Cost Of Living For a Family in Chile 2025

Average monthly spending for families in Chile

We consider a family to be a member of four members, two adults and two children. This is the most common type of family. From the figures below, it should be fairly easy to calculate the average spending for families of different sizes.

How much money does a family need in a month to survive in Chile?

Families in Chile spend around 3.8M CLP per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a family can survive with a monthly budget as low as 1.3M CLP or as high as 25M CLP. Location and income are very important factors and have a huge influence on expenditure and budget.

Family expenditure to income ratio in Chile

Analysing the how affordable it is for families to live in Chile

One of the most definite ways to determine how affordable a place is measuring the ratio of expenses to salary. A high expense-to-income to ratio indicates a high cost-of-living index while a low expenditure-to-salary ratio means the place is affordable to live in. Families usually spend a larger chunk of their income than other population groups. A typical and healthy expenditure percentage for a family of four ranges between 70% to 80%.

Families in Chile spend around 89% of their monthly income. Some families spend as low as 81% of their income while some as high as 99%.

How do families spend their money in Chile?

We asked thousands of families about their spending habits and expenditure break down.

Housing and accomodation expenditure for families

Families in Chile typically spend from 22% to 37% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 27% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 1.2M CLP with expenditure ranging from 430,000 CLP to 8M CLP. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.

Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for families

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Chile ranges from 3% to 8% of total expenses with 5% being the average for most families. The average monthly cost of utilities is 190,000 CLP with 67,000 CLP and 1.2M CLP being the upper and lower limits for a family of four.

Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for families

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a family resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a family would expect to spend from 130,000 CLP to 2.5M CLP in a month on commuting with 380,000 CLP being the norm for most families. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 6% of total spending on average but can go as low as 4% or as high as 8%.

Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for families

The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical family in a month in Chile is 690,000 CLP. The cost of groceries can range between 240,000 CLP to 4.5M CLP. Families spend on average about 20% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 13% and 26% respectively.

Healthcare and medical services expenditure for families

Families in Chile allocate 6% to 15% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 10%. The range of medical expenses range from 120,000 CLP to 2M CLP with 380,000 CLP being the norm for most families.

Leisure and shopping expenditure for families

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 67,000 CLP to 1.2M CLP with 190,000 CLP being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 7% of total expenses with an average of 3% for most families.

Education and schooling expenditure for families

Spending on education can vary drastically between different families. On average, education constitutes 14% of the monthly expenditure of families with 7% and 22% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 540,000 CLP per month with 190,000 CLP being the minimum spent amount and 3.5M CLP being the maximum.

What percentage of families in Chile are able to save money and how much can they save?

Percentage of families that reported their ability to save money

Almost 58% of surveyed families in Chile said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 42% reported that they have to utilize their whole income to survive.

How much money do families manage to add to their savings?

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for families

Interpretation and Analysis

Families that are able to save money can put anywhere from 8% to 27% of their monthly income to their savings, with 15% being the average for most families. The average monthly amount of money that families can put aside is 1.4M CLP with 500,000 CLP and 9.2M CLP being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Saving Challenges in Chile

Reasons that make it difficult for families to save money

We wanted to understand what is stopping families from maximizing their savings in Chile. Listed below are the answers given by the survey participants.

Around 6% of the families said that their salary is too low to accommodate a portion for savings while 9% said that the high cost of living leaves little room for savings. 16% of the residents said that they are burdened with debt and find it challenging to save money. 11% reported that they just don't have the knowledge or discipline to create and stick to a budget, leading to overspending and an inability to save. 10% of families blamed impulsive spending as the reason for saving inability. Around 6% said that unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs are derailing their savings goals. 6% bluntly said that they don't see the purpose of it and prefer to live each day to the fullest. 18% reported that they understand the value of saving but are putting off saving for the future, thinking they have plenty of time to start later. 12% blamed inflation, saying that every time they save some money they end up using it immediately. A surprising 3% said that social pressure and keeping up with peers or social expectations makes them overspend. Lastly, 3% blamed market instability and price fluctuations.

Typical saving choices for families in Chile

Where do people choose to put their savings?

A typical and healthy budgeting structure

The 50/30/20 rule

Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle, location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule, which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.

