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 $1,048 per month in La Serena vs $1,078 in Castro, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,754 per month in La Serena vs $1,662 in Castro, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,459 per month in La Serena vs $2,246 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

$7.90 CLP 7,007

$8.44 CLP 7,487

-6.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.5 CLP 45.7K

$45.13 CLP 40.1K

14.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.94 CLP 7,935

$8.22 CLP 7,293

8.76%

Cappuccino

$2.96 CLP 2,630

$2.80 CLP 2,485

5.71%

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

$1.12 CLP 992

$1.36 CLP 1,211

-17.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 CLP 597

$1.06 CLP 938

-36.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 CLP 1,893

$3.32 CLP 2,942

-35.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.10 CLP 3,642

$4.19 CLP 3,719

-2.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 CLP 1,094

$1.09 CLP 971

12.84%

White Bread (500g)

$2.48 CLP 2,202

$1.51 CLP 1,343

64.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.53 CLP 1,358

$1.38 CLP 1,227

10.87%

Eggs

$3.94 CLP 3,495

$4.32 CLP 3,832

-8.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.11 CLP 11.6K

$10.05 CLP 8,918

30.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.96 CLP 5,289

$4.33 CLP 3,846

37.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.27 CLP 11.8K

$8.78 CLP 7,791

51.14%

Apples (1kg)

$1.99 CLP 1,764

$1.48 CLP 1,316

34.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 CLP 1,642

$2.43 CLP 2,157

-23.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.33 CLP 1,182

$1.59 CLP 1,408

-16.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 CLP 1,317

$2.11 CLP 1,873

-29.86%

Potato (1kg)

$1.20 CLP 1,063

$1.20 CLP 1,064

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 CLP 1,159

$1.42 CLP 1,258

-7.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 CLP 1,003

$1.28 CLP 1,133

-11.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 CLP 807

$1.23 CLP 1,094

-26.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.33 CLP 4,731

$5.37 CLP 4,764

-0.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.50 CLP 4,879

$8.45 CLP 7,497

-34.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 CLP 917

$1.54 CLP 1,365

-33.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 CLP 1,998

$2.23 CLP 1,979

0.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.10 CLP 980

$0.76 CLP 676

44.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.15 CLP 33.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 CLP 678

$0.48 CLP 422

58.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.06 CLP 1,828

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.76 CLP 11.3K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 CLP 1,333

$1.38 CLP 1,221

8.70%

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

$21.2K CLP 18.9M

$19.3K CLP 17.1M

10.13%

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

$13.1K CLP 11.7M

$21.0K CLP 18.7M

-37.46%

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

$92.8 CLP 82.4K

$131 CLP 116.4K

-29.22%

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

$11.41 CLP 10.1K

$13.36 CLP 11.9K

-14.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.64 CLP 20.1K

$22.24 CLP 19.7K

1.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.44 CLP 32.3K

$38.17 CLP 33.9K

-4.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.62 CLP 19.2K

$21.55 CLP 19.1K

0.32%

Cinema Ticket

$8.85 CLP 7,850

$5.77 CLP 5,121

53.38%

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

$438 CLP 388.8K

$443 CLP 392.9K

-1.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.54 CLP 40.4K

$51.6 CLP 45.8K

-11.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.87 CLP 27.4K

$30.17 CLP 26.8K

2.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.8 CLP 87.7K

$62.4 CLP 55.4K

58.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 CLP 99.0K

$82.2 CLP 73.0K

35.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$366 CLP 325.2K

$474 CLP 420.8K

-22.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 CLP 253.3K

$366 CLP 324.7K

-21.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,037 CLP 920.4K

$885 CLP 785.2K

17.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$708 CLP 628.1K

$630 CLP 559.0K

12.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,236 CLP 2.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,462 CLP 1.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$773 CLP 686.1K

$685 CLP 607.9K

12.86%

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 Castro: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $366 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 13% 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 $45.00 in Castro. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $221 – 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 $1,573 per month in La Serena and $1,617 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 $1,048 in La Serena and $1,078 in Castro. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $438 per month in La Serena and $443 in Castro. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,048 in La Serena and $1,078 in Castro, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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.