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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,100 per month in Arica vs $1,044 in La Serena, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,669 per month in Arica vs $1,757 in La Serena, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,237 per month in Arica vs $2,469 in La Serena, rent included.

Arica costs about 5% more than La Serena, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Arica and La Serena are more affordable than the global median – Arica 18% lower, La Serena 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.43 CLP 7,851

$8.00 CLP 7,448

5.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.30 CLP 41.3K

$50.7 CLP 47.2K

-12.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.20 CLP 7,635

$8.87 CLP 8,256

-7.55%

Cappuccino

$2.71 CLP 2,521

$3.09 CLP 2,879

-12.30%

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

$1.30 CLP 1,210

$1.10 CLP 1,027

18.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.06 CLP 989

$0.72 CLP 670

47.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.29 CLP 3,065

$2.14 CLP 1,990

53.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.28 CLP 3,986

$3.95 CLP 3,680

8.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 CLP 1,104

$1.30 CLP 1,214

-8.46%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 CLP 1,401

$2.57 CLP 2,396

-41.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 CLP 1,723

$1.54 CLP 1,437

20.13%

Eggs

$3.50 CLP 3,260

$3.95 CLP 3,678

-11.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.31 CLP 9,599

$12.84 CLP 12.0K

-19.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.73 CLP 6,270

$6.05 CLP 5,638

11.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.79 CLP 10.0K

$13.54 CLP 12.6K

-20.31%

Apples (1kg)

$1.89 CLP 1,759

$1.98 CLP 1,839

-4.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 CLP 1,465

$1.78 CLP 1,661

-11.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 CLP 1,492

$1.39 CLP 1,296

15.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 CLP 1,394

$1.55 CLP 1,441

-3.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 CLP 1,158

$1.18 CLP 1,103

5.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 CLP 1,269

$1.31 CLP 1,216

3.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 CLP 1,136

$1.07 CLP 999

14.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 CLP 1,146

$0.96 CLP 891

28.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.27 CLP 4,904

$5.46 CLP 5,085

-3.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.39 CLP 5,946

$5.46 CLP 5,082

17.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 CLP 1,431

$1.04 CLP 968

48.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 CLP 2,161

$2.23 CLP 2,072

4.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.58 CLP 537

$1.05 CLP 981

-44.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.37 CLP 34.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.51 CLP 471

$0.72 CLP 670

-29.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 CLP 1,978

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.70 CLP 11.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 CLP 1,286

$1.44 CLP 1,344

-4.17%

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

$19.7K CLP 18.4M

$20.9K CLP 19.5M

-5.81%

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

$21.5K CLP 20.0M

$12.8K CLP 11.9M

67.93%

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

$134 CLP 125.1K

$91.6 CLP 85.3K

46.66%

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

$13.49 CLP 12.6K

$11.51 CLP 10.7K

17.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.09 CLP 20.6K

$22.61 CLP 21.1K

-2.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.36 CLP 35.7K

$35.97 CLP 33.5K

6.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.43 CLP 20.0K

$21.67 CLP 20.2K

-1.11%

Cinema Ticket

$5.81 CLP 5,410

$8.74 CLP 8,137

-33.52%

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

$435 CLP 404.7K

$428 CLP 398.9K

1.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.6 CLP 47.1K

$45.25 CLP 42.1K

11.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.88 CLP 28.8K

$30.18 CLP 28.1K

2.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$56.2 CLP 52.3K

$97.0 CLP 90.3K

-42.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.9 CLP 78.2K

$110 CLP 102.4K

-23.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 CLP 448.4K

$363 CLP 338.1K

32.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$366 CLP 340.9K

$285 CLP 265.0K

28.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$875 CLP 815.2K

$1,067 CLP 993.7K

-17.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$582 CLP 542.4K

$709 CLP 660.0K

-17.83%

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)

$537 CLP 499.7K

$736 CLP 685.1K

-27.05%

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 Arica: July 13, 2026

Last update for La Serena: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Arica versus $363 in La Serena. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 37% higher in La Serena, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Arica versus $51.0 in La Serena. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $229 vs $247 – making Arica the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Arica vs La Serena: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,100 in Arica, $1,044 in La Serena – roughly 5% apart. Arica costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,651 per month in Arica and $1,567 in La Serena. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in La Serena, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Arica and $51.0 in La Serena. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 8% cheaper in Arica – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in La Serena, where all-in costs run around $1,044, than in Arica at $1,100. In La Serena it covers expenses comfortably, while in Arica it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward La Serena – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with La Serena. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Arica makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.