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: $1,073 in Coquimbo versus $1,093 in La Serena.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,670 in Coquimbo versus $1,828 in La Serena.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,267 in Coquimbo versus $2,564 in La Serena.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.34 CLP 6,770

$8.18 CLP 7,552

-10.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.33 CLP 44.6K

$51.3 CLP 47.3K

-5.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.47 CLP 5,970

$9.00 CLP 8,306

-28.11%

Cappuccino

$3.86 CLP 3,564

$3.03 CLP 2,792

27.39%

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

$1.17 CLP 1,082

$1.18 CLP 1,085

-0.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 CLP 1,035

$0.69 CLP 638

62.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.34 CLP 4,006

$2.19 CLP 2,024

98.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.06 CLP 4,668

$4.07 CLP 3,756

24.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 CLP 984

$1.33 CLP 1,224

-19.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.80 CLP 1,662

$2.50 CLP 2,305

-28.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 CLP 1,518

$1.55 CLP 1,426

6.45%

Eggs

$3.90 CLP 3,596

$3.98 CLP 3,675

-2.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.47 CLP 10.6K

$13.42 CLP 12.4K

-14.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.47 CLP 5,970

$6.29 CLP 5,801

2.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.70 CLP 11.7K

$13.62 CLP 12.6K

-6.75%

Apples (1kg)

$1.97 CLP 1,820

$1.90 CLP 1,756

3.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 CLP 1,538

$1.90 CLP 1,753

-12.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.72 CLP 1,591

$1.35 CLP 1,242

27.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.70 CLP 1,566

$1.55 CLP 1,432

9.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.03 CLP 947

$1.27 CLP 1,168

-18.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 CLP 1,361

$1.32 CLP 1,221

12.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.35 CLP 1,245

$1.13 CLP 1,043

19.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 CLP 1,081

$0.93 CLP 862

25.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.54 CLP 5,114

$5.44 CLP 5,016

1.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.97 CLP 5,509

$5.31 CLP 4,899

12.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.56 CLP 1,439

$1.05 CLP 973

48.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 CLP 2,104

$2.24 CLP 2,068

1.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 CLP 785

$1.11 CLP 1,028

-23.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.52 CLP 34.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 CLP 765

$0.80 CLP 736

3.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.24 CLP 2,062

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.15 CLP 12.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.48 CLP 1,369

$1.51 CLP 1,392

-1.99%

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

$19.8K CLP 18.3M

$19.3K CLP 17.8M

2.84%

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

$24.5K CLP 22.6M

$21.8K CLP 20.1M

12.47%

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

$119 CLP 110.2K

$91.8 CLP 84.7K

30.09%

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

$13.52 CLP 12.5K

$11.72 CLP 10.8K

15.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.45 CLP 18.9K

$22.64 CLP 20.9K

-9.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.85 CLP 25.7K

$33.21 CLP 30.6K

-16.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.55 CLP 5,117

$22.20 CLP 20.5K

-75.00%

Cinema Ticket

$7.26 CLP 6,697

$8.48 CLP 7,822

-14.39%

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

$444 CLP 410.0K

$444 CLP 409.6K

0.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,551 CLP 7.9M

$7,427 CLP 6.9M

15.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.3 CLP 47.4K

$47.36 CLP 43.7K

8.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.01 CLP 27.7K

$29.87 CLP 27.6K

0.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.2 CLP 55.6K

$99.9 CLP 92.2K

-39.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.8 CLP 69.0K

$112 CLP 103.6K

-33.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$512 CLP 472.4K

$453 CLP 417.5K

13.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$425 CLP 391.9K

$338 CLP 311.5K

25.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,042 CLP 961.0K

$979 CLP 903.0K

6.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$682 CLP 629.6K

$761 CLP 702.2K

-10.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,167 CLP 2.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,390 CLP 1.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$647 CLP 596.5K

$758 CLP 699.4K

-14.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.15

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

Last update for Coquimbo: August 16, 2026

Last update for La Serena: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $512 in Coquimbo and $453 in La Serena. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

La Serena pays 17% 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: $48.00 in Coquimbo vs $51.0 in La Serena for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $241 vs $250 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 2% in total monthly costs ($1,073 vs $1,093 including rent). Coquimbo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 17% 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: $512 in Coquimbo versus $453 in La Serena. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $444 in Coquimbo versus $444 in La Serena. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Coquimbo – a meal for two runs $48.00 versus $51.0 in La Serena. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,073 in Coquimbo versus $1,093 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 2% less than in La Serena. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.