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: $1,137 in La Serena versus $623 in Calama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,903 in La Serena versus $1,267 in Calama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,668 in La Serena versus $1,912 in Calama.

Living in La Serena is roughly 82% more expensive than in Calama, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: La Serena 18% lower, Calama 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.79 CLP 7,333

$7.43 CLP 6,990

4.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.1 CLP 48.1K

$33.77 CLP 31.8K

51.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.50 CLP 8,004

Cappuccino

$2.91 CLP 2,739

$2.12 CLP 1,994

37.26%

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

$1.14 CLP 1,076

$0.92 CLP 869

23.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 CLP 680

$0.94 CLP 880

-23.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.20 CLP 2,071

$3.23 CLP 3,038

-31.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 CLP 3,685

$5.30 CLP 4,987

-26.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 CLP 1,202

$1.19 CLP 1,123

7.56%

White Bread (500g)

$2.53 CLP 2,382

$0.85 CLP 796

197.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 CLP 1,489

$2.72 CLP 2,561

-41.91%

Eggs

$4.01 CLP 3,770

$5.01 CLP 4,714

-19.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.66 CLP 11.9K

$9.51 CLP 8,955

33.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.17 CLP 5,811

$6.57 CLP 6,187

-6.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.13 CLP 12.4K

$7.87 CLP 7,406

66.84%

Apples (1kg)

$1.87 CLP 1,760

$1.25 CLP 1,173

49.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 CLP 1,666

$1.09 CLP 1,024

62.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.32 CLP 1,246

$1.62 CLP 1,525

-18.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.51 CLP 1,423

$1.17 CLP 1,101

29.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 CLP 1,122

$0.99 CLP 934

20.20%

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 CLP 1,237

$1.04 CLP 982

25.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 CLP 998

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 CLP 863

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.23 CLP 4,920

$5.34 CLP 5,024

-2.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.46 CLP 5,141

$4.38 CLP 4,120

24.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 CLP 977

$1.09 CLP 1,026

-4.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 CLP 1,993

$1.29 CLP 1,215

64.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 CLP 993

$0.94 CLP 887

11.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.05 CLP 34.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 CLP 720

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 CLP 2,069

$1.49 CLP 1,399

47.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.63 CLP 11.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 CLP 1,382

$1.57 CLP 1,480

-6.37%

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

$21.0K CLP 19.8M

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

$12.6K CLP 11.9M

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

$90.6 CLP 85.3K

$42.85 CLP 40.3K

111.51%

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

$11.59 CLP 10.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.49 CLP 21.2K

$13.75 CLP 12.9K

63.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$89.2 CLP 83.9K

$53.1 CLP 50.0K

67.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.60 CLP 20.3K

$21.07 CLP 19.8K

2.52%

Cinema Ticket

$8.34 CLP 7,853

$4.87 CLP 4,588

71.25%

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

$320 CLP 301.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.97 CLP 42.3K

$38.10 CLP 35.9K

18.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$64.7 CLP 60.9K

$29.59 CLP 27.9K

118.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.1 CLP 92.3K

$47.34 CLP 44.5K

107.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 CLP 101.0K

$64.4 CLP 60.6K

66.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$447 CLP 420.8K

$353 CLP 332.5K

26.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$332 CLP 312.6K

$108 CLP 101.9K

206.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$953 CLP 896.6K

$844 CLP 794.3K

12.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$731 CLP 687.7K

$639 CLP 601.4K

14.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,116 CLP 2.0M

$1,487 CLP 1.4M

42.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,363 CLP 1.3M

$1,299 CLP 1.2M

4.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$736 CLP 692.4K

$1,164 CLP 1.1M

-36.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

30.00%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for La Serena: September 6, 2026

Last update for Calama: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $447 in La Serena and $353 in Calama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calama pays 58% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $51.0 in La Serena vs $34.00 in Calama for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $183 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

Calama wins on cost – living expenses run 82% lower than in La Serena. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Calama 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: $447 in La Serena versus $353 in Calama. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,137 per month in La Serena versus $623 in Calama – a 82% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 33% higher in La Serena. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $623 in Calama versus $1,137 in La Serena, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Calama but tight or insufficient in La Serena. The gap between the two cities makes Calama 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 Calama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 82% less than in La Serena. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.