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: $1,066 in Valdivia versus $1,022 in Iquique.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,624 in Valdivia versus $1,703 in Iquique.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,182 in Valdivia versus $2,385 in Iquique.

Living in Valdivia is roughly 4% more expensive than Iquique, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Valdivia 20% lower, Iquique 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.34 CLP 5,641

$8.06 CLP 7,169

-21.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.66 CLP 37.9K

$43.07 CLP 38.3K

-0.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.31 CLP 6,504

$7.34 CLP 6,527

-0.41%

Cappuccino

$2.52 CLP 2,241

$3.61 CLP 3,212

-30.19%

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

$2.44 CLP 2,167

$1.29 CLP 1,151

89.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 CLP 1,353

$1.01 CLP 902

50.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.68 CLP 3,270

$3.37 CLP 2,993

9.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.95 CLP 3,511

$3.66 CLP 3,257

7.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 CLP 1,095

$1.20 CLP 1,069

2.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.36 CLP 1,209

$1.18 CLP 1,049

15.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 CLP 1,444

$1.42 CLP 1,265

14.08%

Eggs

$3.13 CLP 2,780

$3.57 CLP 3,176

-12.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.18 CLP 8,165

$10.33 CLP 9,189

-11.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.89 CLP 6,122

$6.71 CLP 5,968

2.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.28 CLP 11.8K

$10.91 CLP 9,704

21.72%

Apples (1kg)

$2.23 CLP 1,980

$1.82 CLP 1,620

22.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 CLP 1,731

$2.33 CLP 2,075

-16.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.89 CLP 1,678

$1.59 CLP 1,412

18.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.88 CLP 1,673

$1.14 CLP 1,018

64.91%

Potato (1kg)

$2.45 CLP 2,180

$0.79 CLP 700

210.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.63 CLP 1,447

$0.67 CLP 596

143.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.56 CLP 1,388

$1.21 CLP 1,075

28.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 CLP 1,069

$1.17 CLP 1,041

2.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.36 CLP 4,765

$5.47 CLP 4,866

-2.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.00 CLP 4,442

$8.53 CLP 7,585

-41.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 CLP 1,431

$1.62 CLP 1,439

-0.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 CLP 1,988

$2.31 CLP 2,057

-3.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 CLP 527

$0.68 CLP 606

-13.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.60 CLP 1,420

$0.47 CLP 417

240.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 CLP 1,262

$1.43 CLP 1,276

-0.70%

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

$15.9K CLP 14.2M

$19.7K CLP 17.5M

-18.98%

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

$18.1K CLP 16.1M

$21.7K CLP 19.3M

-16.46%

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

$95.8 CLP 85.2K

$81.6 CLP 72.6K

17.40%

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

$18.76 CLP 16.7K

$13.41 CLP 11.9K

39.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.57 CLP 25.4K

$22.05 CLP 19.6K

29.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.78 CLP 38.9K

$43.65 CLP 38.8K

0.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.23 CLP 22.4K

$21.59 CLP 19.2K

16.86%

Cinema Ticket

$4.99 CLP 4,441

$5.60 CLP 4,982

-10.89%

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

$275 CLP 244.3K

$438 CLP 389.4K

-37.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 CLP 48.8K

$32.79 CLP 29.2K

67.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.05 CLP 16.9K

$24.41 CLP 21.7K

-21.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$53.1 CLP 47.2K

$47.76 CLP 42.5K

11.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.0 CLP 72.9K

$61.9 CLP 55.0K

32.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$608 CLP 541.1K

$438 CLP 389.6K

38.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$393 CLP 349.3K

$395 CLP 351.6K

-0.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 CLP 944.5K

$757 CLP 673.3K

40.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$604 CLP 536.8K

$838 CLP 745.1K

-27.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,893 CLP 4.4M

$1,893 CLP 1.7M

158.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,160 CLP 1.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$687 CLP 611.2K

$1,024 CLP 910.4K

-32.87%

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Iquique: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $608 in Valdivia and $438 in Iquique. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Iquique pays 49% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $43.00 in Valdivia vs $43.00 in Iquique. Groceries flip the comparison at $240 vs $229, with Iquique cheaper for home cooking.

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 4% in total monthly costs ($1,066 vs $1,022 including rent). Iquique is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Iquique earns 49% 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 $438 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 $1,066 per month in Valdivia versus $1,022 in Iquique – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,022 in Iquique versus $1,066 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 4% less than in Valdivia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.