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 $1,077 per month in Valdivia vs $1,056 in San Pedro de Atacama, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Valdivia vs $1,635 in San Pedro de Atacama, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,126 per month in Valdivia vs $2,214 in San Pedro de Atacama, rent included.

Valdivia costs about 2% more 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 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.56 CLP 5,896

$7.24 CLP 6,505

-9.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.36 CLP 38.1K

$44.39 CLP 39.9K

-4.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.18 CLP 6,457

$7.77 CLP 6,984

-7.59%

Cappuccino

$2.49 CLP 2,241

$2.73 CLP 2,451

-8.79%

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

$2.38 CLP 2,142

$1.63 CLP 1,467

46.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 CLP 1,395

$1.16 CLP 1,042

33.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.72 CLP 3,345

$3.46 CLP 3,107

7.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 CLP 3,614

$3.99 CLP 3,586

0.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 CLP 1,110

$1.24 CLP 1,116

-0.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 CLP 1,290

$1.47 CLP 1,323

-2.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 CLP 1,454

$1.68 CLP 1,510

-3.57%

Eggs

$3.21 CLP 2,887

$3.65 CLP 3,280

-12.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.18 CLP 8,251

$9.95 CLP 8,944

-7.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.63 CLP 5,958

$6.59 CLP 5,920

0.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.21 CLP 11.9K

$11.42 CLP 10.3K

15.67%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 CLP 2,088

$1.97 CLP 1,768

17.77%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 CLP 1,799

$1.55 CLP 1,395

29.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.91 CLP 1,717

$1.73 CLP 1,550

10.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.88 CLP 1,691

$1.68 CLP 1,512

11.90%

Potato (1kg)

$2.46 CLP 2,208

$1.64 CLP 1,478

50.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.65 CLP 1,481

$1.48 CLP 1,333

11.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.52 CLP 1,368

$1.36 CLP 1,219

11.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 CLP 1,045

$1.23 CLP 1,106

-5.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.47 CLP 4,920

$5.06 CLP 4,551

8.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.92 CLP 4,421

$5.13 CLP 4,608

-4.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 CLP 1,382

$1.54 CLP 1,386

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 CLP 1,950

$2.17 CLP 1,947

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 CLP 539

$0.57 CLP 513

5.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.60 CLP 1,439

$0.70 CLP 629

128.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 CLP 1,282

$1.38 CLP 1,244

3.62%

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

$15.6K CLP 14.0M

$17.5K CLP 15.7M

-10.56%

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

$18.4K CLP 16.5M

$19.4K CLP 17.4M

-5.30%

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

$96.4 CLP 86.6K

$134 CLP 120.7K

-28.23%

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

$19.02 CLP 17.1K

$13.60 CLP 12.2K

39.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.78 CLP 25.9K

$21.88 CLP 19.7K

31.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.40 CLP 38.1K

$38.82 CLP 34.9K

9.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.19 CLP 22.6K

$22.92 CLP 20.6K

9.90%

Cinema Ticket

$4.82 CLP 4,331

$5.41 CLP 4,865

-10.91%

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

$271 CLP 243.8K

$385 CLP 345.8K

-29.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 CLP 49.2K

$47.05 CLP 42.3K

16.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.66 CLP 16.8K

$24.53 CLP 22.0K

-23.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$53.0 CLP 47.6K

$60.9 CLP 54.7K

-13.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.9 CLP 71.8K

$81.6 CLP 73.3K

-2.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$599 CLP 538.5K

$475 CLP 426.8K

26.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$387 CLP 348.2K

$374 CLP 336.3K

3.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,052 CLP 945.7K

$889 CLP 798.8K

18.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$599 CLP 537.9K

$593 CLP 532.8K

0.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,910 CLP 4.4M

$2,364 CLP 2.1M

107.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$675 CLP 606.7K

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for San Pedro de Atacama: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $599 in Valdivia versus $475 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 $42.00 in Valdivia versus $44.00 in San Pedro de Atacama. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Valdivia vs $230 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 – Valdivia is pricier by about 2%, 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 $1,615 per month in Valdivia and $1,584 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 San Pedro de Atacama, 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 $42.00 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.

Groceries cost about 4% more in Valdivia, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in San Pedro de Atacama, where all-in costs run around $1,056, than in Valdivia at $1,077. In San Pedro de Atacama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Valdivia it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward San Pedro de Atacama – 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 San Pedro de Atacama. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Valdivia makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.