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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,041 in Chillan versus $1,064 in La Serena.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,531 in Chillan versus $1,803 in La Serena.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,020 in Chillan versus $2,541 in La Serena.

Living in Chillan costs roughly 2% less than in La Serena, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chillan 22% lower, La Serena 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.49 CLP 5,104

$8.16 CLP 7,597

-32.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.86 CLP 25.0K

$51.8 CLP 48.2K

-48.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.17 CLP 5,737

$8.67 CLP 8,063

-28.84%

Cappuccino

$2.96 CLP 2,754

$3.03 CLP 2,819

-2.31%

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

$0.92 CLP 853

$1.16 CLP 1,080

-20.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.94 CLP 877

$0.67 CLP 620

40.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.60 CLP 3,349

$2.14 CLP 1,991

68.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 CLP 3,942

$4.09 CLP 3,810

3.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 CLP 1,025

$1.30 CLP 1,211

-15.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.76 CLP 1,640

$2.53 CLP 2,358

-30.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 CLP 1,777

$1.54 CLP 1,429

24.03%

Eggs

$3.91 CLP 3,636

$3.90 CLP 3,630

0.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.75 CLP 7,210

$13.25 CLP 12.3K

-41.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.72 CLP 6,257

$6.24 CLP 5,809

7.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 CLP 10.2K

$13.35 CLP 12.4K

-18.05%

Apples (1kg)

$1.87 CLP 1,743

$2.00 CLP 1,857

-6.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 CLP 1,413

$1.82 CLP 1,690

-16.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.54 CLP 1,436

$1.34 CLP 1,249

14.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.51 CLP 1,408

$1.48 CLP 1,380

2.03%

Potato (1kg)

$1.29 CLP 1,200

$1.25 CLP 1,161

3.20%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 CLP 1,320

$1.26 CLP 1,173

12.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.27 CLP 1,180

$1.08 CLP 1,000

17.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 CLP 1,130

$0.95 CLP 887

27.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.35 CLP 4,982

$5.37 CLP 4,997

-0.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.49 CLP 3,251

$5.23 CLP 4,867

-33.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 CLP 1,434

$1.01 CLP 939

52.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 CLP 2,072

$2.23 CLP 2,071

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.67 CLP 624

$1.09 CLP 1,017

-38.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.45 CLP 35.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.51 CLP 474

$0.74 CLP 687

-31.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.06 CLP 1,915

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.03 CLP 12.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 CLP 1,257

$1.43 CLP 1,328

-5.59%

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

$12.9K CLP 12.0M

$20.6K CLP 19.1M

-37.16%

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

$15.8K CLP 14.7M

$13.1K CLP 12.2M

20.24%

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

$134 CLP 124.8K

$93.3 CLP 86.8K

43.81%

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

$13.47 CLP 12.5K

$11.35 CLP 10.6K

18.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.22 CLP 22.5K

$22.00 CLP 20.5K

10.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.76 CLP 15.6K

$35.74 CLP 33.3K

-53.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.91 CLP 19.5K

$21.13 CLP 19.7K

-1.04%

Cinema Ticket

$12.09 CLP 11.2K

$8.84 CLP 8,228

36.76%

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

$432 CLP 402.0K

$439 CLP 408.9K

-1.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.6 CLP 47.1K

$46.67 CLP 43.4K

8.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.90 CLP 27.8K

$30.63 CLP 28.5K

-2.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.5 CLP 46.9K

$95.6 CLP 89.0K

-47.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.4 CLP 61.8K

$109 CLP 101.4K

-39.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 CLP 441.9K

$369 CLP 343.6K

28.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$380 CLP 353.4K

$285 CLP 265.4K

33.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$459 CLP 426.8K

$1,035 CLP 962.7K

-55.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$585 CLP 544.1K

$707 CLP 657.5K

-17.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,158 CLP 2.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,520 CLP 2.3M

$1,354 CLP 1.3M

86.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$698 CLP 649.3K

$739 CLP 687.6K

-5.57%

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 Chillan: July 27, 2026

Last update for La Serena: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $475 in Chillan and $369 in La Serena. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

La Serena pays 6% 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: $27.00 in Chillan vs $52.0 in La Serena for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $219 vs $247 per month, with Chillan 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

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

Chillan and La Serena differ by about 2% in total monthly costs ($1,041 vs $1,064 including rent). Chillan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 6% lower in La Serena. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $475 in Chillan versus $369 in La Serena. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in La Serena. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,041 per month in Chillan versus $1,064 in La Serena – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,041 in Chillan versus $1,064 in La Serena, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Chillan but tight or insufficient in La Serena. The gap between the two cities makes Chillan 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 Chillan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in La Serena. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.