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: $1,091 in Calama versus $1,048 in La Serena.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,592 in Calama versus $1,754 in La Serena.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,094 in Calama versus $2,459 in La Serena.

Living in Calama is roughly 4% more expensive than 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

$7.90 CLP 7,014

$7.90 CLP 7,007

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.27 CLP 29.5K

$51.5 CLP 45.7K

-35.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.03 CLP 7,127

$8.94 CLP 7,935

-10.18%

Cappuccino

$2.14 CLP 1,897

$2.96 CLP 2,630

-27.70%

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

$0.94 CLP 833

$1.12 CLP 992

-16.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.96 CLP 850

$0.67 CLP 597

43.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.25 CLP 2,885

$2.13 CLP 1,893

52.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.05 CLP 3,599

$4.10 CLP 3,642

-1.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 CLP 1,042

$1.23 CLP 1,094

-4.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.58 CLP 1,400

$2.48 CLP 2,202

-36.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.92 CLP 1,701

$1.53 CLP 1,358

25.49%

Eggs

$3.57 CLP 3,172

$3.94 CLP 3,495

-9.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.62 CLP 9,424

$13.11 CLP 11.6K

-18.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.78 CLP 6,017

$5.96 CLP 5,289

13.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.08 CLP 9,833

$13.27 CLP 11.8K

-16.50%

Apples (1kg)

$1.89 CLP 1,680

$1.99 CLP 1,764

-5.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 CLP 1,340

$1.85 CLP 1,642

-18.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 CLP 1,422

$1.33 CLP 1,182

20.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.49 CLP 1,324

$1.48 CLP 1,317

0.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 CLP 1,140

$1.20 CLP 1,063

6.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 CLP 1,240

$1.31 CLP 1,159

6.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.21 CLP 1,072

$1.13 CLP 1,003

7.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 CLP 1,056

$0.91 CLP 807

30.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.34 CLP 4,742

$5.33 CLP 4,731

0.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.19 CLP 5,497

$5.50 CLP 4,879

12.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 CLP 1,379

$1.03 CLP 917

50.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 CLP 1,965

$2.25 CLP 1,998

-1.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.62 CLP 546

$1.10 CLP 980

-43.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.15 CLP 33.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.47 CLP 420

$0.76 CLP 678

-38.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 CLP 1,345

$2.06 CLP 1,828

-26.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.76 CLP 11.3K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.57 CLP 1,397

$1.50 CLP 1,333

4.67%

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

$19.7K CLP 17.5M

$21.2K CLP 18.9M

-7.31%

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

$21.8K CLP 19.4M

$13.1K CLP 11.7M

66.04%

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

$132 CLP 116.9K

$92.8 CLP 82.4K

41.92%

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

$13.64 CLP 12.1K

$11.41 CLP 10.1K

19.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.20 CLP 19.7K

$22.64 CLP 20.1K

-1.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.42 CLP 34.1K

$36.44 CLP 32.3K

5.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.96 CLP 18.6K

$21.62 CLP 19.2K

-3.05%

Cinema Ticket

$5.76 CLP 5,113

$8.85 CLP 7,850

-34.92%

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

$433 CLP 383.9K

$438 CLP 388.8K

-1.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.5 CLP 44.8K

$45.54 CLP 40.4K

10.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.42 CLP 27.0K

$30.87 CLP 27.4K

-1.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.2 CLP 54.3K

$98.8 CLP 87.7K

-38.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.1 CLP 73.7K

$112 CLP 99.0K

-25.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$356 CLP 316.0K

$366 CLP 325.2K

-2.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 CLP 327.1K

$285 CLP 253.3K

29.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$861 CLP 764.2K

$1,037 CLP 920.4K

-16.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$604 CLP 535.7K

$708 CLP 628.1K

-14.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,542 CLP 1.4M

$2,236 CLP 2.0M

-31.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,365 CLP 1.2M

$1,462 CLP 1.3M

-6.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,240 CLP 1.1M

$773 CLP 686.1K

60.40%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for La Serena: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $356 in Calama and $366 in La Serena. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calama pays 60% 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 $231 vs $244 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.

Calama pays 60% more on average, 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: $356 in Calama versus $366 in La Serena. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Calama pay roughly 6% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,091 per month in Calama versus $1,048 in La Serena – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though La Serena gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.