Cost of Living

Santiago, Chile

Live cost-of-living data for Santiago — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and more, sourced and cross-checked by AI and refreshed regularly.

CheapestNew York = 100
20/ 10080% cheaper than New York
+30% rent since Jul 2026
$860/mo
Median Income
72/100
Safety
20%
Income Tax
Mediterranean
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

Each score runs 0–100, where higher means pricier. Representative prices shown per category.

Housing
48/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$636/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$450/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,200/month
Food & Groceries
45/100
Milk (1 liter)$1.2/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$2/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$1.5/kg
Transportation
38/100
Monthly Transit Pass$44/month
One-Way Ticket$0.88/trip
Taxi (1 km)$1.1/km
Utilities
42/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$120/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$35/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$20/month
Healthcare
65/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$70/visit
Dentist Visit$85/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$12/course
Education
58/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$450/month
International Primary School (yearly)$11,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$350/course
Entertainment
48/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$10/ticket
Theater Ticket$35/ticket
Museum Entry$12/ticket
Clothing
52/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$55/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$38/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$80/pair
Personal Care
42/100
Haircut (Men)$18/cut
Haircut (Women)$35/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$4.5/bottle
Dining Out
48/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$12/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$50/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$7.8/meal
Childcare
55/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$650/month
Babysitter (per hour)$12/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$18/pack
Fitness & Sports
45/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$40/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$18/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$7/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

100 Mbps
Internet Speed
$250
Coworking/Month
good
Café WiFi
moderate
English Level
growing
Nomad Community
68/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Providencia, Ñuñoa, Lastarria

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Santiago cheap to live in?

Santiago has a cost of living index of 20/100, where New York = 100. It is 80% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $700–$980 per month.

How much does rent cost in Santiago?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Santiago costs approximately $636/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $450/month.

Is Santiago good for digital nomads?

Santiago has a growing digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 100 Mbps, café wifi reliability is good, and coworking spaces run about $250/month. English proficiency is moderate.

What is the average salary in Santiago?

The median net monthly salary in Santiago is approximately $860 USD. The income tax rate is around 20%.

How does Santiago compare to New York for cost of living?

Santiago (cost index 20) is 80% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $2,000/month by moving from New York to Santiago.

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