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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,044 in La Serena versus $1,083 in Calama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,757 in La Serena versus $1,617 in Calama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,469 in La Serena versus $2,150 in Calama.

Living in La Serena costs roughly 4% less than in Calama, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: La Serena 22% lower, Calama 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.00 CLP 7,468

$8.15 CLP 7,611

-1.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.7 CLP 47.4K

$33.33 CLP 31.1K

52.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.87 CLP 8,277

$7.90 CLP 7,375

12.28%

Cappuccino

$3.09 CLP 2,887

$2.11 CLP 1,968

46.45%

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

$1.10 CLP 1,029

$0.98 CLP 917

12.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 CLP 672

$0.93 CLP 867

-22.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 CLP 1,995

$3.29 CLP 3,075

-34.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.95 CLP 3,689

$4.15 CLP 3,872

-4.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 CLP 1,217

$1.23 CLP 1,151

5.69%

White Bread (500g)

$2.57 CLP 2,402

$1.52 CLP 1,423

69.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 CLP 1,441

$1.89 CLP 1,760

-18.52%

Eggs

$3.95 CLP 3,687

$3.51 CLP 3,276

12.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.84 CLP 12.0K

$10.63 CLP 9,922

20.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.05 CLP 5,653

$6.53 CLP 6,099

-7.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.54 CLP 12.6K

$11.08 CLP 10.3K

22.20%

Apples (1kg)

$1.98 CLP 1,844

$1.90 CLP 1,770

4.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 CLP 1,666

$1.51 CLP 1,408

17.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.39 CLP 1,300

$1.52 CLP 1,423

-8.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 CLP 1,444

$1.45 CLP 1,352

6.90%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 CLP 1,106

$1.24 CLP 1,156

-4.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 CLP 1,220

$1.39 CLP 1,300

-5.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 CLP 1,002

$1.22 CLP 1,144

-12.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 CLP 893

$1.17 CLP 1,094

-17.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.46 CLP 5,098

$5.28 CLP 4,933

3.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.46 CLP 5,095

$5.92 CLP 5,526

-7.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 CLP 971

$1.60 CLP 1,491

-35.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 CLP 2,078

$2.22 CLP 2,076

0.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 CLP 984

$0.59 CLP 549

77.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.37 CLP 34.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.72 CLP 671

$0.51 CLP 472

41.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 CLP 1,983

$1.53 CLP 1,424

38.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.70 CLP 11.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 CLP 1,347

$1.54 CLP 1,442

-6.49%

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

$20.9K CLP 19.6M

$19.6K CLP 18.3M

6.67%

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

$12.8K CLP 11.9M

$21.7K CLP 20.3M

-41.12%

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

$91.6 CLP 85.5K

$131 CLP 122.0K

-29.90%

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

$11.51 CLP 10.7K

$13.71 CLP 12.8K

-16.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.61 CLP 21.1K

$22.29 CLP 20.8K

1.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.97 CLP 33.6K

$38.39 CLP 35.8K

-6.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.67 CLP 20.2K

$21.55 CLP 20.1K

0.56%

Cinema Ticket

$8.74 CLP 8,158

$5.70 CLP 5,323

53.33%

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

$428 CLP 399.9K

$432 CLP 403.4K

-0.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.25 CLP 42.2K

$50.6 CLP 47.2K

-10.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.18 CLP 28.2K

$30.49 CLP 28.5K

-1.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.0 CLP 90.5K

$62.8 CLP 58.6K

54.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 CLP 102.7K

$82.9 CLP 77.3K

32.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$363 CLP 339.0K

$352 CLP 328.4K

3.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 CLP 265.7K

$378 CLP 352.7K

-24.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,067 CLP 996.3K

$847 CLP 790.6K

26.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$709 CLP 661.7K

$590 CLP 550.9K

20.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,151 CLP 2.0M

$1,467 CLP 1.4M

46.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,373 CLP 1.3M

$1,276 CLP 1.2M

7.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$736 CLP 686.8K

$1,160 CLP 1.1M

-36.55%

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 Calama: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $363 in La Serena and $352 in Calama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calama pays 58% 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: $51.0 in La Serena vs $33.00 in Calama for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $247 vs $229 per month, with Calama 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 Calama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

La Serena wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Calama. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making La Serena the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 58% lower in Calama. 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: $363 in La Serena versus $352 in Calama. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Calama pay roughly 8% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,044 per month in La Serena versus $1,083 in Calama – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,044 in La Serena versus $1,083 in Calama, a $1,500 budget is realistic in La Serena but tight or insufficient in Calama. The gap between the two cities makes La Serena 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 La Serena gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Calama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.