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 $1,044 per month in La Serena vs $1,075 in Castro, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,757 per month in La Serena vs $1,630 in Castro, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,469 per month in La Serena vs $2,184 in Castro, rent included.

La Serena is about 3% cheaper than Castro, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both La Serena and Castro are more affordable than the global median – La Serena 22% lower, Castro 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.00 CLP 7,468

$8.77 CLP 8,183

-8.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.7 CLP 47.4K

$44.44 CLP 41.5K

14.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.87 CLP 8,277

$8.03 CLP 7,500

10.46%

Cappuccino

$3.09 CLP 2,887

$2.84 CLP 2,655

8.80%

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

$1.10 CLP 1,029

$1.30 CLP 1,215

-15.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 CLP 672

$1.06 CLP 992

-32.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 CLP 1,995

$3.16 CLP 2,952

-32.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.95 CLP 3,689

$4.14 CLP 3,864

-4.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 CLP 1,217

$1.13 CLP 1,053

15.04%

White Bread (500g)

$2.57 CLP 2,402

$1.48 CLP 1,379

73.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 CLP 1,441

$1.38 CLP 1,284

11.59%

Eggs

$3.95 CLP 3,687

$4.44 CLP 4,142

-11.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.84 CLP 12.0K

$10.17 CLP 9,493

26.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.05 CLP 5,653

$4.33 CLP 4,042

39.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.54 CLP 12.6K

$8.89 CLP 8,296

52.31%

Apples (1kg)

$1.98 CLP 1,844

$1.43 CLP 1,339

38.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 CLP 1,666

$2.33 CLP 2,173

-23.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.39 CLP 1,300

$1.58 CLP 1,475

-12.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 CLP 1,444

$2.10 CLP 1,958

-26.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 CLP 1,106

$1.23 CLP 1,148

-4.07%

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 CLP 1,220

$1.36 CLP 1,267

-3.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 CLP 1,002

$1.21 CLP 1,132

-11.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 CLP 893

$1.22 CLP 1,138

-21.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.46 CLP 5,098

$5.28 CLP 4,933

3.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.46 CLP 5,095

$7.92 CLP 7,390

-31.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 CLP 971

$1.55 CLP 1,442

-32.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 CLP 2,078

$2.21 CLP 2,060

0.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 CLP 984

$0.75 CLP 702

40.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.37 CLP 34.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.72 CLP 671

$0.48 CLP 448

50.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 CLP 1,983

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.70 CLP 11.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 CLP 1,347

$1.36 CLP 1,272

5.88%

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

$20.9K CLP 19.6M

$19.6K CLP 18.3M

6.87%

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

$12.8K CLP 11.9M

$21.7K CLP 20.2M

-41.02%

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

$91.6 CLP 85.5K

$129 CLP 120.8K

-29.20%

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

$11.51 CLP 10.7K

$13.38 CLP 12.5K

-13.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.61 CLP 21.1K

$21.73 CLP 20.3K

4.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.97 CLP 33.6K

$39.23 CLP 36.6K

-8.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.67 CLP 20.2K

$21.09 CLP 19.7K

2.75%

Cinema Ticket

$8.74 CLP 8,158

$5.49 CLP 5,129

59.20%

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

$428 CLP 399.9K

$433 CLP 404.5K

-1.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.25 CLP 42.2K

$51.1 CLP 47.7K

-11.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.18 CLP 28.2K

$30.65 CLP 28.6K

-1.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.0 CLP 90.5K

$61.7 CLP 57.6K

57.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 CLP 102.7K

$82.8 CLP 77.3K

32.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$363 CLP 339.0K

$474 CLP 442.3K

-23.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 CLP 265.7K

$369 CLP 344.3K

-22.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,067 CLP 996.3K

$882 CLP 823.5K

20.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$709 CLP 661.7K

$623 CLP 581.9K

13.72%

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 686.8K

$636 CLP 594.0K

15.63%

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 Castro: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $363 in La Serena versus $474 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 16% 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 Castro. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $247 vs $220 – making Castro 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 Castro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Castro costs about 3% more than La Serena, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,567 per month in La Serena and $1,613 in Castro. 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,044 in La Serena and $1,075 in Castro. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $428 per month in La Serena and $433 in Castro. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in La Serena, where all-in costs run around $1,044, than in Castro at $1,075. In La Serena it covers expenses comfortably, while in Castro 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, Castro makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.