Puerto Montt vs Arica
How to read the comparison chart
The grouped bars score each city 0–100 on cost, climate and safety — taller is better. Puerto Montt leads on any axis where its bar is higher, Arica where its is. The cost bar uses a higher-is-cheaper scale, so Arica's taller cost bar reflects its lower cost of living, not a higher price.
| Axis | Puerto Montt | Arica |
|---|---|---|
| Livability | 67 | 68 |
| Cost (higher=cheaper) | 48 | 48 |
| Climate | 100 | 100 |
| Safety | 59 | 60 |
| Summer °C | 15.4 | 21.3 |
| Winter °C | 7.3 | 14.5 |
| Top disaster risk | tsunami | drought |
Puerto Montt vs Arica: the short answer
Arica comes out ahead on overall livability (68/100), only marginally above Puerto Montt (67/100). The two cities diverge most on natural-disaster exposure. On affordability Arica is the cheaper base — nearly identical prices on our cost index (Puerto Montt 48 vs Arica 48, where a higher score means a lower cost of living, normalised from World Bank price levels). For climate, Arica runs warmer in summer (about 21.3°C peak vs 15.4°C in Puerto Montt), while winter lows sit near 7.3°C in Puerto Montt and 14.5°C in Arica. On natural-disaster exposure Arica is the safer choice (safety 60/100); the dominant modelled hazard is tsunami for Puerto Montt and drought for Arica.
Which city should you choose?
- On a tight budget → Arica — lower everyday costs..
- You want warmth → Arica — hotter summers.
- Safety is the priority → Arica — lower disaster risk.
- Best all-rounder → Arica — highest overall livability.
Data & methodology
Cost scores are normalised from World Bank price-level data. Climate figures (summer highs, winter lows) are drawn from 1991–2020 climate normals. Disaster-safety blends USGS earthquake history (magnitude 4.5+ within 300 km since 1980), tropical-cyclone basin position, flood/elevation exposure and Köppen climate zone. The livability score is the weighted composite of cost, climate and safety. All figures are planning indicators for 2026, not guarantees — verify specifics before relocating.
FAQ
Is Puerto Montt or Arica better to live in?
Arica scores higher overall — 68 vs 67 on our 0–100 livability index, which weights cost, climate and safety.
Which is cheaper, Puerto Montt or Arica?
Arica has the lower cost of living (cost index 48 vs 48; higher = cheaper, from World Bank price levels).
Which is warmer, Puerto Montt or Arica?
Arica — summer highs reach about 21.3°C versus 15.4°C in Puerto Montt.
Which is safer from natural disasters, Puerto Montt or Arica?
Arica (disaster-safety 60/100). Main hazard: tsunami in Puerto Montt, drought in Arica.
What is the main natural-disaster risk in Puerto Montt?
tsunami is the dominant modelled hazard for Puerto Montt on our risk index.
How is the Puerto Montt vs Arica comparison calculated?
Cost comes from World Bank price levels, climate from 1991–2020 normals, and disaster risk from USGS earthquake data, cyclone-basin position and flood exposure; livability is their weighted composite.