😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,067 in Ancud versus $1,044 in La Serena.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,634 in Ancud versus $1,757 in La Serena.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,200 in Ancud versus $2,469 in La Serena.
🌍Living in Ancud is roughly 2% more expensive than in La Serena, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Ancud20% lower, La Serena22% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ancud
La Serena
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.75CLP 8,148
$8.00CLP 7,448
9.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.39CLP 41.3K
$50.7CLP 47.2K
-12.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.90CLP 7,360
$8.87CLP 8,256
-10.94%
Cappuccino
$2.74CLP 2,553
$3.09CLP 2,879
-11.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35CLP 1,261
$1.10CLP 1,027
22.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07CLP 993
$0.72CLP 670
48.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.24CLP 3,018
$2.14CLP 1,990
51.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.07CLP 3,788
$3.95CLP 3,680
3.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ancud
La Serena
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18CLP 1,101
$1.30CLP 1,214
-9.23%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57CLP 1,465
$2.57CLP 2,396
-38.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.89CLP 1,757
$1.54CLP 1,437
22.73%
Eggs
$3.64CLP 3,386
$3.95CLP 3,678
-7.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.61CLP 9,876
$12.84CLP 12.0K
-17.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.55CLP 6,099
$6.05CLP 5,638
8.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.08CLP 10.3K
$13.54CLP 12.6K
-18.17%
Apples(1kg)
$1.88CLP 1,748
$1.98CLP 1,839
-5.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51CLP 1,410
$1.78CLP 1,661
-15.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.58CLP 1,472
$1.39CLP 1,296
13.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.44CLP 1,339
$1.55CLP 1,441
-7.10%
Potato(1kg)
$1.29CLP 1,204
$1.18CLP 1,103
9.32%
Onion(1kg)
$1.40CLP 1,307
$1.31CLP 1,216
6.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23CLP 1,141
$1.07CLP 999
14.95%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16CLP 1,084
$0.96CLP 891
20.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.52CLP 5,140
$5.46CLP 5,085
1.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.44CLP 5,993
$5.46CLP 5,082
17.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.57CLP 1,458
$1.04CLP 968
50.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29CLP 2,135
$2.23CLP 2,072
2.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Ancud
La Serena
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.57CLP 532
$1.05CLP 981
-45.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$37.37CLP 34.8K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.50CLP 467
$0.72CLP 670
-30.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$2.12CLP 1,978
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$12.70CLP 11.8K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.42CLP 1,320
$1.44CLP 1,344
-1.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.9KCLP 18.5M
$20.9KCLP 19.5M
-4.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.1KCLP 19.6M
$12.8KCLP 11.9M
64.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ancud
La Serena
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$130CLP 120.9K
$91.6CLP 85.3K
41.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59CLP 12.7K
$11.51CLP 10.7K
18.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.82CLP 20.3K
$22.61CLP 21.1K
-3.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ancud
La Serena
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.31CLP 35.7K
$35.97CLP 33.5K
6.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.04CLP 19.6K
$21.67CLP 20.2K
-2.91%
Cinema Ticket
$5.76CLP 5,367
$8.74CLP 8,137
-34.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ancud
La Serena
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436CLP 405.9K
$428CLP 398.9K
1.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ancud
La Serena
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.86CLP 46.4K
$45.25CLP 42.1K
10.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.78CLP 28.7K
$30.18CLP 28.1K
1.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$62.0CLP 57.8K
$97.0CLP 90.3K
-36.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.0CLP 76.4K
$110CLP 102.4K
-25.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ancud
La Serena
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477CLP 444.5K
$363CLP 338.1K
31.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$373CLP 347.1K
$285CLP 265.0K
30.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$886CLP 824.8K
$1,067CLP 993.7K
-17.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$602CLP 560.4K
$709CLP 660.0K
-15.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,151CLP 2.0M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,373CLP 1.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ancud
La Serena
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$736CLP 685.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.18
6.5
-20.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ancud: July 13, 2026
Last update for La Serena: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $477 in Ancud and $363 in La Serena. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $44.00 in Ancud vs $51.0 in La Serena for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $230 vs $247 per month, with Ancud cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Ancud vs La Serena: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is La Serena cheaper than Ancud?
La Serena is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,601 in Ancud and $1,567 in La Serena to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Ancud and La Serena?
Rent for a central apartment: $477 in Ancud versus $363 in La Serena. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Ancud and in La Serena?
Shoppers in Ancud pay roughly 7% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
What are total monthly expenses in Ancud and in La Serena?
All in, you'll spend $1,067 per month in Ancud versus $1,044 in La Serena – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Ancud or in La Serena?
At $1,044 in La Serena versus $1,067 in Ancud, a $1,500 budget is realistic in La Serena but tight or insufficient in Ancud. The gap between the two cities makes La Serena the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Ancud or in La Serena?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find La Serena gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Ancud. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.