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: $1,021 in Valdivia versus $610 in Calama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,583 in Valdivia versus $1,222 in Calama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,145 in Valdivia versus $1,835 in Calama.

Living in Valdivia is roughly 67% more expensive than in Calama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Valdivia 25% lower, Calama 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.59 CLP 6,291

$7.23 CLP 6,899

-8.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.56 CLP 45.4K

$32.65 CLP 31.2K

45.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.97 CLP 6,647

Cappuccino

$2.11 CLP 2,010

$2.06 CLP 1,967

2.43%

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

$2.06 CLP 1,962

$0.96 CLP 915

114.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.27 CLP 1,214

$0.93 CLP 883

36.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.62 CLP 3,450

$3.18 CLP 3,030

13.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 CLP 3,442

$5.07 CLP 4,835

-28.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 CLP 1,110

$1.12 CLP 1,065

3.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.32 CLP 1,259

$0.87 CLP 833

51.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 CLP 1,511

$2.75 CLP 2,629

-42.55%

Eggs

$3.14 CLP 2,992

$5.11 CLP 4,875

-38.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.26 CLP 8,835

$9.57 CLP 9,136

-3.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.50 CLP 6,201

$6.36 CLP 6,070

2.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.07 CLP 12.5K

$7.95 CLP 7,584

64.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.16 CLP 2,058

$1.27 CLP 1,208

70.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 CLP 1,877

$1.03 CLP 978

91.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 CLP 1,704

$1.55 CLP 1,482

15.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.84 CLP 1,755

$1.17 CLP 1,119

57.26%

Potato (1kg)

$2.37 CLP 2,260

$0.90 CLP 859

163.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 CLP 1,466

$0.94 CLP 898

63.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.52 CLP 1,452

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 CLP 1,120

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.24 CLP 5,004

$5.20 CLP 4,962

0.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.62 CLP 4,405

$4.25 CLP 4,052

8.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.57 CLP 1,499

$1.05 CLP 1,002

49.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 CLP 2,063

$1.28 CLP 1,225

68.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 CLP 559

$0.95 CLP 908

-37.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 CLP 971

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 CLP 1,467

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 CLP 1,372

$1.56 CLP 1,485

-7.69%

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

$15.3K CLP 14.6M

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

$18.1K CLP 17.3M

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

$93.0 CLP 88.7K

$41.97 CLP 40.1K

121.54%

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

$13.69 CLP 13.1K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.64 CLP 30.2K

$13.72 CLP 13.1K

130.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.56 CLP 39.7K

$51.4 CLP 49.1K

-19.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.21 CLP 23.1K

$20.56 CLP 19.6K

17.75%

Cinema Ticket

$4.73 CLP 4,514

$4.80 CLP 4,583

-1.46%

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

$249 CLP 237.2K

$317 CLP 302.9K

-21.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,114 CLP 3.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.0 CLP 50.5K

$36.59 CLP 34.9K

44.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.82 CLP 17.0K

$28.82 CLP 27.5K

-38.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.3 CLP 48.0K

$47.61 CLP 45.4K

5.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.4 CLP 73.8K

$62.3 CLP 59.4K

24.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$592 CLP 565.3K

$340 CLP 324.6K

74.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$384 CLP 366.4K

$107 CLP 101.6K

260.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$994 CLP 948.5K

$851 CLP 812.0K

16.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$564 CLP 537.8K

$637 CLP 607.8K

-11.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,518 CLP 4.3M

$1,443 CLP 1.4M

213.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,261 CLP 1.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$632 CLP 603.0K

$1,134 CLP 1.1M

-44.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

-10.00%

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

Last update for Valdivia: September 15, 2026

Last update for Calama: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $592 in Valdivia and $340 in Calama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calama pays 79% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $48.00 in Valdivia vs $33.00 in Calama for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $181 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

Calama wins on cost – living expenses run 67% lower than in Valdivia. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Calama the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 79% 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: $592 in Valdivia versus $340 in Calama. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 29% higher in Valdivia. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,021 per month in Valdivia versus $610 in Calama – a 67% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $610 in Calama versus $1,021 in Valdivia, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Calama but tight or insufficient in Valdivia. The gap between the two cities makes Calama 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 Calama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 67% less than in Valdivia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.