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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,078 per month in Castro vs $1,048 in La Serena, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,662 per month in Castro vs $1,754 in La Serena, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,246 per month in Castro vs $2,459 in La Serena, rent included.

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

Both Castro and La Serena are more affordable than the global median – Castro 20% lower, La Serena 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.44 CLP 7,487

$7.90 CLP 7,007

6.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.13 CLP 40.1K

$51.5 CLP 45.7K

-12.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.22 CLP 7,293

$8.94 CLP 7,935

-8.05%

Cappuccino

$2.80 CLP 2,485

$2.96 CLP 2,630

-5.41%

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

$1.36 CLP 1,211

$1.12 CLP 992

21.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.06 CLP 938

$0.67 CLP 597

58.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.32 CLP 2,942

$2.13 CLP 1,893

55.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.19 CLP 3,719

$4.10 CLP 3,642

2.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 CLP 971

$1.23 CLP 1,094

-11.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 CLP 1,343

$2.48 CLP 2,202

-39.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 CLP 1,227

$1.53 CLP 1,358

-9.80%

Eggs

$4.32 CLP 3,832

$3.94 CLP 3,495

9.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.05 CLP 8,918

$13.11 CLP 11.6K

-23.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.33 CLP 3,846

$5.96 CLP 5,289

-27.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.78 CLP 7,791

$13.27 CLP 11.8K

-33.84%

Apples (1kg)

$1.48 CLP 1,316

$1.99 CLP 1,764

-25.63%

Banana (1kg)

$2.43 CLP 2,157

$1.85 CLP 1,642

31.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.59 CLP 1,408

$1.33 CLP 1,182

19.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.11 CLP 1,873

$1.48 CLP 1,317

42.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.20 CLP 1,064

$1.20 CLP 1,063

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 CLP 1,258

$1.31 CLP 1,159

8.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.28 CLP 1,133

$1.13 CLP 1,003

13.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 CLP 1,094

$0.91 CLP 807

35.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.37 CLP 4,764

$5.33 CLP 4,731

0.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.45 CLP 7,497

$5.50 CLP 4,879

53.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 CLP 1,365

$1.03 CLP 917

49.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 CLP 1,979

$2.25 CLP 1,998

-0.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 CLP 676

$1.10 CLP 980

-30.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.15 CLP 33.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 CLP 422

$0.76 CLP 678

-36.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.06 CLP 1,828

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.76 CLP 11.3K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 CLP 1,221

$1.50 CLP 1,333

-8.00%

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

$19.3K CLP 17.1M

$21.2K CLP 18.9M

-9.19%

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

$21.0K CLP 18.7M

$13.1K CLP 11.7M

59.89%

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

$131 CLP 116.4K

$92.8 CLP 82.4K

41.28%

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

$13.36 CLP 11.9K

$11.41 CLP 10.1K

17.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.24 CLP 19.7K

$22.64 CLP 20.1K

-1.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.17 CLP 33.9K

$36.44 CLP 32.3K

4.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.55 CLP 19.1K

$21.62 CLP 19.2K

-0.32%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 CLP 5,121

$8.85 CLP 7,850

-34.80%

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

$443 CLP 392.9K

$438 CLP 388.8K

1.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.6 CLP 45.8K

$45.54 CLP 40.4K

13.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.17 CLP 26.8K

$30.87 CLP 27.4K

-2.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.4 CLP 55.4K

$98.8 CLP 87.7K

-36.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.2 CLP 73.0K

$112 CLP 99.0K

-26.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$474 CLP 420.8K

$366 CLP 325.2K

29.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$366 CLP 324.7K

$285 CLP 253.3K

28.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$885 CLP 785.2K

$1,037 CLP 920.4K

-14.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$630 CLP 559.0K

$708 CLP 628.1K

-11.00%

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)

$685 CLP 607.9K

$773 CLP 686.1K

-11.39%

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 Castro: June 1, 2026

Last update for La Serena: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $474 in Castro 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 13% 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 Castro versus $51.0 in La Serena. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $221 vs $244 – making Castro 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

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

Castro costs about 3% more than La Serena, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,617 per month in Castro 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,078 in Castro and $1,048 in La Serena. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $443 per month in Castro and $438 in La Serena. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,078 in Castro and $1,048 in La Serena, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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, Castro makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.