Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Valdivia and San Pedro de Atacama

For one person, living is cheaper in Valdivia: $1,006 a month against $1,078 in San Pedro de Atacama, rent and utilities included – about $860 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Valdivia, Chile
San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
Valdivia
🇨🇱 Chile
$1,006
/mo nomad
San Pedro de Atacama
🇨🇱 Chile
$1,078
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Valdivia and in San Pedro de Atacama

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Valdivia and in San Pedro de Atacama actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,006 per month in Valdivia vs $1,078 in San Pedro de Atacama, rent included.

  • Valdivia $1,006
  • San Pedro de Atacama $1,078

A couple spends around $1,537 per month in Valdivia vs $1,628 in San Pedro de Atacama, rent included.

  • Valdivia $1,537
  • San Pedro de Atacama $1,628

A family of three spends $2,068 per month in Valdivia vs $2,178 in San Pedro de Atacama, rent included.

  • Valdivia $2,068
  • San Pedro de Atacama $2,178

Valdivia is about 7% cheaper than San Pedro de Atacama, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Valdivia and San Pedro de Atacama are more affordable than the global median – Valdivia 26% lower, San Pedro de Atacama 20% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Valdivia
San Pedro de Atacama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.34 CLP 6,125
$7.15 CLP 6,903
-11.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.26 CLP 44.7K
$44.87 CLP 43.3K
3.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.85 CLP 6,612
$8.20 CLP 7,919
-16.46%
Cappuccino
$2.15 CLP 2,074
$2.80 CLP 2,704
-23.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 CLP 1,892
$1.58 CLP 1,525
24.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24 CLP 1,197
$1.17 CLP 1,133
5.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.63 CLP 3,503
$3.46 CLP 3,340
4.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.51 CLP 3,394
$3.89 CLP 3,759
-9.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Valdivia
San Pedro de Atacama
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 CLP 1,136
$1.18 CLP 1,139
-
White Bread (500g)
$1.36 CLP 1,311
$1.47 CLP 1,424
-7.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 CLP 1,504
$1.64 CLP 1,582
-4.88%
Eggs
$3.04 CLP 2,938
$3.70 CLP 3,577
-17.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.92 CLP 8,615
$10.32 CLP 9,967
-13.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.34 CLP 6,117
$6.68 CLP 6,453
-5.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.43 CLP 12.0K
$11.69 CLP 11.3K
6.33%
Apples (1kg)
$2.17 CLP 2,093
$1.99 CLP 1,919
9.05%
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 CLP 1,777
$1.57 CLP 1,513
17.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.74 CLP 1,683
$1.77 CLP 1,708
-1.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.86 CLP 1,791
$1.73 CLP 1,675
7.51%
Potato (1kg)
$2.38 CLP 2,294
$1.66 CLP 1,604
43.37%
Onion (1kg)
$1.55 CLP 1,499
$1.54 CLP 1,491
0.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.42 CLP 1,368
$1.36 CLP 1,309
4.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.10 CLP 1,058
$1.23 CLP 1,183
-10.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.98 CLP 4,806
$5.18 CLP 5,006
-3.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.67 CLP 4,508
$5.22 CLP 5,044
-10.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.49 CLP 1,437
$1.62 CLP 1,561
-8.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 CLP 1,943
$2.17 CLP 2,091
-7.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Valdivia
San Pedro de Atacama
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.56 CLP 545
$0.62 CLP 603
-9.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.00 CLP 962
$0.70 CLP 672
42.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.42 CLP 1,369
$1.38 CLP 1,330
2.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$14.9K CLP 14.4M
$17.9K CLP 17.3M
-16.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.0K CLP 16.4M
$19.3K CLP 18.6M
-11.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Valdivia
San Pedro de Atacama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$90.9 CLP 87.8K
$134 CLP 129.7K
-32.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.43 CLP 13.0K
$13.70 CLP 13.2K
-1.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.85 CLP 29.8K
$21.72 CLP 21.0K
42.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Valdivia
San Pedro de Atacama
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.93 CLP 39.5K
$38.10 CLP 36.8K
7.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.44 CLP 22.6K
$23.29 CLP 22.5K
0.64%
Cinema Ticket
$4.56 CLP 4,404
$5.32 CLP 5,140
-14.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Valdivia
San Pedro de Atacama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$248 CLP 239.4K
$386 CLP 372.5K
-35.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,000 CLP 2.9M
$8,304 CLP 8.0M
-63.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Valdivia
San Pedro de Atacama
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.9 CLP 50.1K
$47.49 CLP 45.9K
9.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.69 CLP 17.1K
$25.06 CLP 24.2K
-29.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$49.00 CLP 47.3K
$60.7 CLP 58.6K
-19.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.5 CLP 72.9K
$81.5 CLP 78.7K
-7.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Valdivia
San Pedro de Atacama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$585 CLP 564.7K
$484 CLP 467.3K
20.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$368 CLP 355.3K
$375 CLP 361.8K
-1.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,001 CLP 966.3K
$889 CLP 858.8K
12.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$566 CLP 546.7K
$584 CLP 564.3K
-3.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,427 CLP 4.3M
$2,309 CLP 2.2M
91.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Valdivia
San Pedro de Atacama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$621 CLP 600.0K
-
-
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: October 31, 2026

Last update for San Pedro de Atacama: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Valdivia
$368
San Pedro de Atacama
$375 1.8% $6.8
Groceries & Markets
Valdivia
$227
San Pedro de Atacama
$234 2.7% $6
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Valdivia
$135
San Pedro de Atacama
$170 25.5% $35
Eating Out
Valdivia
$135
San Pedro de Atacama
$152 12.2% $16
Clothing & Footwear
Valdivia
$87
San Pedro de Atacama
$97 10.6% $9.3
Sport & Entertainment
Valdivia
$50
San Pedro de Atacama
$49 2.6% $1.3
Getting Around
Valdivia
$3.3 *
San Pedro de Atacama
$3.2 * 1.5% $0

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $585 in Valdivia versus $484 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 $46 in Valdivia versus $45 in San Pedro de Atacama. Groceries tell a different story – $227 in Valdivia vs $234 in San Pedro de Atacama – so Valdivia wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇨🇱 Valdivia
🇨🇱 San Pedro de Atacama
🕒 Local time
13:29 1:29 PM
13:29 1:29 PM
Same time as Valdivia
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
150,048
5,347
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CLP – Chilean Peso Converter

Chilean Peso exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 966 CLP (1,000 CLP = 1.04 USD). 1 EUR = 1,085 CLP (10,000 CLP = 9.22 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Valdivia San Pedro de Atacama 1,940 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Valdivia
  • San Pedro de Atacama

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Is Valdivia cheaper than San Pedro de Atacama?
Yes – San Pedro de Atacama is pricier by about 7%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,509 per month in Valdivia and $1,617 in San Pedro de Atacama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in San Pedro de Atacama, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $484 there versus $585 in Valdivia.
How do food prices compare in Valdivia and in San Pedro de Atacama?
Groceries cost about 3% more in San Pedro de Atacama, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $248 per month in Valdivia and $386 in San Pedro de Atacama. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 enough for either Valdivia or San Pedro de Atacama?
$1,500 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,006 in Valdivia and $1,078 in San Pedro de Atacama, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is it better to live in Valdivia or in San Pedro de Atacama?
It depends on your priorities. San Pedro de Atacama has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,006 in Valdivia to $1,078 in San Pedro de Atacama. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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