Which is cheaper, Lima or Santiago?

Lima is cheaper, with a NoodlePants Cost of Living index of 34 vs 42 for Santiago. A 1-bedroom in the city centre averages $550 vs $700.

Which is better for digital nomads, Lima or Santiago?

Lima edges ahead with a NoodlePants Nomad Score of null vs null, factoring in internet (—), affordability and community.

All city comparisons

Lima vs Santiago — Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Which city is cheaper, safer, and better for remote workers? Here's the data.

Lima

Peru

COL Index

very affordable

Santiago

Chile

COL Index

affordable

NoodlePants Verdict — generated from live data

Lima edges out Santiago on affordability with a NoodlePants COL Index of 34 vs 42 (very affordable vs affordable). Santiago scores higher on safety (null/100), and Santiago wins on internet at ~—. Overall, Lima takes the Nomad Score crown with null/100 — best for .

* Some figures are country averages — full city-level data coming soon.Pro members get neighbourhood-level breakdowns.

Metric

Lima

Santiago

Avg Rent 1BR (city centre)

$550

$700

Avg Rent 1BR (outside centre)

$380

$500

NoodlePants COL Index

Safety Score

—

Internet Speed

—

Nomad Score

—

Healthcare Score

—

Digital Nomad Visa

Not available

Who is each city for?

Lima is better for…

See the Peru country profile

Santiago is better for…

See the Chile country profile

See full city data — neighbourhood breakdowns, internet speeds & coworking scores

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