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 $1,075 per month in Castro vs $1,044 in La Serena, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,630 per month in Castro vs $1,757 in La Serena, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,184 per month in Castro vs $2,469 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

$8.77 CLP 8,162

$8.00 CLP 7,448

9.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.44 CLP 41.4K

$50.7 CLP 47.2K

-12.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.03 CLP 7,480

$8.87 CLP 8,256

-9.47%

Cappuccino

$2.84 CLP 2,648

$3.09 CLP 2,879

-8.09%

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

$1.30 CLP 1,212

$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)

$3.16 CLP 2,945

$2.14 CLP 1,990

47.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.14 CLP 3,854

$3.95 CLP 3,680

4.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 CLP 1,050

$1.30 CLP 1,214

-13.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.48 CLP 1,375

$2.57 CLP 2,396

-42.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 CLP 1,281

$1.54 CLP 1,437

-10.39%

Eggs

$4.44 CLP 4,131

$3.95 CLP 3,678

12.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.17 CLP 9,469

$12.84 CLP 12.0K

-20.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.33 CLP 4,031

$6.05 CLP 5,638

-28.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 CLP 8,275

$13.54 CLP 12.6K

-34.34%

Apples (1kg)

$1.43 CLP 1,336

$1.98 CLP 1,839

-27.78%

Banana (1kg)

$2.33 CLP 2,167

$1.78 CLP 1,661

30.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.58 CLP 1,472

$1.39 CLP 1,296

13.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.10 CLP 1,953

$1.55 CLP 1,441

35.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 CLP 1,145

$1.18 CLP 1,103

4.24%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 CLP 1,264

$1.31 CLP 1,216

3.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.21 CLP 1,129

$1.07 CLP 999

13.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 CLP 1,135

$0.96 CLP 891

27.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.28 CLP 4,920

$5.46 CLP 5,085

-3.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.92 CLP 7,371

$5.46 CLP 5,082

45.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 CLP 1,439

$1.04 CLP 968

49.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 CLP 2,054

$2.23 CLP 2,072

-0.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 CLP 700

$1.05 CLP 981

-28.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.37 CLP 34.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 CLP 447

$0.72 CLP 670

-33.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 CLP 1,978

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.70 CLP 11.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 CLP 1,269

$1.44 CLP 1,344

-5.56%

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

$19.6K CLP 18.3M

$20.9K CLP 19.5M

-6.43%

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

$21.7K CLP 20.2M

$12.8K CLP 11.9M

69.54%

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

$129 CLP 120.5K

$91.6 CLP 85.3K

41.25%

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

$13.38 CLP 12.5K

$11.51 CLP 10.7K

16.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.73 CLP 20.2K

$22.61 CLP 21.1K

-3.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.23 CLP 36.5K

$35.97 CLP 33.5K

9.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.09 CLP 19.6K

$21.67 CLP 20.2K

-2.68%

Cinema Ticket

$5.49 CLP 5,116

$8.74 CLP 8,137

-37.19%

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

$433 CLP 403.4K

$428 CLP 398.9K

1.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.1 CLP 47.6K

$45.25 CLP 42.1K

12.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.65 CLP 28.5K

$30.18 CLP 28.1K

1.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.7 CLP 57.5K

$97.0 CLP 90.3K

-36.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.8 CLP 77.1K

$110 CLP 102.4K

-24.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$474 CLP 441.2K

$363 CLP 338.1K

30.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 CLP 343.4K

$285 CLP 265.0K

29.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$882 CLP 821.3K

$1,067 CLP 993.7K

-17.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$623 CLP 580.4K

$709 CLP 660.0K

-12.07%

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)

$636 CLP 592.5K

$736 CLP 685.1K

-13.52%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for La Serena: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $474 in Castro 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 16% 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 Castro versus $51.0 in La Serena. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $220 vs $247 – 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 $1,613 per month in Castro 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,075 in Castro and $1,044 in La Serena. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $433 per month in Castro and $428 in La Serena. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in La Serena, where all-in costs run around $1,044, than in Castro at $1,075. In La Serena it covers expenses comfortably, while in Castro 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, Castro makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.