valdivia versus $346 in Calama. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Calama pay roughly 5% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,070 per month in Valdivia versus $1,095 in Calama – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,070 in Valdivia versus $1,095 in Calama, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Valdivia but tight or insufficient in Calama. The gap between the two cities makes Valdivia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Valdivia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Calama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.