• 50% for needs and financial obligations

  This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.

• 30% for wants and discretionary spending

  This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.

• 20% for savings and emergency fund

  This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.

About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting

Affordable living in Chile

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked families one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Chile?

Around 68% of surveyed families think that living in Chile is affordable with proper budgeting while 32% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in Chile

People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked families how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options59%

Few low-cost options41%

Based on the survey, 59% of the families living in Chile have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 41% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Emergency Funds For Families

An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked families of Chile whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes65%

No35%

Based on the survey, 35% of the families living in Chile said that they don't have an emergency fund while 65% said that they do.

Financial Literacy in Chile

Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.

Financial Leteracy63%

We asked family guardians and parents in Chile whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 37% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 63% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.

Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning

We wanted to understand whether families of Chile have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 35% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 65% said that they have everything under control.

Struggles with finance35%

Easily manages finances65%

Financial goals of families in Chile

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Chile, we asked participants about their financial targets. By knowing what the population in general is trying to achieve, we can shed light on the economic outlook, cost of living, and quality of life in general.

Around 7% of families said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 37% said their number one priority is to pay off high-interest debt or loans and improve credit. 9% of surveyed people confirmed that saving for retirement to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in the final years is their main target. Around 8% reported that their priority is saving for the tuition fees and education costs of their children while 17% choose to buy a home or pay off existing mortgage before other things. 8% of the population would like to build wealth through investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. For 9% of people, saving for vacations or upgrading their lifestyle is the number one concern. Approximately 11% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.

Debt, loans, and mortgages in Chile

Percentage of families who are in debt

According to the survey, 28% of the families in Chile have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 72% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.

Debt-to-income ratio in Chile

Interpretation

The debt-to-income ratio measures the percentage of income being paid as debt settlement across the population. It is calculated by dividing the monthly debt settlement payment of an individual by their monthly income. Based on collected data, approximately 30% of a family's monthly income in Chile goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 3% of the debtors in Chile pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 14% of the people pay 50% to 60% of their income for the same, which is quite an alarming financial situation for those individuals. 13% of people in debt dedicate 40% to 50% of their income to loan and mortgage payments while 15% dedicated 30% to 40% of income for same. Things are looking brighter for 13% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.

Distribution by type of debt in Chile

11% of debtors in Chile confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 27% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 20% of people and personal loans rose at 39%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 3% of debtors in Chile.

Good debt vs. Bad debt

Not all debt is bad. Good debt typically refers to borrowing money for investments that can increase in value or generate income over time like purchasing a home or acquiring student loans. On the other hand, bad debt involves borrowing for things that fail to generate lasting value like high-interest credit card debt used for non-essential expenses like luxury items or vacations.

Loan Affordability Index in Chile

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked families of Chile how many times in a year they defaulted or were unable to pay their due credit card or loan payments on time. Understanding how often people default on their due payments is one of the indicators of the cost of living and economic situation.

Frequency and percentage of people who failed to pay their monthly credit card or loan payments on time last year.

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Chile

Rent Cost in Chile

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

220,000 CLP

330,000 CLP

880,000 CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$220

$340

$900

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

330,000 CLP

530,000 CLP

1.3M CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$340

$540

$1,300

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

440,000 CLP

660,000 CLP

1.8M CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$450

$670

$1,800

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

530,000 CLP

880,000 CLP

2.4M CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$540

$900

$2,400

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

1.1M CLP

2.6M CLP

5.3M CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,100

$2,700

$5,400

Townhouse monthly rent cost

880,000 CLP

1.3M CLP

3.8M CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$900

$1,300

$3,800

House monthly rent cost

1.1M CLP

2.6M CLP

5.3M CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,100

$2,700

$5,400

Villa monthly rent cost

1.3M CLP

3.3M CLP

5.3M CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,300

$3,400

$5,400

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Chile ranges between 220,000 CLP and 880,000 CLP, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 330,000 CLP to 1.3M CLP. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 440,000 CLP and 1.8M CLP per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 530,000 CLP to 2.4M CLP. The average rent of a townhouse in Chile is around 1.3M CLP while house rental costs can be as high as 2.6M CLP per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 1.3M CLP to 5.3M CLP per month.

