Cost of living in Chile

Here's my contribution, from Santiago. More specifically, these numbers refer to the comunas of Santiago and Providencia - not the most expensive part of town but upper middle class areas where most expats and tourists tend to be.

- Accommodation: From $150.000-$200.000/month for a 1-bedroom unfurnished apartment depending on size, location, view. Could be double that for a furnished apartment.
- Public transportation: $380 for the bus ("micro") all day or metro during non-peak hours, $420 for metro during morning and evening rush hours. 90 minutes to combine bus-bus or bus-metro journeys without being charged again.
- Food prices: Hugely dependent on where you shop and go out to eat. Shopping in main supermarkets can be up to 50% more expensive than "ferias" (open-air markets) for things like produce, and the best deals are always at La Vega, the main market located in the Recoleta neighborhood. We tend to shop at La Vega and spend around $100.000/month for 2 people. Eating out can run from under $1.000 for a quick snack to limitless bills in fancy restaurants, but a standard dinner (sit-down, cloth napkins, but not too fancy) runs around $25.000 for two entrees and alcoholic drinks.
- Health: If you work, your employer must pay 7% of your salary to an Isapre of your choice. If you want to improve coverage, you can pay the extra out of pocket. A super basic plan runs around $15.000/month, for $40.000 you can have a pretty comprehensive plan - at least on paper. Isapres are known to be shady, and since healthcare in Chile is relatively inexpensive at least compared to US prices, you may be better off with the cheapest insurance plan and paying out of pocket.
- Energy: Our total gas, electricity and water bills tend to come to around $25.000/month for a 1-bedroom apartment with 2 people. We use energy efficient lightbulbs and generally try not to waste resources, and we don't use our heating.
- Internet and cable: EXPENSIVE! These are luxuries in Chile, with a full cable/basic internet plan coming to $37.000/month.
- Mobile phone: Many people have pre-pay plans, and you can buy top ups for $3.500 or $5.000 around Santiago. How much your phone costs depends hugely on which plan you have (some offer good in-company rates but charge lots for other calls, others offer flat-rate), but in general people don't use cell phones to chat as they do in the US.
- Beer and coffee: A good beer should run you around $1.200 for a liter. Coffee is usually Nescafe for around $600.
- Movie ticket: $2.700-$3.900 depending on the day and time.

Hope this helps!

Viña del Mar is quite expensive, specially downtown Viña.
In downtown Viña small apartment's prices are about $350.000
Now if you want to rent something cheaper, you can always think about Agua Santa or Recreo, where most turists rent apartments. In this case you could find a small apartment for $180.000
Public transportation costs are about $450 per bus ticket.
In my case, I live with 4 other people and we spend arround $180.000 on food per month. (considering we don't buy cheap kind of food)
Education costs depend on what and where you want to study, but it goes from $160.000 to $350.000
About beverage prices, a 1 lt. bottle of beer could cost you $1.200 and a cup of coffee about $800.
Cinema tickets cost $3.500
Common bills: considering 4 people
water $30.000
electricity $25.000
gas $20.0009
telephone, tv and internet (it's usually paid in a triple pack)$55.000
cellphone $15.000 with a cheap monthly plan (300 min) you can also buy a cell with and charge money with a special card you buy at kiosks or supermarkets.
Eating out depends totally on the location and the kind of food. You can eat very cheap food or find some really expensive places.

Hope this helps.
Good luck

Have just read  your posts on cost of living in Chile, and especially Vin.  We found this most helpful. Thank you.

We would also like to know if Master card and travellers cheques are widely accepted or not.

Can anyone recommend a nice furnished apartment in Vin.

What is the safest, and best form of transportation to Vin Del Mar.

Are most hotels in Vin booked for the Christmas season?

Thank you for any and all info.

Any updates to this in 2012 or are they they the same? I don't understand how a cup of coffee can cost $800.

Hi,

Last time I had a coffee in Chile was 3 years ago, but 800 pesos sound reasonable, maybe a bit expensive, but it would depend on where you take the coffee.mit is not the same a Starbucks, a bar or a Café con piernas.

Cheers,

Pedro
palabradechile.blogspot.com

Hi everybody ,
I want to know the cost of living for each person (home,food,..)in 2012