Cost of Living Comparison Between Valdivia and Iquique Cost of Living Comparison Between Valdivia and Iquique

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,070 in Valdivia versus $1,035 in Iquique.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,636 in Valdivia versus $1,691 in Iquique.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,201 in Valdivia versus $2,346 in Iquique.

Living in Valdivia is roughly 3% more expensive than in Iquique, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Valdivia 20% lower, Iquique 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.54 CLP 6,084

$8.01 CLP 7,455

-18.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.80 CLP 40.8K

$42.69 CLP 39.7K

2.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.19 CLP 6,690

$7.17 CLP 6,671

0.28%

Cappuccino

$2.53 CLP 2,355

$3.69 CLP 3,436

-31.44%

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

$2.40 CLP 2,233

$1.37 CLP 1,273

75.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 CLP 1,433

$1.03 CLP 955

49.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.82 CLP 3,551

$3.37 CLP 3,134

13.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.12 CLP 3,834

$3.66 CLP 3,410

12.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 CLP 1,145

$1.20 CLP 1,115

2.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 CLP 1,339

$1.19 CLP 1,110

21.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 CLP 1,579

$1.42 CLP 1,320

19.72%

Eggs

$3.10 CLP 2,882

$3.49 CLP 3,249

-11.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.40 CLP 8,750

$10.50 CLP 9,767

-10.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.87 CLP 6,397

$6.78 CLP 6,312

1.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.27 CLP 12.3K

$11.11 CLP 10.3K

19.44%

Apples (1kg)

$2.23 CLP 2,077

$1.83 CLP 1,703

21.86%

Banana (1kg)

$2.01 CLP 1,869

$2.35 CLP 2,185

-14.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 CLP 1,720

$1.58 CLP 1,471

17.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.88 CLP 1,745

$1.15 CLP 1,072

63.48%

Potato (1kg)

$2.46 CLP 2,287

$0.79 CLP 731

211.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.58 CLP 1,472

$0.68 CLP 630

132.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.51 CLP 1,401

$1.23 CLP 1,144

22.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 CLP 1,079

$1.22 CLP 1,131

-4.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.36 CLP 4,988

$5.45 CLP 5,075

-1.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.88 CLP 4,545

$8.24 CLP 7,666

-40.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 CLP 1,437

$1.63 CLP 1,514

-5.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 CLP 2,098

$2.21 CLP 2,061

2.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 CLP 513

$0.68 CLP 634

-19.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.67 CLP 1,552

$0.50 CLP 468

234.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 CLP 1,280

$1.42 CLP 1,324

-2.82%

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

$15.6K CLP 14.5M

$19.9K CLP 18.5M

-21.67%

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

$18.0K CLP 16.7M

$21.8K CLP 20.3M

-17.42%

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

$95.3 CLP 88.7K

$81.6 CLP 76.0K

16.72%

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

$18.78 CLP 17.5K

$13.64 CLP 12.7K

37.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.28 CLP 27.2K

$21.65 CLP 20.1K

35.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.25 CLP 40.2K

$42.84 CLP 39.9K

0.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.37 CLP 22.7K

$21.60 CLP 20.1K

12.82%

Cinema Ticket

$4.81 CLP 4,479

$5.59 CLP 5,201

-13.95%

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

$270 CLP 251.4K

$443 CLP 412.0K

-38.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.8 CLP 49.2K

$32.48 CLP 30.2K

62.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.35 CLP 17.1K

$23.81 CLP 22.2K

-22.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$52.8 CLP 49.1K

$47.97 CLP 44.6K

10.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.2 CLP 74.6K

$62.9 CLP 58.5K

27.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$610 CLP 567.5K

$437 CLP 406.4K

39.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$384 CLP 357.5K

$400 CLP 372.2K

-3.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,041 CLP 968.9K

$748 CLP 696.3K

39.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$597 CLP 555.8K

$855 CLP 795.5K

-30.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,601 CLP 4.3M

$1,777 CLP 1.7M

158.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,002 CLP 1.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$656 CLP 610.5K

$964 CLP 896.9K

-31.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

7.5

-40.00%

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

Last update for Valdivia: July 28, 2026

Last update for Iquique: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $610 in Valdivia and $437 in Iquique. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Iquique pays 47% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $44.00 in Valdivia vs $43.00 in Iquique for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $241 vs $230 per month, with Iquique 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 Iquique: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Valdivia and Iquique differ by about 3% in total monthly costs ($1,070 vs $1,035 including rent). Iquique is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 47% lower in Iquique. 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 $437 in Iquique. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Valdivia. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,070 per month in Valdivia versus $1,035 in Iquique – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,035 in Iquique versus $1,070 in Valdivia, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Iquique but tight or insufficient in Valdivia. The gap between the two cities makes Iquique 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 Iquique gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Valdivia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.