Chile: cost of living

What is the poverty rate in Chile?

17.3% of people in Chile lived in income poverty in 2024, including 6.9% in extreme poverty and 10.4% in non-extreme poverty, according to the Ministry of Social Development and Family's CASEN 2024 income poverty results.

CASEN 2024 introduced an updated poverty methodology, including a new basic food basket and new poverty lines, so the 2024 rate should not be compared directly with rates published before under the old method. The ministry publishes regional rates and a comparable series in the same CASEN 2024 results.

Official sources: CASEN 2024 income poverty results · CASEN 2024 results

Are food prices rising in Chile?

Prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages in Chile rose 0.6% in September 2026, contributing 0.133 percentage points to the month's 0.4% rise in consumer prices, according to the National Statistics Institute's September 2026 IPC release. Overall consumer prices were 4.1% higher than a year earlier.

Food is one of thirteen divisions in the IPC basket. Eight divisions rose in September and four fell. The full tables in the release give annual changes for each division and product, which show how far food prices have moved over 12 months.

Official sources: September 2026 IPC release

How much of their income do Chilean households spend on rent?

Households in Chile's poorest income fifth that pay rent or a mortgage spend on average 59% of their income on it, almost twice the 30% affordability threshold, according to the Ministry of Social Development and Family's CASEN 2024 housing report. These households had average monetary income of 442,141 pesos and 181,084 pesos left after housing costs.

The report also notes that the Central Bank's house price index rose 39.0% between March 2015 and March 2024, while the INE's real wage index rose 9.3%. Housing costs take a much smaller share of income in higher income groups.

Official sources: CASEN 2024 housing report

How fast are prices rising in Chile?

According to the IMF, consumer price inflation in Chile was 4.2% in 2025. Its high point since 2005 was 2022, at 11.6%; its low point was 2009, at 0.4%. Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 2.1%, and Chile placed 8th highest of 29. World rank, highest first: 45th of 165.

How much do people in Chile spend?

$9,482: that is household consumption per person in Chile for 2025, according to the World Bank. The peak was $9,734 in 2022 and the low $5,470 in 2005. It is 2nd highest of 15 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is $4,566. World rank, highest first: 41st of 124.

What is the extreme poverty rate in Chile?

According to the World Bank, the share of people living on less than $3.00 a day in Chile was 0.4% in 2024. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2006. Latin America & Caribbean median: 2.1%; Chile is 13th highest of 14.

What is the poverty rate in Chile?

The latest figure from the World Bank, for 2022, is 6.5%. No year since 2006 has been lower. It is 14th highest of 14 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 26.1%. Worldwide: 47th of 52.

What is income inequality in Chile?

In 2024, the Gini index in Chile was 43.0, according to the World Bank. That is the lowest since at least 2006. It is 8th highest of 14 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 43.6.

How many people in Chile go hungry?

According to the FAO, moderate or severe food insecurity in Chile was 16.0% in 2024. Since 2015 it has ranged from 10.8% (2015) to 18.2% (2021). Latin America & Caribbean median: 28.0%; Chile is 17th highest of 21. World rank, highest first: 76th of 135.