🇦🇷 Buenos Aires vs 🇨🇱 Santiago
Cost of Living Comparison (2026)
Buenos Aires is 27% cheaper than Santiago
Quick answer
Comparing Buenos Aires, Argentina and Santiago, Chile: a moderate single-person monthly budget is approximately $1,240 in Buenos Aires versus $1,708 in Santiago. Buenos Aires is roughly 27% cheaper overall. Central 1-bed rent: $752/mo (Buenos Aires) vs $700/mo (Santiago). The totals use the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
Key facts
- Moderate budget: $1,240/mo in Buenos Aires single person — city-centre rent + modeled non-housing categories.
- Moderate budget: $1,708/mo in Santiago single person — like-for-like city-centre basket.
- Central 1-bed rent $752/mo in Buenos Aires · $700/mo in Santiago.
- Cheaper overall: Buenos Aires ~27% cheaper than Santiago.
- Source World Bank ICP + national statistics · CC BY 4.0.
Monthly Budget Comparison
| Lifestyle | 🇦🇷 Buenos Aires | 🇨🇱 Santiago | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $850/mo | $1,200/mo | +41% |
| Moderate | $1,240/mo | $1,708/mo | +38% |
| Comfortable | $1,850/mo | $2,550/mo | +38% |
The Moderate row equals the category table below: single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending. Budget and Comfortable scale that same basket.
Cost Breakdown by Category
| Category | 🇦🇷 Buenos Aires | 🇨🇱 Santiago | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1-bed, center) | $752/mo | $700/mo | -7% |
| Groceries & Food | $150/mo | $310/mo | +107% |
| Dining Out | $75/mo | $155/mo | +107% |
| Transport | $75/mo | $155/mo | +107% |
| Utilities & Internet | $75/mo | $155/mo | +107% |
| Healthcare | $60/mo | $124/mo | +107% |
| Leisure & Personal | $53/mo | $109/mo | +106% |
Category sum = Moderate budget. Basis: single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
Housing (1-bed, center)
Buenos Aires
$752
Santiago
$700
Groceries & Food
Buenos Aires
$150
Santiago
$310
Dining Out
Buenos Aires
$75
Santiago
$155
Transport
Buenos Aires
$75
Santiago
$155
Utilities & Internet
Buenos Aires
$75
Santiago
$155
Healthcare
Buenos Aires
$60
Santiago
$124
Leisure & Personal
Buenos Aires
$53
Santiago
$109
Quick Facts
🇦🇷 Buenos Aires
- Monthly cost (moderate)
- $1,240
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $752/mo
- Cappuccino
- $2.20
- Inexpensive meal
- $5.00
- Monthly transit pass
- $12
- Internet speed
- 65 Mbps
- Safety index
- 48/100(concerns)
- Healthcare index
- 78/100
- Country
- Argentina
🇨🇱 Santiago
- Monthly cost (moderate)
- $1,708
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $700/mo
- Cappuccino
- $3.20
- Inexpensive meal
- $7.00
- Monthly transit pass
- $35
- Internet speed
- 180 Mbps
- Safety index
- 55/100(moderately safe)
- Healthcare index
- 91/100
- Country
- Chile
Explore more: Buenos Aires city guide | Santiago city guide | Argentina | Chile
Related Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Buenos Aires or Santiago cheaper to live in?
Buenos Aires is approximately 27% cheaper than Santiago overall.
How much does it cost to live in Buenos Aires per month?
A moderate monthly budget for a single person in Buenos Aires is approximately $1,240 on the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
How much does it cost to live in Santiago per month?
A moderate monthly budget for a single person in Santiago is approximately $1,708 on the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
What is the rent difference between Buenos Aires and Santiago?
A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center costs around $752/month in Buenos Aires and $700/month in Santiago.