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: $1,070 in Valdivia versus $1,130 in Puerto Varas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,636 in Valdivia versus $1,704 in Puerto Varas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,201 in Valdivia versus $2,278 in Puerto Varas.

Living in Valdivia costs roughly 5% less than in Puerto Varas, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Valdivia 20% lower, Puerto Varas 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.54 CLP 6,084

$13.02 CLP 12.1K

-49.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.80 CLP 40.8K

$43.03 CLP 40.0K

1.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.19 CLP 6,690

$8.13 CLP 7,561

-11.56%

Cappuccino

$2.53 CLP 2,355

$3.10 CLP 2,886

-18.39%

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

$2.40 CLP 2,233

$1.09 CLP 1,015

120.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 CLP 1,433

$0.88 CLP 818

75.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.82 CLP 3,551

$3.29 CLP 3,064

16.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.12 CLP 3,834

$4.07 CLP 3,788

1.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 CLP 1,145

$1.22 CLP 1,138

0.82%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 CLP 1,339

$1.56 CLP 1,456

-7.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 CLP 1,579

$1.85 CLP 1,723

-8.11%

Eggs

$3.10 CLP 2,882

$3.49 CLP 3,246

-11.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.40 CLP 8,750

$10.31 CLP 9,596

-8.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.87 CLP 6,397

$6.59 CLP 6,133

4.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.27 CLP 12.3K

$11.15 CLP 10.4K

19.01%

Apples (1kg)

$2.23 CLP 2,077

$1.88 CLP 1,752

18.62%

Banana (1kg)

$2.01 CLP 1,869

$1.55 CLP 1,446

29.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 CLP 1,720

$1.55 CLP 1,439

19.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.88 CLP 1,745

$1.44 CLP 1,342

30.56%

Potato (1kg)

$2.46 CLP 2,287

$1.27 CLP 1,185

93.70%

Onion (1kg)

$1.58 CLP 1,472

$1.35 CLP 1,256

17.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.51 CLP 1,401

$1.27 CLP 1,179

18.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 CLP 1,079

$1.21 CLP 1,130

-4.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.36 CLP 4,988

$5.24 CLP 4,873

2.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.88 CLP 4,545

$5.96 CLP 5,541

-18.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 CLP 1,437

$1.55 CLP 1,442

-0.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 CLP 2,098

$2.33 CLP 2,169

-3.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 CLP 513

$0.62 CLP 573

-11.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.67 CLP 1,552

$0.48 CLP 446

247.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 CLP 1,280

$1.43 CLP 1,330

-3.50%

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

$15.6K CLP 14.5M

$19.5K CLP 18.1M

-19.93%

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

$18.0K CLP 16.7M

$21.2K CLP 19.7M

-15.10%

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

$95.3 CLP 88.7K

$133 CLP 124.1K

-28.55%

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

$18.78 CLP 17.5K

$13.43 CLP 12.5K

39.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.28 CLP 27.2K

$22.14 CLP 20.6K

32.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.25 CLP 40.2K

$38.81 CLP 36.1K

11.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.37 CLP 22.7K

$21.65 CLP 20.1K

12.56%

Cinema Ticket

$4.81 CLP 4,479

$5.55 CLP 5,162

-13.33%

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

$270 CLP 251.4K

$433 CLP 402.9K

-37.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.8 CLP 49.2K

$50.6 CLP 47.1K

4.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.35 CLP 17.1K

$30.74 CLP 28.6K

-40.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$52.8 CLP 49.1K

$60.7 CLP 56.5K

-12.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.2 CLP 74.6K

$80.9 CLP 75.3K

-0.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$610 CLP 567.5K

$473 CLP 439.8K

29.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$384 CLP 357.5K

$379 CLP 352.5K

1.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,041 CLP 968.9K

$893 CLP 830.6K

16.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$597 CLP 555.8K

$596 CLP 554.5K

0.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,601 CLP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$656 CLP 610.5K

$549 CLP 510.9K

19.51%

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Puerto Varas: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $610 in Valdivia and $473 in Puerto Varas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Valdivia pays 20% 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 Puerto Varas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $241 vs $229 per month, with Puerto Varas 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 Puerto Varas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Valdivia wins on cost – living expenses run 6% 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.

Average pay runs 20% higher in Valdivia, 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: $610 in Valdivia versus $473 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 $1,070 per month in Valdivia versus $1,130 in Puerto Varas – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,070 in Valdivia versus $1,130 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 6% less than in Puerto Varas. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.