Cost of Living Comparison Between Antofagasta and La Serena Cost of Living Comparison Between Antofagasta and La Serena

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $924 in Antofagasta versus $1,142 in La Serena.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,501 in Antofagasta versus $1,883 in La Serena.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,078 in Antofagasta versus $2,624 in La Serena.

Living in Antofagasta costs roughly 19% less than in La Serena, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Antofagasta 33% lower, La Serena 17% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Antofagasta
La Serena
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.43 CLP 6,962
$8.26 CLP 7,744
-10.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.73 CLP 34.4K
$51.4 CLP 48.2K
-28.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 CLP 7,186
$8.45 CLP 7,916
-9.23%
Cappuccino
$2.64 CLP 2,472
$3.03 CLP 2,839
-12.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 CLP 1,228
$1.11 CLP 1,037
18.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 CLP 831
$0.72 CLP 676
23.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.63 CLP 1,526
$2.17 CLP 2,030
-24.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 CLP 1,796
$4.02 CLP 3,771
-52.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Antofagasta
La Serena
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 CLP 1,067
$1.29 CLP 1,214
-11.63%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 CLP 1,638
$2.47 CLP 2,318
-29.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.29 CLP 1,213
$1.55 CLP 1,449
-16.77%
Eggs
$2.94 CLP 2,760
$3.85 CLP 3,611
-23.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.79 CLP 9,177
$13.16 CLP 12.3K
-25.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.11 CLP 3,853
$6.00 CLP 5,626
-31.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.83 CLP 8,273
$13.05 CLP 12.2K
-32.34%
Apples (1kg)
$2.10 CLP 1,966
$1.88 CLP 1,765
11.70%
Banana (1kg)
$2.37 CLP 2,223
$1.77 CLP 1,660
33.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.57 CLP 2,406
$1.39 CLP 1,306
84.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.15 CLP 1,076
$1.52 CLP 1,423
-24.34%
Potato (1kg)
$0.95 CLP 889
$1.18 CLP 1,106
-19.49%
Onion (1kg)
$0.91 CLP 858
$1.24 CLP 1,167
-26.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 CLP 1,112
$1.11 CLP 1,038
7.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 CLP 1,090
$0.89 CLP 831
30.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.70 CLP 4,409
$5.40 CLP 5,060
-12.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.06 CLP 5,683
$5.20 CLP 4,870
16.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 CLP 1,428
$1.00 CLP 942
52.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 CLP 1,268
$2.13 CLP 1,994
-36.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Antofagasta
La Serena
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.63 CLP 590
$1.08 CLP 1,016
-41.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$38.04 CLP 35.7K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.72 CLP 2,551
$0.72 CLP 675
277.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$2.18 CLP 2,043
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$13.08 CLP 12.3K
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 CLP 1,258
$1.42 CLP 1,334
-5.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.1K CLP 19.8M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.4K CLP 17.2M
$12.7K CLP 11.9M
44.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Antofagasta
La Serena
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$47.56 CLP 44.6K
$92.3 CLP 86.5K
-48.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.14 CLP 9,506
$11.39 CLP 10.7K
-10.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.38 CLP 12.5K
$22.39 CLP 21.0K
-40.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Antofagasta
La Serena
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.88 CLP 40.2K
$90.4 CLP 84.7K
-52.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.82 CLP 25.1K
$20.98 CLP 19.7K
27.84%
Cinema Ticket
$5.25 CLP 4,918
$8.52 CLP 7,982
-38.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Antofagasta
La Serena
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$273 CLP 255.8K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,311 CLP 3.1M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Antofagasta
La Serena
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.56 CLP 39.0K
$45.06 CLP 42.2K
-7.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$15.87 CLP 14.9K
$63.5 CLP 59.5K
-75.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$61.3 CLP 57.4K
$97.3 CLP 91.2K
-37.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.7 CLP 68.2K
$108 CLP 101.0K
-32.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Antofagasta
La Serena
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$460 CLP 430.8K
$437 CLP 409.8K
5.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$370 CLP 346.8K
$331 CLP 310.5K
11.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$843 CLP 790.2K
$942 CLP 882.8K
-10.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$686 CLP 643.4K
$736 CLP 690.2K
-6.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,159 CLP 2.0M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,389 CLP 1.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Antofagasta
La Serena
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$742 CLP 695.1K
$741 CLP 694.2K
0.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
6.5
-

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Antofagasta: August 30, 2026

Last update for La Serena: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $460 in Antofagasta and $437 in La Serena. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Antofagasta pays 0% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $37.00 in Antofagasta vs $51.0 in La Serena for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $209 vs $242 per month, with Antofagasta 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
Antofagasta vs La Serena: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Antofagasta or La Serena?
Antofagasta wins on cost – living expenses run 24% lower than in La Serena. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Antofagasta the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Antofagasta or in La Serena?
Average pay runs 0% higher in Antofagasta, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Antofagasta compared to La Serena?
Rent for a central apartment: $460 in Antofagasta versus $437 in La Serena. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Antofagasta compared to La Serena?
All in, you'll spend $924 per month in Antofagasta versus $1,142 in La Serena – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Are groceries more expensive in Antofagasta or in La Serena?
Supermarket bills run roughly 16% higher in La Serena. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Antofagasta or in La Serena?
At $924 in Antofagasta versus $1,142 in La Serena, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Antofagasta but tight or insufficient in La Serena. The gap between the two cities makes Antofagasta the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Antofagasta or 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Antofagasta gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in La Serena. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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