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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,137 in La Serena versus $231 in Ancud.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,903 in La Serena versus $451 in Ancud.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,668 in La Serena versus $672 in Ancud.

Living in La Serena is roughly 393% more expensive than in Ancud, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: La Serena 18% lower, Ancud 83% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.79 CLP 7,333

$10.61 CLP 9,982

-26.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.1 CLP 48.1K

$26.49 CLP 24.9K

93.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.50 CLP 8,004

$6.34 CLP 5,966

34.07%

Cappuccino

$2.91 CLP 2,739

$2.63 CLP 2,471

10.65%

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

$1.14 CLP 1,076

$0.62 CLP 586

83.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 CLP 680

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.20 CLP 2,071

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 CLP 3,685

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 CLP 1,202

$0.62 CLP 583

106.45%

White Bread (500g)

$2.53 CLP 2,382

$2.21 CLP 2,078

14.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 CLP 1,489

$0.73 CLP 688

116.44%

Eggs

$4.01 CLP 3,770

$1.89 CLP 1,782

112.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.66 CLP 11.9K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.17 CLP 5,811

$3.29 CLP 3,095

87.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.13 CLP 12.4K

$13.32 CLP 12.5K

-1.43%

Apples (1kg)

$1.87 CLP 1,760

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 CLP 1,666

Oranges (1kg)

$1.32 CLP 1,246

Tomato (1kg)

$1.51 CLP 1,423

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 CLP 1,122

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 CLP 1,237

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 CLP 998

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 CLP 863

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.23 CLP 4,920

Wine (Bottle)

$5.46 CLP 5,141

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 CLP 977

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 CLP 1,993

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 CLP 993

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.05 CLP 34.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 CLP 720

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 CLP 2,069

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.63 CLP 11.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 CLP 1,382

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

$21.0K CLP 19.8M

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

$12.6K CLP 11.9M

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

$90.6 CLP 85.3K

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

$11.59 CLP 10.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.49 CLP 21.2K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$89.2 CLP 83.9K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.60 CLP 20.3K

Cinema Ticket

$8.34 CLP 7,853

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.97 CLP 42.3K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$64.7 CLP 60.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.1 CLP 92.3K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 CLP 101.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$447 CLP 420.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$332 CLP 312.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$953 CLP 896.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$731 CLP 687.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,116 CLP 2.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,363 CLP 1.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$736 CLP 692.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

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

Last update for La Serena: September 6, 2026

Last update for Ancud: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $51.0 in La Serena vs $26.00 in Ancud for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $95.0 per month, with Ancud 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

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

Ancud is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 393% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,705 in La Serena and $346 in Ancud to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 156% higher in La Serena. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Ancud – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $51.0 in La Serena. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $231 in Ancud versus $1,137 in La Serena, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ancud but tight or insufficient in La Serena. The gap between the two cities makes Ancud 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 Ancud gentler on the wallet – expenses run 393% less than in La Serena. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.