Cost of Living in Chile
Below-average cost of living at 26.8 vs NYC's 100. Good value for remote workers and retirees. Data refreshed April 2026.
Updated June 2026Monthly Budget in Chile
All prices in USD. Single-person urban lifestyle. Sourced from Numbeo 2026 country rankings.
Minimal
Suburb rent, home-cooked meals, no dining out
Sample
City rent, ~15 restaurant meals/mo, full utilities
Comfortable
City rent, dining out 25×/mo, extras
Line-item breakdown (single person)
Rent 1-bedroom, city centre | $515 |
Rent 1-bedroom, outside centre | $380 |
Groceries (monthly basket) | $260 |
Mid-range restaurant meal (per person) | $13 |
Public transit pass (monthly) | $42 |
Basic utilities (85m² apartment) | $105 |
How Much Salary Do I Need in Chile?
Purchasing-power-adjusted equivalents: if you earn X in the US, you’d need roughly Y in Chile to maintain the same lifestyle.
| US net salary | Equiv. in Chile | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000/yr | $23,801 | 52% cheaper−52% |
| $75,000/yr | $35,702 | 52% cheaper−52% |
| $100,000/yr | $47,602 | 52% cheaper−52% |
These are NET (after-tax) purchasing-power equivalents. Your gross salary target will differ based on Chile's tax regime — see our salary comparison pages for full tax-adjusted numbers.
How Does Chile Compare to Other Countries?
Chile vs major reference countries. Lower COL+Rent = cheaper.
Related Tools for Chile
Combine cost of living with salary and tax data for the full picture.
Salary After Tax in Chile
See net take-home pay in CLP using 2025 tax brackets.
United States vs Chile salary
Side-by-side take-home pay + cost-of-living overlay.
United Kingdom vs Chile salary
Side-by-side take-home pay + cost-of-living overlay.
Canada vs Chile salary
Side-by-side take-home pay + cost-of-living overlay.
Cities in Chile
Explore city-level cost of living data for Chile. Costs vary significantly between cities.
Compare Cities in Chile
Frequently Asked Questions about Chile Cost of Living
How much does it cost to live in Chile per month?
A single-person moderate urban lifestyle in Chile costs roughly $1,117/month: rent $515 (city) or $380 (outside city), groceries $260, utilities $105, transit pass $42, and ~15 mid-range restaurant meals at $13 each. A minimal budget is around $787, while a comfortable lifestyle runs ~$1,323.
Is Chile expensive to live in?
Chile sits at 26.8 on the combined Cost of Living + Rent Index (NYC = 100), making it affordable by global standards. Below-average cost of living at 26.8 vs NYC's 100. Good value for remote workers and retirees.
How much salary do I need to live comfortably in Chile?
To cover a comfortable lifestyle in Chile (~$1,323/month), you need roughly $15,870 in net annual income. Add 20–25% for income tax and social security in most jurisdictions, so a gross salary of around $20,631 to $23,805 should be comfortable depending on the tax regime.
What is the average rent in Chile?
A 1-bedroom apartment in a city centre in Chile averages $515/month. Outside the city centre, the same apartment averages $380/month — a 26% savings for moving just outside the core. Shared housing and suburb-commuter lifestyles can reduce rent further.
How does Chile's cost of living compare to the US?
Chile is 52% cheaper than the United States overall. A $70,000 US net salary would only need to be approximately $33,321 in Chile to match purchasing power.