Cost of Living Comparison Between Valdivia and San Pedro de Atacama Cost of Living Comparison Between Valdivia and San Pedro de Atacama

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,021 per month in Valdivia vs $1,068 in San Pedro de Atacama, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,583 per month in Valdivia vs $1,615 in San Pedro de Atacama, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,145 per month in Valdivia vs $2,161 in San Pedro de Atacama, rent included.

Valdivia is about 4% cheaper than San Pedro de Atacama, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Valdivia and San Pedro de Atacama are more affordable than the global median – Valdivia 25% lower, San Pedro de Atacama 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.59 CLP 6,323

$7.26 CLP 6,965

-9.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.56 CLP 45.6K

$44.43 CLP 42.6K

7.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.97 CLP 6,680

$7.79 CLP 7,468

-10.53%

Cappuccino

$2.11 CLP 2,020

$2.80 CLP 2,685

-24.64%

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

$2.06 CLP 1,972

$1.57 CLP 1,508

31.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.27 CLP 1,220

$1.17 CLP 1,122

8.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.62 CLP 3,468

$3.47 CLP 3,332

4.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 CLP 3,459

$3.84 CLP 3,684

-5.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 CLP 1,116

$1.18 CLP 1,133

-1.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.32 CLP 1,265

$1.51 CLP 1,448

-12.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 CLP 1,519

$1.61 CLP 1,549

-1.86%

Eggs

$3.14 CLP 3,007

$3.58 CLP 3,432

-12.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.26 CLP 8,879

$10.17 CLP 9,755

-8.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.50 CLP 6,232

$6.48 CLP 6,215

0.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.07 CLP 12.5K

$11.43 CLP 11.0K

14.35%

Apples (1kg)

$2.16 CLP 2,069

$1.88 CLP 1,804

14.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 CLP 1,886

$1.61 CLP 1,547

22.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 CLP 1,713

$1.70 CLP 1,628

5.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.84 CLP 1,763

$1.65 CLP 1,584

11.52%

Potato (1kg)

$2.37 CLP 2,272

$1.60 CLP 1,534

48.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 CLP 1,473

$1.49 CLP 1,433

3.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.52 CLP 1,459

$1.30 CLP 1,248

16.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 CLP 1,126

$1.18 CLP 1,134

-0.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.24 CLP 5,030

$5.12 CLP 4,905

2.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.62 CLP 4,427

$4.95 CLP 4,747

-6.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.57 CLP 1,506

$1.54 CLP 1,474

1.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 CLP 2,074

$2.23 CLP 2,140

-3.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 CLP 562

$0.61 CLP 587

-3.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 CLP 976

$0.70 CLP 667

45.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 CLP 1,379

$1.44 CLP 1,378

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

$15.3K CLP 14.7M

$17.9K CLP 17.2M

-14.42%

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

$18.1K CLP 17.3M

$19.5K CLP 18.7M

-7.07%

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

$93.0 CLP 89.2K

$130 CLP 124.5K

-28.36%

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

$13.69 CLP 13.1K

$13.47 CLP 12.9K

1.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.64 CLP 30.3K

$22.21 CLP 21.3K

42.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.56 CLP 39.9K

$38.39 CLP 36.8K

8.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.21 CLP 23.2K

$22.60 CLP 21.7K

7.12%

Cinema Ticket

$4.73 CLP 4,537

$5.53 CLP 5,306

-14.47%

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

$249 CLP 238.4K

$383 CLP 367.2K

-35.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,114 CLP 3.0M

$8,372 CLP 8.0M

-62.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.0 CLP 50.8K

$47.05 CLP 45.1K

12.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.82 CLP 17.1K

$24.64 CLP 23.6K

-27.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.3 CLP 48.2K

$62.2 CLP 59.7K

-19.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.4 CLP 74.2K

$83.9 CLP 80.4K

-7.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$592 CLP 568.1K

$473 CLP 453.9K

25.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$384 CLP 368.2K

$373 CLP 357.8K

2.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$994 CLP 953.3K

$877 CLP 840.9K

13.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$564 CLP 540.5K

$582 CLP 558.3K

-3.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,518 CLP 4.3M

$2,309 CLP 2.2M

95.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$632 CLP 606.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

5.01

-10.18%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Valdivia: September 15, 2026

Last update for San Pedro de Atacama: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $592 in Valdivia versus $473 in San Pedro de Atacama. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Valdivia versus $44.00 in San Pedro de Atacama. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $228 – making San Pedro de Atacama the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 San Pedro de Atacama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – San Pedro de Atacama is pricier by about 5%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,531 per month in Valdivia and $1,602 in San Pedro de Atacama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Valdivia, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Valdivia and $44.00 in San Pedro de Atacama. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in San Pedro de Atacama – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Valdivia, where all-in costs run around $1,021, than in San Pedro de Atacama at $1,068. In Valdivia it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Pedro de Atacama it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Valdivia – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Valdivia. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, San Pedro de Atacama makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.