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 $1,066 per month in Valdivia vs $1,080 in San Pedro de Atacama, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,624 per month in Valdivia vs $1,613 in San Pedro de Atacama, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,182 per month in Valdivia vs $2,145 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 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.34 CLP 5,682

$7.15 CLP 6,401

-11.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.66 CLP 38.2K

$43.58 CLP 39.0K

-2.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.31 CLP 6,551

$7.92 CLP 7,098

-7.70%

Cappuccino

$2.52 CLP 2,258

$2.86 CLP 2,562

-11.89%

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

$2.44 CLP 2,183

$1.60 CLP 1,433

52.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 CLP 1,363

$1.20 CLP 1,078

26.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.68 CLP 3,293

$3.60 CLP 3,227

2.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.95 CLP 3,536

$4.01 CLP 3,590

-1.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 CLP 1,103

$1.19 CLP 1,065

3.36%

White Bread (500g)

$1.36 CLP 1,218

$1.53 CLP 1,373

-11.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 CLP 1,455

$1.68 CLP 1,506

-3.57%

Eggs

$3.13 CLP 2,800

$3.63 CLP 3,248

-13.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.18 CLP 8,225

$10.05 CLP 9,003

-8.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.89 CLP 6,167

$6.87 CLP 6,151

0.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.28 CLP 11.9K

$11.69 CLP 10.5K

13.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.23 CLP 1,994

$1.98 CLP 1,770

12.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 CLP 1,744

$1.61 CLP 1,439

21.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.89 CLP 1,691

$1.69 CLP 1,514

11.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.88 CLP 1,685

$1.74 CLP 1,554

8.05%

Potato (1kg)

$2.45 CLP 2,196

$1.58 CLP 1,411

55.06%

Onion (1kg)

$1.63 CLP 1,458

$1.55 CLP 1,388

5.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.56 CLP 1,398

$1.35 CLP 1,212

15.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 CLP 1,077

$1.24 CLP 1,112

-3.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.36 CLP 4,800

$5.35 CLP 4,794

0.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.00 CLP 4,475

$5.15 CLP 4,616

-2.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 CLP 1,441

$1.56 CLP 1,399

3.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 CLP 2,002

$2.26 CLP 2,020

-0.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 CLP 531

$0.61 CLP 547

-3.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.60 CLP 1,430

$0.69 CLP 622

131.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 CLP 1,271

$1.42 CLP 1,272

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

$15.9K CLP 14.3M

$17.7K CLP 15.9M

-10.26%

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

$18.1K CLP 16.3M

$19.8K CLP 17.7M

-8.39%

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

$95.8 CLP 85.8K

$134 CLP 120.2K

-28.60%

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

$18.76 CLP 16.8K

$13.62 CLP 12.2K

37.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.57 CLP 25.6K

$22.10 CLP 19.8K

29.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.78 CLP 39.2K

$39.14 CLP 35.1K

11.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.23 CLP 22.6K

$23.22 CLP 20.8K

8.66%

Cinema Ticket

$4.99 CLP 4,473

$5.38 CLP 4,814

-7.25%

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

$275 CLP 246.1K

$383 CLP 342.8K

-28.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 CLP 49.1K

$47.88 CLP 42.9K

14.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.05 CLP 17.1K

$24.60 CLP 22.0K

-22.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$53.1 CLP 47.6K

$61.4 CLP 55.0K

-13.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.0 CLP 73.5K

$82.0 CLP 73.4K

0.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$608 CLP 545.0K

$488 CLP 436.9K

24.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$393 CLP 351.8K

$372 CLP 333.2K

5.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 CLP 951.4K

$898 CLP 804.0K

18.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$604 CLP 540.7K

$583 CLP 522.3K

3.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,893 CLP 4.4M

$2,328 CLP 2.1M

110.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$687 CLP 615.6K

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for San Pedro de Atacama: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $608 in Valdivia versus $488 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 $43.00 in Valdivia versus $44.00 in San Pedro de Atacama. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Valdivia vs $234 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 $1,600 per month in Valdivia and $1,620 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 $43.00 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 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 $1,066, than in San Pedro de Atacama at $1,080. 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.