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: $1,021 in Valdivia versus $1,036 in Iquique.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,583 in Valdivia versus $1,634 in Iquique.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,145 in Valdivia versus $2,232 in Iquique.

Living in Valdivia costs roughly 2% less than in Iquique, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Valdivia 25% lower, Iquique 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.59 CLP 6,291

$7.72 CLP 7,367

-14.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.56 CLP 45.4K

$42.54 CLP 40.6K

11.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.97 CLP 6,647

$7.21 CLP 6,883

-3.33%

Cappuccino

$2.11 CLP 2,010

$3.43 CLP 3,276

-38.48%

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

$2.06 CLP 1,962

$1.27 CLP 1,214

62.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.27 CLP 1,214

$0.99 CLP 942

28.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.62 CLP 3,450

$3.19 CLP 3,047

13.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 CLP 3,442

$3.72 CLP 3,546

-2.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 CLP 1,110

$1.14 CLP 1,092

1.75%

White Bread (500g)

$1.32 CLP 1,259

$1.16 CLP 1,105

13.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 CLP 1,511

$1.33 CLP 1,267

18.80%

Eggs

$3.14 CLP 2,992

$3.05 CLP 2,914

2.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.26 CLP 8,835

$10.40 CLP 9,924

-10.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.50 CLP 6,201

$10.37 CLP 9,892

-37.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.07 CLP 12.5K

Apples (1kg)

$2.16 CLP 2,058

$2.33 CLP 2,228

-7.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 CLP 1,877

$2.20 CLP 2,099

-10.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 CLP 1,704

$1.60 CLP 1,525

11.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.84 CLP 1,755

$1.07 CLP 1,023

71.96%

Potato (1kg)

$2.37 CLP 2,260

$0.75 CLP 720

216.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 CLP 1,466

$0.61 CLP 583

152.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.52 CLP 1,452

$1.03 CLP 980

47.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 CLP 1,120

$1.34 CLP 1,277

-12.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.24 CLP 5,004

$7.12 CLP 6,793

-26.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.62 CLP 4,405

$8.13 CLP 7,754

-43.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.57 CLP 1,499

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 CLP 2,063

$0.87 CLP 832

148.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 CLP 559

$0.70 CLP 668

-15.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 CLP 971

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 CLP 1,372

$1.44 CLP 1,375

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

$15.3K CLP 14.6M

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

$18.1K CLP 17.3M

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

$93.0 CLP 88.7K

$90.6 CLP 86.4K

2.67%

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

$13.69 CLP 13.1K

$15.40 CLP 14.7K

-11.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.64 CLP 30.2K

$24.10 CLP 23.0K

31.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.56 CLP 39.7K

$52.6 CLP 50.2K

-21.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.21 CLP 23.1K

Cinema Ticket

$4.73 CLP 4,514

$7.19 CLP 6,859

-34.21%

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

$249 CLP 237.2K

$265 CLP 253.3K

-6.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,114 CLP 3.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.0 CLP 50.5K

$31.80 CLP 30.3K

66.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.82 CLP 17.0K

$23.73 CLP 22.6K

-24.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.3 CLP 48.0K

$47.28 CLP 45.1K

6.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.4 CLP 73.8K

$59.7 CLP 56.9K

29.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$592 CLP 565.3K

$426 CLP 406.5K

39.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$384 CLP 366.4K

$393 CLP 374.8K

-2.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$994 CLP 948.5K

$694 CLP 661.8K

43.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$564 CLP 537.8K

$794 CLP 757.2K

-28.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,518 CLP 4.3M

$1,752 CLP 1.7M

157.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,985 CLP 1.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$632 CLP 603.0K

$946 CLP 902.5K

-33.19%

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: September 15, 2026

Last update for Iquique: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $592 in Valdivia and $426 in Iquique. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Iquique pays 50% 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: $48.00 in Valdivia vs $43.00 in Iquique for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $202 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 2% in total monthly costs ($1,021 vs $1,036 including rent). Valdivia is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 50% 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: $592 in Valdivia versus $426 in Iquique. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Iquique pay roughly 16% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,021 per month in Valdivia versus $1,036 in Iquique – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,021 in Valdivia versus $1,036 in Iquique, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Valdivia but tight or insufficient in Iquique. 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 2% less than in Iquique. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.