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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,137 per month in La Serena vs $931 in Castro, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,903 per month in La Serena vs $1,474 in Castro, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,668 per month in La Serena vs $2,016 in Castro, rent included.

La Serena costs about 22% more than Castro, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both La Serena and Castro are more affordable than the global median – La Serena 18% lower, Castro 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.79 CLP 7,333

$8.30 CLP 7,815

-6.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.1 CLP 48.1K

$47.78 CLP 45.0K

7.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.50 CLP 8,004

$6.02 CLP 5,662

41.20%

Cappuccino

$2.91 CLP 2,739

$1.63 CLP 1,531

78.53%

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

$1.14 CLP 1,076

$1.31 CLP 1,232

-12.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 CLP 680

$1.10 CLP 1,031

-34.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.20 CLP 2,071

$5.43 CLP 5,106

-59.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 CLP 3,685

$7.38 CLP 6,941

-46.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 CLP 1,202

$1.09 CLP 1,022

17.43%

White Bread (500g)

$2.53 CLP 2,382

$3.86 CLP 3,628

-34.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 CLP 1,489

$1.31 CLP 1,230

20.61%

Eggs

$4.01 CLP 3,770

$4.25 CLP 3,997

-5.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.66 CLP 11.9K

$10.03 CLP 9,443

26.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.17 CLP 5,811

$4.32 CLP 4,070

42.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.13 CLP 12.4K

$8.54 CLP 8,035

53.75%

Apples (1kg)

$1.87 CLP 1,760

$1.47 CLP 1,380

27.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 CLP 1,666

$2.31 CLP 2,171

-23.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.32 CLP 1,246

$1.63 CLP 1,538

-19.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.51 CLP 1,423

$2.09 CLP 1,965

-27.75%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 CLP 1,122

$1.22 CLP 1,145

-2.46%

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 CLP 1,237

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 CLP 998

$1.57 CLP 1,480

-32.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 CLP 863

$1.64 CLP 1,540

-43.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.23 CLP 4,920

$3.96 CLP 3,729

32.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.46 CLP 5,141

$7.86 CLP 7,401

-30.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 CLP 977

$1.06 CLP 997

-1.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 CLP 1,993

$3.26 CLP 3,069

-34.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 CLP 993

$0.74 CLP 700

41.89%

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

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.63 CLP 11.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 CLP 1,382

$1.40 CLP 1,321

5.00%

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

$21.0K CLP 19.8M

$15.8K CLP 14.9M

32.88%

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

$12.6K CLP 11.9M

$19.4K CLP 18.3M

-34.96%

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

$90.6 CLP 85.3K

$137 CLP 129.0K

-33.89%

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

$11.59 CLP 10.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.49 CLP 21.2K

$31.49 CLP 29.6K

-28.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$89.2 CLP 83.9K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.60 CLP 20.3K

Cinema Ticket

$8.34 CLP 7,853

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.97 CLP 42.3K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$64.7 CLP 60.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.1 CLP 92.3K

$85.2 CLP 80.2K

15.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 CLP 101.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$447 CLP 420.8K

$376 CLP 353.8K

18.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$332 CLP 312.6K

$301 CLP 282.9K

10.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$953 CLP 896.6K

$1,054 CLP 991.6K

-9.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$731 CLP 687.7K

$619 CLP 582.8K

18.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,116 CLP 2.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,363 CLP 1.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$736 CLP 692.4K

$643 CLP 605.1K

14.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

-7.14%

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

Last update for La Serena: September 6, 2026

Last update for Castro: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $447 in La Serena versus $376 in Castro. 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 14% higher in La Serena, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in La Serena versus $48.00 in Castro. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in La Serena vs $244 in Castro – so La Serena wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Castro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

La Serena costs about 22% more than Castro, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,705 per month in La Serena and $1,396 in Castro. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,137 in La Serena and $931 in Castro. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 0% cheaper in La Serena – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Castro, where all-in costs run around $931, than in La Serena at $1,137. In Castro it covers expenses comfortably, while in La Serena it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Castro – 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 Castro. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, La Serena makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.