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: $1,077 in Valdivia versus $1,033 in Iquique.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Valdivia versus $1,669 in Iquique.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,126 in Valdivia versus $2,305 in Iquique.

Living in Valdivia is roughly 4% more expensive than Iquique, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Valdivia 20% lower, Iquique 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.56 CLP 5,896

$8.29 CLP 7,446

-20.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.36 CLP 38.1K

$43.84 CLP 39.4K

-3.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.18 CLP 6,457

$7.29 CLP 6,549

-1.51%

Cappuccino

$2.49 CLP 2,241

$3.74 CLP 3,363

-33.42%

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

$2.38 CLP 2,142

$1.34 CLP 1,208

77.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 CLP 1,395

$1.02 CLP 914

51.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.72 CLP 3,345

$3.37 CLP 3,024

10.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 CLP 3,614

$3.85 CLP 3,461

4.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 CLP 1,110

$1.20 CLP 1,082

2.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 CLP 1,290

$1.22 CLP 1,098

18.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 CLP 1,454

$1.42 CLP 1,280

14.08%

Eggs

$3.21 CLP 2,887

$3.58 CLP 3,214

-10.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.18 CLP 8,251

$10.26 CLP 9,222

-10.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.63 CLP 5,958

$6.53 CLP 5,872

1.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.21 CLP 11.9K

$11.13 CLP 10.0K

18.69%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 CLP 2,088

$1.83 CLP 1,648

26.78%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 CLP 1,799

$2.28 CLP 2,050

-12.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.91 CLP 1,717

$1.54 CLP 1,387

24.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.88 CLP 1,691

$1.16 CLP 1,040

62.07%

Potato (1kg)

$2.46 CLP 2,208

$0.83 CLP 745

196.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.65 CLP 1,481

$0.64 CLP 574

157.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.52 CLP 1,368

$1.27 CLP 1,137

19.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 CLP 1,045

$1.22 CLP 1,098

-4.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.47 CLP 4,920

$5.29 CLP 4,756

3.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.92 CLP 4,421

$8.18 CLP 7,353

-39.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 CLP 1,382

$1.55 CLP 1,397

-0.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 CLP 1,950

$2.26 CLP 2,027

-3.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 CLP 539

$0.69 CLP 618

-13.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.60 CLP 1,439

$0.47 CLP 425

240.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 CLP 1,282

$1.37 CLP 1,233

4.38%

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

$15.6K CLP 14.0M

$19.9K CLP 17.9M

-21.56%

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

$18.4K CLP 16.5M

$21.1K CLP 18.9M

-12.85%

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

$96.4 CLP 86.6K

$82.4 CLP 74.1K

16.98%

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

$19.02 CLP 17.1K

$13.50 CLP 12.1K

40.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.78 CLP 25.9K

$21.80 CLP 19.6K

32.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.40 CLP 38.1K

$43.55 CLP 39.1K

-2.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.19 CLP 22.6K

$20.92 CLP 18.8K

20.41%

Cinema Ticket

$4.82 CLP 4,331

$5.79 CLP 5,208

-16.75%

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

$271 CLP 243.8K

$428 CLP 384.2K

-36.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 CLP 49.2K

$31.77 CLP 28.6K

72.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.66 CLP 16.8K

$23.91 CLP 21.5K

-21.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$53.0 CLP 47.6K

$49.18 CLP 44.2K

7.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.9 CLP 71.8K

$61.2 CLP 55.0K

30.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$599 CLP 538.5K

$445 CLP 400.2K

34.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$387 CLP 348.2K

$402 CLP 361.2K

-3.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,052 CLP 945.7K

$763 CLP 685.5K

37.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$599 CLP 537.9K

$853 CLP 766.8K

-29.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,910 CLP 4.4M

$1,854 CLP 1.7M

164.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,030 CLP 1.8M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$675 CLP 606.7K

$1,010 CLP 907.9K

-33.17%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Iquique: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $599 in Valdivia and $445 in Iquique. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Iquique pays 50% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $42.00 in Valdivia vs $44.00 in Iquique. Groceries flip the comparison at $240 vs $228, 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 ($1,077 vs $1,033 including rent). Iquique is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Iquique earns 50% 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: $599 in Valdivia versus $445 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 $1,077 per month in Valdivia versus $1,033 in Iquique – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,033 in Iquique versus $1,077 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.