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 $1,079 per month in Arica vs $1,048 in La Serena, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,659 per month in Arica vs $1,754 in La Serena, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,239 per month in Arica vs $2,459 in La Serena, rent included.

Arica costs about 3% more than La Serena, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Arica and La Serena are more affordable than the global median – Arica 19% lower, La Serena 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.42 CLP 7,477

$7.90 CLP 7,007

6.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.91 CLP 39.9K

$51.5 CLP 45.7K

-12.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.10 CLP 7,191

$8.94 CLP 7,935

-9.40%

Cappuccino

$2.72 CLP 2,414

$2.96 CLP 2,630

-8.11%

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

$1.30 CLP 1,150

$1.12 CLP 992

16.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.07 CLP 950

$0.67 CLP 597

59.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.19 CLP 2,832

$2.13 CLP 1,893

49.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.06 CLP 3,605

$4.10 CLP 3,642

-0.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.20 CLP 1,065

$1.23 CLP 1,094

-2.44%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 CLP 1,326

$2.48 CLP 2,202

-39.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 CLP 1,654

$1.53 CLP 1,358

21.57%

Eggs

$3.50 CLP 3,103

$3.94 CLP 3,495

-11.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.37 CLP 9,201

$13.11 CLP 11.6K

-20.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.55 CLP 5,811

$5.96 CLP 5,289

9.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.79 CLP 9,574

$13.27 CLP 11.8K

-18.69%

Apples (1kg)

$1.80 CLP 1,593

$1.99 CLP 1,764

-9.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 CLP 1,390

$1.85 CLP 1,642

-15.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.57 CLP 1,394

$1.33 CLP 1,182

18.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 CLP 1,331

$1.48 CLP 1,317

1.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.29 CLP 1,143

$1.20 CLP 1,063

7.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 CLP 1,246

$1.31 CLP 1,159

6.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 CLP 1,090

$1.13 CLP 1,003

8.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 CLP 1,036

$0.91 CLP 807

28.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.55 CLP 4,923

$5.33 CLP 4,731

4.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.27 CLP 4,681

$5.50 CLP 4,879

-4.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 CLP 1,435

$1.03 CLP 917

57.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 CLP 2,043

$2.25 CLP 1,998

2.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.62 CLP 554

$1.10 CLP 980

-43.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.15 CLP 33.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.50 CLP 447

$0.76 CLP 678

-34.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.06 CLP 1,828

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.76 CLP 11.3K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 CLP 1,232

$1.50 CLP 1,333

-7.33%

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

$19.4K CLP 17.2M

$21.2K CLP 18.9M

-8.62%

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

$21.4K CLP 19.0M

$13.1K CLP 11.7M

62.49%

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

$132 CLP 117.3K

$92.8 CLP 82.4K

42.45%

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

$13.47 CLP 12.0K

$11.41 CLP 10.1K

18.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.22 CLP 19.7K

$22.64 CLP 20.1K

-1.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.02 CLP 33.7K

$36.44 CLP 32.3K

4.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.58 CLP 19.2K

$21.62 CLP 19.2K

-0.19%

Cinema Ticket

$5.56 CLP 4,934

$8.85 CLP 7,850

-37.18%

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

$431 CLP 382.4K

$438 CLP 388.8K

-1.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.70 CLP 44.1K

$45.54 CLP 40.4K

9.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.13 CLP 26.7K

$30.87 CLP 27.4K

-2.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$56.2 CLP 49.9K

$98.8 CLP 87.7K

-43.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.8 CLP 71.7K

$112 CLP 99.0K

-27.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$485 CLP 430.4K

$366 CLP 325.2K

32.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$372 CLP 330.2K

$285 CLP 253.3K

30.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$895 CLP 794.1K

$1,037 CLP 920.4K

-13.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$605 CLP 536.6K

$708 CLP 628.1K

-14.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,236 CLP 2.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,462 CLP 1.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$571 CLP 507.1K

$773 CLP 686.1K

-26.08%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for La Serena: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $485 in Arica versus $366 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 35% 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 $45.00 in Arica versus $51.0 in La Serena. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $226 vs $244 – 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: $1,079 in Arica, $1,048 in La Serena – roughly 3% apart. Arica costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,619 per month in Arica and $1,573 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 $45.00 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 $1,048, than in Arica at $1,079. 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.