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: $1,066 in Valdivia versus $1,077 in Calama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,624 in Valdivia versus $1,598 in Calama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,182 in Valdivia versus $2,119 in Calama.

Living in Valdivia costs roughly 1% less than in Calama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.34 CLP 5,641

$7.95 CLP 7,068

-20.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.66 CLP 37.9K

$33.74 CLP 30.0K

26.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.31 CLP 6,504

$7.75 CLP 6,890

-5.68%

Cappuccino

$2.52 CLP 2,241

$2.20 CLP 1,959

14.55%

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

$2.44 CLP 2,167

$0.92 CLP 822

165.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 CLP 1,353

$0.95 CLP 847

60.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.68 CLP 3,270

$3.31 CLP 2,948

11.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.95 CLP 3,511

$4.06 CLP 3,612

-2.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 CLP 1,095

$1.19 CLP 1,061

3.36%

White Bread (500g)

$1.36 CLP 1,209

$1.55 CLP 1,379

-12.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 CLP 1,444

$1.96 CLP 1,740

-17.35%

Eggs

$3.13 CLP 2,780

$3.47 CLP 3,084

-9.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.18 CLP 8,165

$10.29 CLP 9,147

-10.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.89 CLP 6,122

$6.55 CLP 5,822

5.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.28 CLP 11.8K

$11.04 CLP 9,815

20.29%

Apples (1kg)

$2.23 CLP 1,980

$1.88 CLP 1,675

18.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 CLP 1,731

$1.50 CLP 1,334

30.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.89 CLP 1,678

$1.52 CLP 1,350

24.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.88 CLP 1,673

$1.50 CLP 1,334

25.33%

Potato (1kg)

$2.45 CLP 2,180

$1.28 CLP 1,142

91.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.63 CLP 1,447

$1.35 CLP 1,202

20.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.56 CLP 1,388

$1.21 CLP 1,073

28.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 CLP 1,069

$1.23 CLP 1,090

-2.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.36 CLP 4,765

$5.53 CLP 4,917

-3.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.00 CLP 4,442

$4.51 CLP 4,006

10.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 CLP 1,431

$1.59 CLP 1,414

1.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 CLP 1,988

$2.20 CLP 1,960

1.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 CLP 527

$0.58 CLP 515

1.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.60 CLP 1,420

$0.50 CLP 447

220.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 CLP 1,363

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 CLP 1,262

$1.53 CLP 1,356

-7.19%

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

$15.9K CLP 14.2M

$19.9K CLP 17.7M

-20.07%

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

$18.1K CLP 16.1M

$21.1K CLP 18.8M

-14.00%

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

$95.8 CLP 85.2K

$134 CLP 119.2K

-28.51%

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

$18.76 CLP 16.7K

$13.69 CLP 12.2K

37.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.57 CLP 25.4K

$22.18 CLP 19.7K

28.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.78 CLP 38.9K

$38.16 CLP 33.9K

14.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.23 CLP 22.4K

$21.33 CLP 19.0K

18.28%

Cinema Ticket

$4.99 CLP 4,441

$5.68 CLP 5,055

-12.15%

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

$275 CLP 244.3K

$432 CLP 384.4K

-36.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 CLP 48.8K

$50.1 CLP 44.5K

9.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.05 CLP 16.9K

$29.74 CLP 26.4K

-35.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$53.1 CLP 47.2K

$61.5 CLP 54.7K

-13.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.0 CLP 72.9K

$82.5 CLP 73.3K

-0.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$608 CLP 541.1K

$348 CLP 309.4K

74.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$393 CLP 349.3K

$369 CLP 328.0K

6.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 CLP 944.5K

$852 CLP 757.4K

24.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$604 CLP 536.8K

$590 CLP 524.8K

2.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,893 CLP 4.4M

$1,543 CLP 1.4M

217.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,368 CLP 1.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$687 CLP 611.2K

$1,213 CLP 1.1M

-43.34%

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Calama: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $608 in Valdivia and $348 in Calama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calama pays 76% 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: $43.00 in Valdivia vs $34.00 in Calama for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $240 vs $225 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 1% 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, Calama earns 76% 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: $608 in Valdivia versus $348 in Calama. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Calama pay roughly 7% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,066 per month in Valdivia versus $1,077 in Calama – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,066 in Valdivia versus $1,077 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 1% less than in Calama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.