🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,048 in La Serena versus $1,087 in Ancud.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,754 in La Serena versus $1,649 in Ancud.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,459 in La Serena versus $2,210 in Ancud.
🙂Living in La Serena costs roughly 4% less than in Ancud, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: La Serena22% lower, Ancud19% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
La Serena
Ancud
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.90CLP 7,063
$8.76CLP 7,835
-9.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.5CLP 46.1K
$44.37CLP 39.7K
16.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.94CLP 7,999
$8.13CLP 7,278
9.96%
Cappuccino
$2.96CLP 2,651
$2.80CLP 2,509
5.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12CLP 1,000
$1.31CLP 1,174
-14.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67CLP 601
$1.03CLP 920
-34.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13CLP 1,908
$3.25CLP 2,911
-34.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.10CLP 3,672
$4.06CLP 3,635
0.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
La Serena
Ancud
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23CLP 1,103
$1.19CLP 1,068
3.36%
White Bread(500g)
$2.48CLP 2,220
$1.52CLP 1,357
63.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.53CLP 1,369
$1.86CLP 1,666
-17.74%
Eggs
$3.94CLP 3,523
$3.47CLP 3,101
13.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.11CLP 11.7K
$10.64CLP 9,520
23.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.96CLP 5,332
$6.57CLP 5,877
-9.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.27CLP 11.9K
$10.79CLP 9,651
22.98%
Apples(1kg)
$1.99CLP 1,778
$1.90CLP 1,698
4.74%
Banana(1kg)
$1.85CLP 1,655
$1.52CLP 1,359
21.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.33CLP 1,192
$1.54CLP 1,378
-13.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.48CLP 1,328
$1.49CLP 1,337
-0.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.20CLP 1,071
$1.28CLP 1,142
-6.25%
Onion(1kg)
$1.31CLP 1,169
$1.34CLP 1,201
-2.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13CLP 1,011
$1.26CLP 1,124
-10.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91CLP 813
$1.22CLP 1,094
-25.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.33CLP 4,770
$5.36CLP 4,797
-0.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.50CLP 4,918
$6.00CLP 5,370
-8.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.03CLP 925
$1.56CLP 1,397
-33.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25CLP 2,014
$2.26CLP 2,020
-0.44%
🚌 Getting Around
La Serena
Ancud
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.10CLP 988
$0.61CLP 547
80.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$38.15CLP 34.1K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.76CLP 683
$0.51CLP 457
49.02%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.06CLP 1,843
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.76CLP 11.4K
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.50CLP 1,343
$1.38CLP 1,237
8.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2KCLP 19.0M
$19.5KCLP 17.5M
8.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$13.1KCLP 11.8M
$21.2KCLP 19.0M
-38.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
La Serena
Ancud
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$92.8CLP 83.0K
$132CLP 117.7K
-29.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.41CLP 10.2K
$13.30CLP 11.9K
-14.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.64CLP 20.3K
$22.35CLP 20.0K
1.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
La Serena
Ancud
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.44CLP 32.6K
$39.24CLP 35.1K
-7.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.62CLP 19.3K
$21.06CLP 18.8K
2.66%
Cinema Ticket
$8.85CLP 7,914
$5.73CLP 5,124
54.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
La Serena
Ancud
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$438CLP 392.0K
$441CLP 394.1K
-0.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
La Serena
Ancud
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.54CLP 40.7K
$51.1CLP 45.7K
-10.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.87CLP 27.6K
$30.59CLP 27.4K
0.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.8CLP 88.4K
$62.9CLP 56.2K
57.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112CLP 99.8K
$81.0CLP 72.5K
37.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
La Serena
Ancud
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$366CLP 327.8K
$488CLP 436.4K
-24.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$285CLP 255.4K
$375CLP 335.6K
-23.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,037CLP 927.8K
$889CLP 795.2K
16.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$708CLP 633.2K
$602CLP 538.3K
17.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,236CLP 2.0M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,462CLP 1.3M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
La Serena
Ancud
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$773CLP 691.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.5
5.18
25.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for La Serena: June 1, 2026
Last update for Ancud: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $366 in La Serena and $488 in Ancud. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $51.0 in La Serena vs $44.00 in Ancud for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $244 vs $228 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
Is Ancud cheaper than La Serena?
La Serena is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,573 in La Serena and $1,631 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.
What is the rent difference between La Serena and Ancud?
Rent for a central apartment: $366 in La Serena versus $488 in Ancud. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in La Serena and Ancud?
Shoppers in Ancud pay roughly 7% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
What are total monthly expenses in La Serena vs Ancud?
All in, you'll spend $1,048 per month in La Serena versus $1,087 in Ancud – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for La Serena or Ancud?
At $1,048 in La Serena versus $1,087 in Ancud, a $1,500 budget is realistic in La Serena but tight or insufficient in Ancud. The gap between the two cities makes La Serena the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in La Serena or Ancud?
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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find La Serena gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Ancud. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.