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: $1,069 in Valdivia versus $1,064 in Calama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,620 in Valdivia versus $1,606 in Calama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,172 in Valdivia versus $2,149 in Calama.

Monthly costs are close between Valdivia and Calama; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.34 CLP 5,614

$7.95 CLP 7,040

-20.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.98 CLP 38.1K

$33.04 CLP 29.3K

30.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.31 CLP 6,475

$8.03 CLP 7,111

-8.97%

Cappuccino

$2.42 CLP 2,139

$2.12 CLP 1,879

14.15%

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

$2.32 CLP 2,055

$0.92 CLP 819

152.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 CLP 1,300

$1.00 CLP 890

47.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.76 CLP 3,330

$3.19 CLP 2,827

17.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.15 CLP 3,679

$4.07 CLP 3,610

1.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 CLP 1,094

$1.24 CLP 1,101

White Bread (500g)

$1.36 CLP 1,208

$1.52 CLP 1,342

-10.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 CLP 1,455

$1.91 CLP 1,695

-14.14%

Eggs

$3.18 CLP 2,818

$3.63 CLP 3,218

-12.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.62 CLP 8,523

$10.67 CLP 9,451

-9.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.72 CLP 5,950

$6.83 CLP 6,053

-1.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.03 CLP 11.5K

$10.78 CLP 9,551

20.87%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 CLP 1,993

$1.88 CLP 1,666

19.68%

Banana (1kg)

$2.02 CLP 1,787

$1.55 CLP 1,377

30.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.83 CLP 1,622

$1.54 CLP 1,362

18.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.88 CLP 1,661

$1.52 CLP 1,343

23.68%

Potato (1kg)

$2.45 CLP 2,169

$1.23 CLP 1,085

99.19%

Onion (1kg)

$1.59 CLP 1,411

$1.40 CLP 1,244

13.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.58 CLP 1,398

$1.23 CLP 1,087

28.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 CLP 1,028

$1.24 CLP 1,094

-6.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.43 CLP 4,811

$5.26 CLP 4,662

3.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.17 CLP 4,583

$6.32 CLP 5,598

-18.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 CLP 1,435

$1.61 CLP 1,428

0.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 CLP 1,896

$2.24 CLP 1,987

-4.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 CLP 488

$0.61 CLP 544

-9.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.59 CLP 1,406

$0.50 CLP 444

218.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 CLP 1,317

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 CLP 1,273

$1.53 CLP 1,355

-5.88%

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

$15.9K CLP 14.1M

$19.3K CLP 17.1M

-17.57%

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

$18.1K CLP 16.0M

$21.0K CLP 18.6M

-14.07%

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

$95.4 CLP 84.5K

$132 CLP 116.8K

-27.66%

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

$18.80 CLP 16.7K

$13.43 CLP 11.9K

39.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.07 CLP 25.8K

$22.12 CLP 19.6K

31.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.91 CLP 38.9K

$38.31 CLP 33.9K

14.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.19 CLP 22.3K

$21.64 CLP 19.2K

16.40%

Cinema Ticket

$4.73 CLP 4,193

$5.60 CLP 4,964

-15.54%

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

$272 CLP 241.2K

$434 CLP 384.0K

-37.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 CLP 48.1K

$50.5 CLP 44.7K

7.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.00 CLP 16.8K

$30.07 CLP 26.6K

-36.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$52.2 CLP 46.2K

$62.1 CLP 55.0K

-15.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.3 CLP 70.2K

$82.5 CLP 73.1K

-3.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$598 CLP 529.8K

$350 CLP 309.8K

71.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$385 CLP 341.2K

$376 CLP 333.2K

2.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,035 CLP 916.6K

$866 CLP 767.1K

19.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$587 CLP 519.9K

$600 CLP 531.6K

-2.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,843 CLP 4.3M

$1,572 CLP 1.4M

208.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,373 CLP 1.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$677 CLP 599.8K

$1,249 CLP 1.1M

-45.77%

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 14, 2026

Last update for Calama: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $598 in Valdivia and $350 in Calama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calama pays 84% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $43.00 in Valdivia vs $33.00 in Calama for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $240 vs $232 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

On paper, Calama earns 84% less. 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: $598 in Valdivia versus $350 in Calama. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 4% higher in Valdivia. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Calama – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $43.00 in Valdivia. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,064 in Calama versus $1,069 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.

It comes down to priorities – Calama wins on affordability, Valdivia on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.