Cost Of Living For a Family in Valparaiso 2025

Average monthly spending for families in Valparaiso

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 Valparaiso?

Families in Valparaiso 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 Valparaiso

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

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 Valparaiso spend around 89% of their monthly income. Some families spend as low as 81% of their income while some as high as 98%.

How do families spend their money in Valparaiso?

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

Housing and accomodation expenditure for families

Families in Valparaiso 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 7.9M 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 Valparaiso 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 Valparaiso 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 Valparaiso 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 530,000 CLP per month with 190,000 CLP being the minimum spent amount and 3.5M CLP being the maximum.

What percentage of families in Valparaiso 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 Valparaiso 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 490,000 CLP and 9.2M CLP being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Saving Challenges in Valparaiso

Reasons that make it difficult for families to save money

We wanted to understand what is stopping families from maximizing their savings in Valparaiso. 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. 19% 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 Valparaiso

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 Valparaiso

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked families one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Valparaiso?

Around 68% of surveyed families think that living in Valparaiso 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 Valparaiso

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 Valparaiso 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 Valparaiso whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes65%

No35%

Based on the survey, 35% of the families living in Valparaiso 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 Valparaiso 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 Valparaiso

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Valparaiso, 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 38% 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 Valparaiso

Percentage of families who are in debt

According to the survey, 28% of the families in Valparaiso 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 Valparaiso

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 Valparaiso goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 3% of the debtors in Valparaiso pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 15% 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 Valparaiso

11% of debtors in Valparaiso 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 19% of people and personal loans rose at 40%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 3% of debtors in Valparaiso.

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 Valparaiso

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked families of Valparaiso 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 Valparaiso

Rent Cost in Valparaiso

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

220,000 CLP

330,000 CLP

870,000 CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$220

$340

$890

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

330,000 CLP

520,000 CLP

1.3M CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$340

$540

$1,300

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

440,000 CLP

650,000 CLP

1.7M CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$450

$670

$1,800

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

520,000 CLP

870,000 CLP

2.4M CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$540

$890

$2,400

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

1M CLP

2.6M CLP

5.2M CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,100

$2,700

$5,400

Townhouse monthly rent cost

870,000 CLP

1.3M CLP

3.7M CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$890

$1,300

$3,800

House monthly rent cost

1M CLP

2.6M CLP

5.2M CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,100

$2,700

$5,400

Villa monthly rent cost

1.3M CLP

3.3M CLP

5.2M CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,300

$3,400

$5,400

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Valparaiso ranges between 220,000 CLP and 870,000 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 1.7M CLP per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 520,000 CLP to 2.4M CLP. The average rent of a townhouse in Valparaiso 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 5.2M CLP per month.

Apartment and house prices in Valparaiso

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

44M CLP

65M CLP

130M CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$45,000

$67,000

$130,000

1-bedroom apartment price

52M CLP

87M CLP

330M CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$54,000

$89,000

$340,000

2-bedroom apartment price

87M CLP

260M CLP

520M CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$89,000

$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

370M CLP

870M CLP

3,300M CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$380,000

$890,000

$3.4M

House price

440M CLP

2,600M CLP

3,700M CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$450,000

$2.7M

$3.8M

Villa price

520M CLP

2,900M CLP

4,400M CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$540,000

$3M

$4.5M

The average price of a studio apartment in Valparaiso can range from 44M CLP to 130M CLP depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 52M CLP to 330M CLP. A villa can cost you 2,900M CLP on average with prices ranging from 520M CLP to 4,400M CLP.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Valparaiso can be x104 to x202 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x104 multiples of the average monthly salary in Valparaiso.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Valparaiso 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 Valparaiso

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

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Family

67,000 CLP

190,000 CLP

1.2M CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$68

$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

10,000 CLP

17,000 CLP

52,000 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 17,000 CLP but can range between 10,000 CLP and 52,000 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 Valparaiso 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 Valparaiso

Prices and cost of goods and services in Valparaiso

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

Fast food combo meal price

2,600 CLP

5,200 CLP

8,700 CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.7

$5.4

$8.9

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Valparaiso is approximatly 5,200 CLP with meal cost ranging from 2,600 CLP to 8,700 CLP. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

8,700 CLP

13,000 CLP

26,000 CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$8.9

$13

$27

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 8,700 CLP and 26,000 CLP with 13,000 CLP being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Valparaiso.

Fine dining meal for one price

17,000 CLP

26,000 CLP

100,000 CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$18

$27

$110

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 17,000 CLP to 100,000 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 Valparaiso.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

2,200 CLP

3,500 CLP

5,200 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 Valparaiso is around 3,500 CLP. Price ranges between 2,200 CLP and 5,200 CLP depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

1,700 CLP

2,100 CLP

2,600 CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.8

$2.1

$2.7

The average price of a large bottle of milk in Valparaiso is 2,100 CLP. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 2,600 CLP and the minimum being 1,700 CLP depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

1,300 CLP

1,700 CLP

2,600 CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.3

$1.8

$2.7

A dozen eggs costs around 1,700 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

3,800 CLP

5,400 CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3

$3.9

$5.6

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Valparaiso is between 3,000 CLP and 5,400 CLP depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 3,800 CLP.

Pack of beef price

3,500 CLP

5,200 CLP

10,000 CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.6

$5.4

$11

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 5,200 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 Valparaiso 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

520 CLP

700 CLP

1,300 CLP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.54

$0.71

$1.3

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 520 CLP to 1,300 CLP. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

930 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 Valparaiso 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