Chile (CL)
South America's most stable and developed economy, Chile stretches 4,300 km from the Atacama Desert to Patagonia.
Capital: Santiago
Region: Americas
Language: Spanish
Currency: CLP ($)
Cost of living: Affordable (index 45)
Emergency: 133
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Cost of Living
Real prices in Chile — 2026 data in CLP.
45
Cost of living index
(100 = NYC reference)
Affordable compared to most Western countries. Good value for the quality of life offered.
Rent
Santiago Providencia/Ñuñoa studio or 1-bed apartment CLP $500,000–750,000/month
Santiago Las Condes/Vitacura 1-bed apartment (upscale) CLP $750,000–1,200,000/month
Santiago Maipú/La Florida/Pudahuel 1-bed (outer commune) CLP $350,000–550,000/month
Santiago Providencia/Ñuñoa 2-bed apartment CLP $700,000–1,100,000/month
Valparaíso or Viña del Mar 1-bed apartment CLP $400,000–700,000/month
Concepción or Temuco 1-bed apartment CLP $300,000–500,000/month
Room in shared apartment, Santiago central CLP $180,000–320,000/month per room
Food & Groceries
Monthly grocery basket for one adult (cooking at home) CLP $200,000–350,000/month (Unimarc/Santa Isabel mid-range)
Marraqueta bread (typical Chilean bread, bakery) CLP $150–300 per pair
Milk (1 litre, Colún/Soprole supermarket) CLP $1,000–1,400
Chicken (1 kg, supermarket) CLP $3,500–5,500
Beef (1 kg lomo liso, supermarket) CLP $7,000–12,000
Avocado (palta, each — seasonal) CLP $500–2,000 (cheap in season Oct–Mar)
Couve (kale) or vegetables at feria libre (street market) CLP $500–2,000 per kg depending on produce
Dining Out
Almuerzo del día — set lunch at fuente de soda CLP $3,500–7,000 (soup + main + drink)
Mid-range restaurant meal for one (menu ejecutivo) CLP $7,000–15,000
Upscale restaurant main course (Providencia/Lastarria) CLP $15,000–35,000
Espresso or cortado at café CLP $1,500–2,500
Craft beer (330ml, bar/restaurant) CLP $3,000–6,000
Completo hot dog at fuente de soda CLP $2,000–4,000
Transport
Santiago Metro single fare (Bip! card) CLP $750–950 (off-peak/peak, 2026 rates)
Santiago bus (Red Metropolitana, Bip! card) CLP $750–950 (same as Metro — integrated system)
Bip! card purchase at Metro station CLP $1,550 (card fee — reloaded with any amount)
Taxi in Santiago (5 km urban trip, meter) CLP $3,000–6,000 (meters start ~CLP $350 + CLP $270/km)
Uber/Cabify ride (5 km, Santiago) CLP $2,500–5,500 (varies with demand surge)
Intercity bus Santiago–Valparaíso (Turbus/Pullman, 1.5h) CLP $3,500–7,500 one way
Intercity bus Santiago–Concepción (Turbus, ~5h) CLP $12,000–22,000 one way (Cama class more)
Petrol (bencina 95 octane) CLP $1,050–1,200/litre (2026 market price; fuel excise applies)
SOAP car insurance (obligatory annual) CLP $15,000–35,000/year depending on vehicle type
Revisión técnica (mandatory vehicle inspection, car) CLP $10,000–20,000
Health & Insurance
Private GP consultation (médico general, clínica privada) CLP $20,000–50,000
Private specialist consultation (cardiologist, dermatologist) CLP $40,000–100,000
Private dental consultation and cleaning CLP $20,000–50,000
Private dental filling CLP $30,000–80,000
Blood test panel (hemograma completo + metabolic, private lab) CLP $25,000–70,000
ISAPRE health insurance individual plan (age 30) CLP $90,000–200,000/month (7% + top-up)
International health insurance (Cigna/AXA, Europe coverage) CLP $80,000–180,000/month (age 30–40)
Paracetamol 500mg×20 (generic, farmacia) CLP $1,500–4,000
Sunscreen SPF50+, 200ml (Cruz Verde pharmacy) CLP $7,000–18,000
Utilities
Electricity (Enel/CGE) — 1-bed apartment, no AC CLP $20,000–40,000/month
Electricity — summer with AC (Santiago) CLP $60,000–120,000/month
Water (AGUAS services, 1-bed apartment) CLP $10,000–25,000/month
Gas (LPG cylinder 15kg — Abastible/Gasco) CLP $15,000–22,000/cylinder (~1–2 months)
Home fibre internet 300 Mbps (VTR, GTD, Claro) CLP $25,000–40,000/month
Mobile plan 30–50 GB data (Entel, Movistar, WOM) CLP $12,000–25,000/month
Prepaid SIM card (WOM — cheapest, good urban coverage) CLP $5,000–10,000/month for data packs
Childcare
Municipal kindergarten/sala cuna (public — income-based) Free to CLP $30,000/month (income-based subsidy)
Private jardín infantil (nursery/preschool, mid-range) CLP $80,000–180,000/month
Private school fees — particular pagado (mid-tier) CLP $150,000–350,000/month
International school annual tuition (Nido de Aguilas, The Grange) CLP $8,000,000–18,000,000/year
University (public CRUCH, gratuidad eligible): tuition Free for bottom 60% income; CLP $2,000,000–5,000,000/year for others
Private university annual tuition (UAI, UNAB, UDP) CLP $4,000,000–8,000,000/year
Spanish language private tutor (per hour, Santiago) CLP $15,000–30,000/hour
University Spanish course (language institute) CLP $200,000–500,000/semester group course
Leisure
Gym membership (Smart Fit, Santiago — budget chain) CLP $18,000–30,000/month
Gym membership (Sportlife, premium Santiago) CLP $45,000–70,000/month
Coworking hot desk (Regus, WeWork, local spaces, monthly) CLP $120,000–280,000/month
Cinema ticket (Cinemark/Cinépolis, standard 2D) CLP $5,000–9,000 (discounts Mon–Wed)
Day ski pass at Valle Nevado (winter season) CLP $60,000–90,000/day (2026 season)
Wine tasting tour, Maipo Valley (2 wineries + transport from Santiago) CLP $60,000–120,000/person
Day trip to Viña del Mar + Valparaíso from Santiago (bus) CLP $7,000–15,000 return transport only
Rafting on Trancura river, Pucón (half-day guided tour) CLP $25,000–45,000/person
Cost of Living
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