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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,048 per month in La Serena vs $1,079 in Arica, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,754 per month in La Serena vs $1,659 in Arica, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,459 per month in La Serena vs $2,239 in Arica, rent included.

La Serena is about 3% cheaper than Arica, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both La Serena and Arica are more affordable than the global median – La Serena 22% lower, Arica 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.90 CLP 7,063

$8.42 CLP 7,537

-6.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.5 CLP 46.1K

$44.91 CLP 40.2K

14.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.94 CLP 7,999

$8.10 CLP 7,249

10.37%

Cappuccino

$2.96 CLP 2,651

$2.72 CLP 2,434

8.82%

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

$1.12 CLP 1,000

$1.30 CLP 1,159

-13.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 CLP 601

$1.07 CLP 957

-37.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 CLP 1,908

$3.19 CLP 2,855

-33.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.10 CLP 3,672

$4.06 CLP 3,634

0.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 CLP 1,103

$1.20 CLP 1,073

2.50%

White Bread (500g)

$2.48 CLP 2,220

$1.49 CLP 1,337

66.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.53 CLP 1,369

$1.86 CLP 1,667

-17.74%

Eggs

$3.94 CLP 3,523

$3.50 CLP 3,128

12.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.11 CLP 11.7K

$10.37 CLP 9,275

26.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.96 CLP 5,332

$6.55 CLP 5,858

-9.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.27 CLP 11.9K

$10.79 CLP 9,651

22.98%

Apples (1kg)

$1.99 CLP 1,778

$1.80 CLP 1,606

10.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 CLP 1,655

$1.57 CLP 1,401

17.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.33 CLP 1,192

$1.57 CLP 1,405

-15.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 CLP 1,328

$1.50 CLP 1,342

-1.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.20 CLP 1,071

$1.29 CLP 1,152

-6.98%

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 CLP 1,169

$1.40 CLP 1,256

-6.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 CLP 1,011

$1.23 CLP 1,099

-8.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 CLP 813

$1.17 CLP 1,045

-22.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.33 CLP 4,770

$5.55 CLP 4,963

-3.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.50 CLP 4,918

$5.27 CLP 4,719

4.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 CLP 925

$1.62 CLP 1,447

-36.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 CLP 2,014

$2.30 CLP 2,060

-2.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.10 CLP 988

$0.62 CLP 559

77.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.15 CLP 34.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 CLP 683

$0.50 CLP 451

52.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.06 CLP 1,843

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.76 CLP 11.4K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 CLP 1,343

$1.39 CLP 1,242

7.91%

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

$21.2K CLP 19.0M

$19.4K CLP 17.4M

9.44%

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

$13.1K CLP 11.8M

$21.4K CLP 19.1M

-38.46%

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

$92.8 CLP 83.0K

$132 CLP 118.3K

-29.80%

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

$11.41 CLP 10.2K

$13.47 CLP 12.1K

-15.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.64 CLP 20.3K

$22.22 CLP 19.9K

1.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.44 CLP 32.6K

$38.02 CLP 34.0K

-4.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.62 CLP 19.3K

$21.58 CLP 19.3K

0.19%

Cinema Ticket

$8.85 CLP 7,914

$5.56 CLP 4,974

59.17%

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

$438 CLP 392.0K

$431 CLP 385.5K

1.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.54 CLP 40.7K

$49.70 CLP 44.5K

-8.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.87 CLP 27.6K

$30.13 CLP 27.0K

2.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.8 CLP 88.4K

$56.2 CLP 50.3K

75.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 CLP 99.8K

$80.8 CLP 72.3K

38.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$366 CLP 327.8K

$485 CLP 433.8K

-24.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 CLP 255.4K

$372 CLP 332.9K

-23.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,037 CLP 927.8K

$895 CLP 800.5K

15.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$708 CLP 633.2K

$605 CLP 540.9K

17.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,236 CLP 2.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,462 CLP 1.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$773 CLP 691.6K

$571 CLP 511.2K

35.29%

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 Arica: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $366 in La Serena versus $485 in Arica. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 35% higher in La Serena, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in La Serena versus $45.00 in Arica. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $226 – making Arica the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Arica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,048 in La Serena, $1,079 in Arica – roughly 3% apart. Arica costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,573 per month in La Serena and $1,619 in Arica. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in La Serena, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in La Serena and $45.00 in Arica. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 8% cheaper in Arica – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in La Serena, where all-in costs run around $1,048, than in Arica at $1,079. In La Serena it covers expenses comfortably, while in Arica it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward La Serena – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with La Serena. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Arica makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.