Cost of Living Comparison Between Valdivia and Puerto Varas Cost of Living Comparison Between Valdivia and Puerto Varas

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,077 in Valdivia versus $1,112 in Puerto Varas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Valdivia versus $1,698 in Puerto Varas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,126 in Valdivia versus $2,285 in Puerto Varas.

Living in Valdivia costs roughly 3% less than in Puerto Varas, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Valdivia 20% lower, Puerto Varas 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.56 CLP 5,896

$12.75 CLP 11.5K

-48.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.36 CLP 38.1K

$42.45 CLP 38.2K

-0.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.18 CLP 6,457

$8.28 CLP 7,443

-13.29%

Cappuccino

$2.49 CLP 2,241

$3.04 CLP 2,729

-18.09%

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

$2.38 CLP 2,142

$1.04 CLP 937

128.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 CLP 1,395

$0.82 CLP 741

89.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.72 CLP 3,345

$3.19 CLP 2,864

16.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 CLP 3,614

$4.08 CLP 3,668

-1.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 CLP 1,110

$1.16 CLP 1,047

6.03%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 CLP 1,290

$1.49 CLP 1,343

-3.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 CLP 1,454

$1.95 CLP 1,754

-16.92%

Eggs

$3.21 CLP 2,887

$3.43 CLP 3,081

-6.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.18 CLP 8,251

$10.50 CLP 9,438

-12.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.63 CLP 5,958

$6.54 CLP 5,882

1.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.21 CLP 11.9K

$11.13 CLP 10.0K

18.69%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 CLP 2,088

$1.90 CLP 1,711

22.11%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 CLP 1,799

$1.51 CLP 1,354

32.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.91 CLP 1,717

$1.51 CLP 1,361

26.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.88 CLP 1,691

$1.51 CLP 1,355

24.50%

Potato (1kg)

$2.46 CLP 2,208

$1.23 CLP 1,105

100.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.65 CLP 1,481

$1.35 CLP 1,214

22.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.52 CLP 1,368

$1.23 CLP 1,104

23.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 CLP 1,045

$1.16 CLP 1,047

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.47 CLP 4,920

$5.26 CLP 4,726

3.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.92 CLP 4,421

$5.93 CLP 5,327

-17.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 CLP 1,382

$1.55 CLP 1,395

-0.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 CLP 1,950

$2.30 CLP 2,070

-5.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 CLP 539

$0.62 CLP 554

-3.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.60 CLP 1,439

$0.47 CLP 420

240.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 CLP 1,282

$1.42 CLP 1,275

0.70%

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

$15.6K CLP 14.0M

$19.5K CLP 17.5M

-19.96%

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

$18.4K CLP 16.5M

$21.1K CLP 19.0M

-13.06%

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

$96.4 CLP 86.6K

$133 CLP 119.6K

-27.54%

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

$19.02 CLP 17.1K

$13.57 CLP 12.2K

40.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.78 CLP 25.9K

$22.00 CLP 19.8K

30.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.40 CLP 38.1K

$37.87 CLP 34.0K

11.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.19 CLP 22.6K

$21.41 CLP 19.2K

17.66%

Cinema Ticket

$4.82 CLP 4,331

$5.70 CLP 5,124

-15.44%

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

$271 CLP 243.8K

$436 CLP 391.5K

-37.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 CLP 49.2K

$50.2 CLP 45.1K

9.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.66 CLP 16.8K

$30.84 CLP 27.7K

-39.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$53.0 CLP 47.6K

$60.5 CLP 54.4K

-12.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.9 CLP 71.8K

$82.5 CLP 74.2K

-3.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$599 CLP 538.5K

$485 CLP 436.2K

23.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$387 CLP 348.2K

$369 CLP 331.5K

5.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,052 CLP 945.7K

$877 CLP 787.7K

20.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$599 CLP 537.9K

$603 CLP 541.5K

-0.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,910 CLP 4.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$675 CLP 606.7K

$575 CLP 516.5K

17.47%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Puerto Varas: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $599 in Valdivia and $485 in Puerto Varas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Valdivia pays 17% 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 $42.00 in Puerto Varas. Groceries flip the comparison at $240 vs $227, with Puerto Varas 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 Puerto Varas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Valdivia wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Puerto Varas. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Valdivia the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Valdivia pays 17% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $599 in Valdivia versus $485 in Puerto Varas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Puerto Varas pay roughly 5% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,077 per month in Valdivia versus $1,112 in Puerto Varas – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,077 in Valdivia versus $1,112 in Puerto Varas, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Valdivia but tight or insufficient in Puerto Varas. 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 3% less than in Puerto Varas. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.