Apartment and house prices in Chile

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

44M CLP

66M CLP

130M CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$45,000

$67,000

$130,000

1-bedroom apartment price

53M CLP

88M CLP

330M CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$54,000

$90,000

$340,000

2-bedroom apartment price

88M CLP

260M CLP

530M CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$90,000

$270,000

$540,000

3-bedroom apartment price

290M CLP

440M CLP

1,300M CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$300,000

$450,000

$1.3M

Townhouse price

380M CLP

880M CLP

3,300M CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$380,000

$900,000

$3.4M

House price

440M CLP

2,600M CLP

3,800M CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$450,000

$2.7M

$3.8M

Villa price

530M CLP

2,900M CLP

4,400M CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$540,000

$3M

$4.5M

The average price of a studio apartment in Chile can range from 44M CLP to 130M CLP depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 53M CLP to 330M CLP. A villa can cost you 2,900M CLP on average with prices ranging from 530M CLP to 4,400M CLP.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Chile can be x105 to x203 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x105 multiples of the average monthly salary in Chile.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Chile is around 30%. This means that people pay 30% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 20% to 40% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.

Housing affordability index

The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.

Property Taxes

Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.

Home Maintenance Costs

Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.

Urban vs. rural living costs

Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Chile

Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Chile

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Family

67,000 CLP

190,000 CLP

1.2M CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$69

$200

$1,300

Internet and cable cost

13,000 CLP

26,000 CLP

35,000 CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$13

$27

$36

Mobile phone bill and charges

11,000 CLP

18,000 CLP

53,000 CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$11

$18

$54

The average monthly energy and water consumption of families is around 190,000 CLP. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 13,000 CLP to 35,000 CLP with 26,000 CLP being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 18,000 CLP but can range between 11,000 CLP and 53,000 CLP depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.

Energy / Utility expense to income ratio

The average utility-to-income ratio in Chile is around 6%. This means that people pay 6% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 3% to 10% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Chile

Prices and cost of goods and services in Chile

Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.

Fast food combo meal price

2,600 CLP

5,300 CLP

8,800 CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.7

$5.4

$9

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Chile is approximatly 5,300 CLP with meal cost ranging from 2,600 CLP to 8,800 CLP. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

8,800 CLP

13,000 CLP

26,000 CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$9

$13

$27

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 8,800 CLP and 26,000 CLP with 13,000 CLP being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Chile.

Fine dining meal for one price

18,000 CLP

26,000 CLP

110,000 CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$18

$27

$110

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 18,000 CLP to 110,000 CLP with the average cost being 26,000 CLP for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Chile.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

2,200 CLP

3,500 CLP

5,300 CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.2

$3.6

$5.4

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Chile is around 3,500 CLP. Price ranges between 2,200 CLP and 5,300 CLP depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

1,800 CLP

2,100 CLP

2,600 CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.8

$2.2

$2.7

The average price of a large bottle of milk in Chile is 2,100 CLP. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 2,600 CLP and the minimum being 1,800 CLP depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

1,300 CLP

1,800 CLP

2,600 CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.3

$1.8

$2.7

A dozen eggs costs around 1,800 CLP on average with 1,300 CLP and 2,600 CLP being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

3,000 CLP

3,900 CLP

5,500 CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.1

$4

$5.6

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Chile is between 3,000 CLP and 5,500 CLP depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 3,900 CLP.

Pack of beef price

3,500 CLP

5,300 CLP

11,000 CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.6

$5.4

$11

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 5,300 CLP. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

1,400 CLP

1,900 CLP

2,700 CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.4

$2

$2.8

A bag of rice in Chile costs around 1,900 CLP on average with prices rangeing between 1,400 CLP and 2,700 CLP depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

530 CLP

700 CLP

1,300 CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.54

$0.72

$1.3

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 530 CLP to 1,300 CLP. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

940 CLP

1,200 CLP

2,000 CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.96

$1.3

$2.1

A bag of apples costs 1,200 CLP on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio

The average grocery-to-income ratio in Chile is around 26%. This means that families spend 26% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 18% to 32% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for families