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: $1,048 in La Serena versus $1,091 in Calama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,754 in La Serena versus $1,592 in Calama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,459 in La Serena versus $2,094 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

$7.90 CLP 7,007

$7.90 CLP 7,014

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.5 CLP 45.7K

$33.27 CLP 29.5K

54.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.94 CLP 7,935

$8.03 CLP 7,127

11.33%

Cappuccino

$2.96 CLP 2,630

$2.14 CLP 1,897

38.32%

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

$1.12 CLP 992

$0.94 CLP 833

19.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 CLP 597

$0.96 CLP 850

-30.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 CLP 1,893

$3.25 CLP 2,885

-34.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.10 CLP 3,642

$4.05 CLP 3,599

1.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 CLP 1,094

$1.17 CLP 1,042

5.13%

White Bread (500g)

$2.48 CLP 2,202

$1.58 CLP 1,400

56.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.53 CLP 1,358

$1.92 CLP 1,701

-20.31%

Eggs

$3.94 CLP 3,495

$3.57 CLP 3,172

10.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.11 CLP 11.6K

$10.62 CLP 9,424

23.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.96 CLP 5,289

$6.78 CLP 6,017

-12.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.27 CLP 11.8K

$11.08 CLP 9,833

19.77%

Apples (1kg)

$1.99 CLP 1,764

$1.89 CLP 1,680

5.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 CLP 1,642

$1.51 CLP 1,340

22.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.33 CLP 1,182

$1.60 CLP 1,422

-16.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 CLP 1,317

$1.49 CLP 1,324

-0.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.20 CLP 1,063

$1.28 CLP 1,140

-6.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 CLP 1,159

$1.40 CLP 1,240

-6.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 CLP 1,003

$1.21 CLP 1,072

-6.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 CLP 807

$1.19 CLP 1,056

-23.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.33 CLP 4,731

$5.34 CLP 4,742

-0.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.50 CLP 4,879

$6.19 CLP 5,497

-11.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 CLP 917

$1.55 CLP 1,379

-33.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 CLP 1,998

$2.21 CLP 1,965

1.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.10 CLP 980

$0.62 CLP 546

77.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.15 CLP 33.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 CLP 678

$0.47 CLP 420

61.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.06 CLP 1,828

$1.52 CLP 1,345

35.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.76 CLP 11.3K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 CLP 1,333

$1.57 CLP 1,397

-4.46%

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

$21.2K CLP 18.9M

$19.7K CLP 17.5M

7.88%

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

$13.1K CLP 11.7M

$21.8K CLP 19.4M

-39.77%

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

$92.8 CLP 82.4K

$132 CLP 116.9K

-29.54%

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

$11.41 CLP 10.1K

$13.64 CLP 12.1K

-16.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.64 CLP 20.1K

$22.20 CLP 19.7K

1.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.44 CLP 32.3K

$38.42 CLP 34.1K

-5.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.62 CLP 19.2K

$20.96 CLP 18.6K

3.15%

Cinema Ticket

$8.85 CLP 7,850

$5.76 CLP 5,113

53.65%

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

$438 CLP 388.8K

$433 CLP 383.9K

1.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.54 CLP 40.4K

$50.5 CLP 44.8K

-9.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.87 CLP 27.4K

$30.42 CLP 27.0K

1.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.8 CLP 87.7K

$61.2 CLP 54.3K

61.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 CLP 99.0K

$83.1 CLP 73.7K

34.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$366 CLP 325.2K

$356 CLP 316.0K

2.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 CLP 253.3K

$369 CLP 327.1K

-22.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,037 CLP 920.4K

$861 CLP 764.2K

20.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$708 CLP 628.1K

$604 CLP 535.7K

17.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,236 CLP 2.0M

$1,542 CLP 1.4M

45.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,462 CLP 1.3M

$1,365 CLP 1.2M

7.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$773 CLP 686.1K

$1,240 CLP 1.1M

-37.66%

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 Calama: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $366 in La Serena and $356 in Calama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calama pays 60% 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 $244 vs $231 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, Calama earns 60% less. 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: $366 in La Serena versus $356 in Calama. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Calama pay roughly 6% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,048 per month in La Serena versus $1,091 in Calama – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though La Serena gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.