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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,083 in Calama versus $1,044 in La Serena.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,617 in Calama versus $1,757 in La Serena.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,150 in Calama versus $2,469 in La Serena.

Living in Calama is roughly 4% more expensive than in La Serena, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Calama 19% lower, La Serena 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.15 CLP 7,591

$8.00 CLP 7,448

1.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 CLP 31.0K

$50.7 CLP 47.2K

-34.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.90 CLP 7,356

$8.87 CLP 8,256

-10.94%

Cappuccino

$2.11 CLP 1,963

$3.09 CLP 2,879

-31.72%

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

$0.98 CLP 914

$1.10 CLP 1,027

-10.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 CLP 865

$0.72 CLP 670

29.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.29 CLP 3,067

$2.14 CLP 1,990

53.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.15 CLP 3,862

$3.95 CLP 3,680

5.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 CLP 1,148

$1.30 CLP 1,214

-5.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.52 CLP 1,419

$2.57 CLP 2,396

-40.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.89 CLP 1,756

$1.54 CLP 1,437

22.73%

Eggs

$3.51 CLP 3,267

$3.95 CLP 3,678

-11.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.63 CLP 9,897

$12.84 CLP 12.0K

-17.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.53 CLP 6,083

$6.05 CLP 5,638

7.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.08 CLP 10.3K

$13.54 CLP 12.6K

-18.17%

Apples (1kg)

$1.90 CLP 1,766

$1.98 CLP 1,839

-4.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 CLP 1,404

$1.78 CLP 1,661

-15.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 CLP 1,419

$1.39 CLP 1,296

9.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 CLP 1,348

$1.55 CLP 1,441

-6.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 CLP 1,153

$1.18 CLP 1,103

5.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.39 CLP 1,297

$1.31 CLP 1,216

6.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 CLP 1,141

$1.07 CLP 999

14.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 CLP 1,091

$0.96 CLP 891

21.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.28 CLP 4,921

$5.46 CLP 5,085

-3.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.92 CLP 5,512

$5.46 CLP 5,082

8.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 CLP 1,487

$1.04 CLP 968

53.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 CLP 2,071

$2.23 CLP 2,072

-0.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 CLP 548

$1.05 CLP 981

-43.81%

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)

$1.53 CLP 1,420

$2.12 CLP 1,978

-27.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.70 CLP 11.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 CLP 1,438

$1.44 CLP 1,344

6.94%

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

$19.6K CLP 18.3M

$20.9K CLP 19.5M

-6.25%

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

$21.7K CLP 20.2M

$12.8K CLP 11.9M

69.83%

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

$131 CLP 121.7K

$91.6 CLP 85.3K

42.66%

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

$13.71 CLP 12.8K

$11.51 CLP 10.7K

19.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.29 CLP 20.8K

$22.61 CLP 21.1K

-1.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.39 CLP 35.8K

$35.97 CLP 33.5K

6.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.55 CLP 20.1K

$21.67 CLP 20.2K

-0.55%

Cinema Ticket

$5.70 CLP 5,309

$8.74 CLP 8,137

-34.78%

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

$432 CLP 402.4K

$428 CLP 398.9K

0.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.6 CLP 47.1K

$45.25 CLP 42.1K

11.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.49 CLP 28.4K

$30.18 CLP 28.1K

1.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.8 CLP 58.5K

$97.0 CLP 90.3K

-35.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.9 CLP 77.1K

$110 CLP 102.4K

-24.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$352 CLP 327.5K

$363 CLP 338.1K

-3.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$378 CLP 351.8K

$285 CLP 265.0K

32.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$847 CLP 788.6K

$1,067 CLP 993.7K

-20.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$590 CLP 549.4K

$709 CLP 660.0K

-16.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,467 CLP 1.4M

$2,151 CLP 2.0M

-31.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,276 CLP 1.2M

$1,373 CLP 1.3M

-7.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,160 CLP 1.1M

$736 CLP 685.1K

57.61%

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 Calama: July 11, 2026

Last update for La Serena: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $352 in Calama and $363 in La Serena. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calama pays 58% 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: $33.00 in Calama vs $51.0 in La Serena for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $229 vs $247 per month, with Calama 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

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

La Serena wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Calama. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making La Serena the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 58% higher in Calama, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $352 in Calama versus $363 in La Serena. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Calama pay roughly 8% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,083 per month in Calama versus $1,044 in La Serena – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,044 in La Serena versus $1,083 in Calama, a $1,500 budget is realistic in La Serena but tight or insufficient in Calama. The gap between the two cities makes La Serena 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 La Serena gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Calama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.