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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $567 in Coquimbo versus $1,108 in La Serena.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $936 in Coquimbo versus $1,828 in La Serena.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,305 in Coquimbo versus $2,547 in La Serena.

Living in Coquimbo costs roughly 49% less than in La Serena, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Coquimbo 58% lower, La Serena 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.81 CLP 6,742

$7.65 CLP 7,574

-10.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.62 CLP 45.2K

$48.18 CLP 47.7K

-5.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.28 CLP 6,215

$8.34 CLP 8,250

-24.70%

Cappuccino

$3.66 CLP 3,617

$2.94 CLP 2,913

24.49%

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

$1.17 CLP 1,158

$1.07 CLP 1,055

9.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.06 CLP 1,048

$0.64 CLP 631

65.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.04 CLP 3,995

$2.12 CLP 2,096

90.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.73 CLP 4,685

$3.88 CLP 3,840

21.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 CLP 1,044

$1.20 CLP 1,188

-12.50%

White Bread (500g)

$3.19 CLP 3,157

$2.37 CLP 2,347

34.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 CLP 1,245

$1.54 CLP 1,522

-18.18%

Eggs

$2.68 CLP 2,649

$3.84 CLP 3,801

-30.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.35 CLP 8,260

$12.30 CLP 12.2K

-32.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.05 CLP 5,983

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.88 CLP 12.7K

Apples (1kg)

$1.37 CLP 1,353

$1.90 CLP 1,882

-27.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 CLP 1,892

$1.80 CLP 1,780

6.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.05 CLP 1,038

$1.33 CLP 1,318

-21.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.96 CLP 948

$1.43 CLP 1,414

-32.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 CLP 1,127

Onion (1kg)

$1.27 CLP 1,257

$1.26 CLP 1,245

0.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.60 CLP 593

$1.07 CLP 1,060

-43.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 CLP 1,337

$0.94 CLP 926

43.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.05 CLP 5,002

$5.21 CLP 5,160

-3.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.45 CLP 8,363

$5.32 CLP 5,266

58.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 CLP 954

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.73 CLP 4,681

$2.06 CLP 2,039

129.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 CLP 851

$1.06 CLP 1,048

-18.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.89 CLP 36.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 CLP 723

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 CLP 2,096

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.31 CLP 12.2K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 CLP 1,412

$1.41 CLP 1,400

1.42%

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

$20.4K CLP 20.2M

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

$12.4K CLP 12.3M

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

$105 CLP 103.6K

$89.5 CLP 88.5K

17.03%

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

$12.18 CLP 12.1K

$10.87 CLP 10.8K

12.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.52 CLP 21.3K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.14 CLP 25.9K

$87.7 CLP 86.8K

-70.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.10 CLP 5,047

$20.93 CLP 20.7K

-75.63%

Cinema Ticket

$4.02 CLP 3,979

$8.46 CLP 8,371

-52.48%

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

$255 CLP 252.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.4K CLP 29.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.59 CLP 45.1K

$43.15 CLP 42.7K

5.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.39 CLP 25.1K

$62.5 CLP 61.9K

-59.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.4 CLP 60.8K

$91.4 CLP 90.4K

-32.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.1 CLP 80.3K

$106 CLP 104.9K

-23.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 CLP 425.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$325 CLP 322.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$896 CLP 886.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$721 CLP 713.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,093 CLP 2.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,326 CLP 1.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 CLP 610.4K

$701 CLP 693.8K

-12.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

-23.08%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Coquimbo: September 28, 2026

Last update for La Serena: September 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

La Serena pays 14% 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: $46.00 in Coquimbo vs $48.00 in La Serena for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $158 vs $237 per month, with Coquimbo 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

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

Coquimbo and La Serena differ by about 96% in total monthly costs ($567 vs $1,108 including rent). Coquimbo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 14% 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.

Dining out is cheaper in Coquimbo – a meal for two runs $46.00 versus $48.00 in La Serena. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $567 per month in Coquimbo versus $1,108 in La Serena – a 96% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $567 in Coquimbo versus $1,108 in La Serena, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Coquimbo but tight or insufficient in La Serena. The gap between the two cities makes Coquimbo 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 Coquimbo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 96% less than in La Serena. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.