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 $1,070 per month in Valdivia vs $1,086 in San Pedro de Atacama, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,636 per month in Valdivia vs $1,649 in San Pedro de Atacama, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,201 per month in Valdivia vs $2,212 in San Pedro de Atacama, rent included.

Valdivia is about 1% cheaper than San Pedro de Atacama, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Valdivia and San Pedro de Atacama are more affordable than the global median – Valdivia 20% lower, San Pedro de Atacama 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.54 CLP 6,084

$7.19 CLP 6,686

-9.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.80 CLP 40.8K

$44.66 CLP 41.6K

-1.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.19 CLP 6,690

$7.81 CLP 7,271

-7.94%

Cappuccino

$2.53 CLP 2,355

$2.72 CLP 2,533

-6.99%

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

$2.40 CLP 2,233

$1.62 CLP 1,505

48.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 CLP 1,433

$1.20 CLP 1,118

28.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.82 CLP 3,551

$3.56 CLP 3,309

7.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.12 CLP 3,834

$4.07 CLP 3,787

1.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 CLP 1,145

$1.24 CLP 1,150

-0.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 CLP 1,339

$1.47 CLP 1,364

-2.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 CLP 1,579

$1.63 CLP 1,514

4.29%

Eggs

$3.10 CLP 2,882

$3.52 CLP 3,279

-11.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.40 CLP 8,750

$10.27 CLP 9,560

-8.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.87 CLP 6,397

$6.81 CLP 6,334

0.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.27 CLP 12.3K

$11.79 CLP 11.0K

12.55%

Apples (1kg)

$2.23 CLP 2,077

$1.98 CLP 1,841

12.63%

Banana (1kg)

$2.01 CLP 1,869

$1.60 CLP 1,490

25.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 CLP 1,720

$1.77 CLP 1,651

4.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.88 CLP 1,745

$1.66 CLP 1,541

13.25%

Potato (1kg)

$2.46 CLP 2,287

$1.65 CLP 1,535

49.09%

Onion (1kg)

$1.58 CLP 1,472

$1.49 CLP 1,388

6.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.51 CLP 1,401

$1.30 CLP 1,208

16.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 CLP 1,079

$1.20 CLP 1,116

-3.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.36 CLP 4,988

$5.10 CLP 4,745

5.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.88 CLP 4,545

$5.05 CLP 4,697

-3.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 CLP 1,437

$1.60 CLP 1,492

-3.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 CLP 2,098

$2.22 CLP 2,063

1.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 CLP 513

$0.62 CLP 572

-11.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.67 CLP 1,552

$0.65 CLP 604

156.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 CLP 1,280

$1.39 CLP 1,289

-0.72%

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

$15.6K CLP 14.5M

$17.4K CLP 16.2M

-10.59%

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

$18.0K CLP 16.7M

$19.8K CLP 18.4M

-9.23%

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

$95.3 CLP 88.7K

$131 CLP 121.6K

-27.09%

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

$18.78 CLP 17.5K

$13.57 CLP 12.6K

38.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.28 CLP 27.2K

$22.21 CLP 20.7K

31.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.25 CLP 40.2K

$38.51 CLP 35.8K

12.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.37 CLP 22.7K

$23.35 CLP 21.7K

4.37%

Cinema Ticket

$4.81 CLP 4,479

$5.46 CLP 5,081

-11.90%

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

$270 CLP 251.4K

$392 CLP 364.6K

-31.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.8 CLP 49.2K

$47.39 CLP 44.1K

11.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.35 CLP 17.1K

$24.63 CLP 22.9K

-25.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$52.8 CLP 49.1K

$62.5 CLP 58.1K

-15.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.2 CLP 74.6K

$81.7 CLP 76.0K

-1.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$610 CLP 567.5K

$483 CLP 449.6K

26.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$384 CLP 357.5K

$367 CLP 341.6K

4.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,041 CLP 968.9K

$897 CLP 834.6K

16.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$597 CLP 555.8K

$595 CLP 553.4K

0.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,601 CLP 4.3M

$2,311 CLP 2.2M

99.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$656 CLP 610.5K

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for San Pedro de Atacama: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $610 in Valdivia versus $483 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 $44.00 in Valdivia versus $45.00 in San Pedro de Atacama. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Valdivia vs $233 in San Pedro de Atacama – so San Pedro de Atacama wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 1%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,605 per month in Valdivia and $1,629 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 $44.00 in Valdivia and $45.00 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 3% 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 $1,070, than in San Pedro de Atacama at $1,086. 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.