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: $964 in Antofagasta versus $1,044 in La Serena.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,529 in Antofagasta versus $1,757 in La Serena.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,093 in Antofagasta versus $2,469 in La Serena.

Living in Antofagasta costs roughly 8% less than in La Serena, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Antofagasta 28% lower, La Serena 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.37 CLP 6,864

$8.00 CLP 7,448

-7.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.04 CLP 34.5K

$50.7 CLP 47.2K

-26.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.59 CLP 7,068

$8.87 CLP 8,256

-14.43%

Cappuccino

$2.75 CLP 2,560

$3.09 CLP 2,879

-11.00%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 CLP 1,202

$1.10 CLP 1,027

17.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 CLP 899

$0.72 CLP 670

34.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 CLP 1,552

$2.14 CLP 1,990

-21.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.27 CLP 3,973

$3.95 CLP 3,680

8.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 CLP 1,064

$1.30 CLP 1,214

-12.31%

White Bread (500g)

$1.73 CLP 1,608

$2.57 CLP 2,396

-32.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 CLP 1,161

$1.54 CLP 1,437

-18.83%

Eggs

$2.94 CLP 2,738

$3.95 CLP 3,678

-25.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.94 CLP 9,257

$12.84 CLP 12.0K

-22.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.30 CLP 4,003

$6.05 CLP 5,638

-28.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.88 CLP 8,267

$13.54 CLP 12.6K

-34.42%

Apples (1kg)

$2.11 CLP 1,967

$1.98 CLP 1,839

6.57%

Banana (1kg)

$2.36 CLP 2,193

$1.78 CLP 1,661

32.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 CLP 2,397

$1.39 CLP 1,296

84.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 CLP 1,082

$1.55 CLP 1,441

-25.16%

Potato (1kg)

$0.89 CLP 831

$1.18 CLP 1,103

-24.58%

Onion (1kg)

$0.94 CLP 877

$1.31 CLP 1,216

-28.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.25 CLP 1,162

$1.07 CLP 999

16.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 CLP 1,141

$0.96 CLP 891

27.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.84 CLP 4,503

$5.46 CLP 5,085

-11.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.87 CLP 5,468

$5.46 CLP 5,082

7.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 CLP 1,447

$1.04 CLP 968

49.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 CLP 1,275

$2.23 CLP 2,072

-38.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.63 CLP 590

$1.05 CLP 981

-40.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.37 CLP 34.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.50 CLP 467

$0.72 CLP 670

-30.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 CLP 1,978

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.70 CLP 11.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 CLP 1,308

$1.44 CLP 1,344

-2.78%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.4K CLP 18.0M

$20.9K CLP 19.5M

-7.52%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$21.6K CLP 20.1M

$12.8K CLP 11.9M

68.76%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$47.85 CLP 44.6K

$91.6 CLP 85.3K

-47.76%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$10.53 CLP 9,807

$11.51 CLP 10.7K

-8.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.11 CLP 12.2K

$22.61 CLP 21.1K

-42.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.75 CLP 40.7K

$35.97 CLP 33.5K

21.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.04 CLP 19.6K

$21.67 CLP 20.2K

-2.91%

Cinema Ticket

$5.48 CLP 5,102

$8.74 CLP 8,137

-37.30%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$270 CLP 251.5K

$428 CLP 398.9K

-36.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,357 CLP 3.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.10 CLP 38.3K

$45.25 CLP 42.1K

-9.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.09 CLP 15.0K

$30.18 CLP 28.1K

-46.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.8 CLP 56.6K

$97.0 CLP 90.3K

-37.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.1 CLP 66.2K

$110 CLP 102.4K

-35.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$472 CLP 439.3K

$363 CLP 338.1K

29.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 CLP 348.0K

$285 CLP 265.0K

31.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$851 CLP 792.8K

$1,067 CLP 993.7K

-20.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$704 CLP 655.8K

$709 CLP 660.0K

-0.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,151 CLP 2.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,373 CLP 1.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$732 CLP 682.1K

$736 CLP 685.1K

-0.44%

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 Antofagasta: July 14, 2026

Last update for La Serena: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $472 in Antofagasta and $363 in La Serena. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

La Serena pays 0% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $37.00 in Antofagasta vs $51.0 in La Serena for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $211 vs $247 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

Antofagasta wins on cost – living expenses run 8% 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.

On paper, salaries run 0% lower in La Serena. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $472 in Antofagasta versus $363 in La Serena. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $270 in Antofagasta versus $428 in La Serena. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Antofagasta – a meal for two runs $37.00 versus $51.0 in La Serena. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $964 in Antofagasta versus $1,044 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.

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.

Expats usually find Antofagasta gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in La Serena. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.