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 $1,044 per month in La Serena vs $1,100 in Arica, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,757 per month in La Serena vs $1,669 in Arica, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,469 per month in La Serena vs $2,237 in Arica, rent included.

La Serena is about 5% 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 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.00 CLP 7,448

$8.43 CLP 7,851

-5.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.7 CLP 47.2K

$44.30 CLP 41.3K

14.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.87 CLP 8,256

$8.20 CLP 7,635

8.17%

Cappuccino

$3.09 CLP 2,879

$2.71 CLP 2,521

14.02%

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

$1.10 CLP 1,027

$1.30 CLP 1,210

-15.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 CLP 670

$1.06 CLP 989

-32.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 CLP 1,990

$3.29 CLP 3,065

-34.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.95 CLP 3,680

$4.28 CLP 3,986

-7.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 CLP 1,214

$1.19 CLP 1,104

9.24%

White Bread (500g)

$2.57 CLP 2,396

$1.50 CLP 1,401

71.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 CLP 1,437

$1.85 CLP 1,723

-16.76%

Eggs

$3.95 CLP 3,678

$3.50 CLP 3,260

12.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.84 CLP 12.0K

$10.31 CLP 9,599

24.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.05 CLP 5,638

$6.73 CLP 6,270

-10.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.54 CLP 12.6K

$10.79 CLP 10.0K

25.49%

Apples (1kg)

$1.98 CLP 1,839

$1.89 CLP 1,759

4.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 CLP 1,661

$1.57 CLP 1,465

13.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.39 CLP 1,296

$1.60 CLP 1,492

-13.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 CLP 1,441

$1.50 CLP 1,394

3.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 CLP 1,103

$1.24 CLP 1,158

-4.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 CLP 1,216

$1.36 CLP 1,269

-3.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 CLP 999

$1.22 CLP 1,136

-12.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 CLP 891

$1.23 CLP 1,146

-21.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.46 CLP 5,085

$5.27 CLP 4,904

3.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.46 CLP 5,082

$6.39 CLP 5,946

-14.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 CLP 968

$1.54 CLP 1,431

-32.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 CLP 2,072

$2.32 CLP 2,161

-3.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 CLP 981

$0.58 CLP 537

81.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.37 CLP 34.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.72 CLP 670

$0.51 CLP 471

41.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 CLP 1,978

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.70 CLP 11.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 CLP 1,344

$1.38 CLP 1,286

4.35%

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

$20.9K CLP 19.5M

$19.7K CLP 18.4M

6.16%

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

$12.8K CLP 11.9M

$21.5K CLP 20.0M

-40.45%

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

$91.6 CLP 85.3K

$134 CLP 125.1K

-31.82%

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

$11.51 CLP 10.7K

$13.49 CLP 12.6K

-14.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.61 CLP 21.1K

$22.09 CLP 20.6K

2.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.97 CLP 33.5K

$38.36 CLP 35.7K

-6.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.67 CLP 20.2K

$21.43 CLP 20.0K

1.12%

Cinema Ticket

$8.74 CLP 8,137

$5.81 CLP 5,410

50.43%

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

$428 CLP 398.9K

$435 CLP 404.7K

-1.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.25 CLP 42.1K

$50.6 CLP 47.1K

-10.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.18 CLP 28.1K

$30.88 CLP 28.8K

-2.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.0 CLP 90.3K

$56.2 CLP 52.3K

72.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 CLP 102.4K

$83.9 CLP 78.2K

31.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$363 CLP 338.1K

$481 CLP 448.4K

-24.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 CLP 265.0K

$366 CLP 340.9K

-22.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,067 CLP 993.7K

$875 CLP 815.2K

21.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$709 CLP 660.0K

$582 CLP 542.4K

21.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,151 CLP 2.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,373 CLP 1.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$736 CLP 685.1K

$537 CLP 499.7K

37.09%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Arica: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $363 in La Serena versus $481 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 37% 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 $44.00 in Arica. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $247 vs $229 – 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: $1,044 in La Serena, $1,100 in Arica – roughly 5% apart. Arica costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,567 per month in La Serena and $1,651 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 $44.00 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 $1,044, than in Arica at $1,100. 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.