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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,108 in La Serena versus $567 in Coquimbo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,828 in La Serena versus $936 in Coquimbo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,547 in La Serena versus $1,305 in Coquimbo.

Living in La Serena is roughly 96% more expensive than in Coquimbo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: La Serena 18% lower, Coquimbo 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.65 CLP 7,574

$6.81 CLP 6,742

12.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.18 CLP 47.7K

$45.62 CLP 45.2K

5.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.34 CLP 8,250

$6.28 CLP 6,215

32.80%

Cappuccino

$2.94 CLP 2,913

$3.66 CLP 3,617

-19.67%

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

$1.07 CLP 1,055

$1.17 CLP 1,158

-8.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 CLP 631

$1.06 CLP 1,048

-39.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.12 CLP 2,096

$4.04 CLP 3,995

-47.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 CLP 3,840

$4.73 CLP 4,685

-17.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.20 CLP 1,188

$1.05 CLP 1,044

14.29%

White Bread (500g)

$2.37 CLP 2,347

$3.19 CLP 3,157

-25.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 CLP 1,522

$1.26 CLP 1,245

22.22%

Eggs

$3.84 CLP 3,801

$2.68 CLP 2,649

43.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.30 CLP 12.2K

$8.35 CLP 8,260

47.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.05 CLP 5,983

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.88 CLP 12.7K

Apples (1kg)

$1.90 CLP 1,882

$1.37 CLP 1,353

38.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 CLP 1,780

$1.91 CLP 1,892

-5.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.33 CLP 1,318

$1.05 CLP 1,038

26.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.43 CLP 1,414

$0.96 CLP 948

48.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 CLP 1,127

Onion (1kg)

$1.26 CLP 1,245

$1.27 CLP 1,257

-0.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 CLP 1,060

$0.60 CLP 593

78.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 CLP 926

$1.35 CLP 1,337

-30.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.21 CLP 5,160

$5.05 CLP 5,002

3.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.32 CLP 5,266

$8.45 CLP 8,363

-37.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 CLP 954

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 CLP 2,039

$4.73 CLP 4,681

-56.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.06 CLP 1,048

$0.86 CLP 851

23.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.89 CLP 36.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 CLP 723

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 CLP 2,096

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.31 CLP 12.2K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 CLP 1,400

$1.43 CLP 1,412

-1.40%

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

$20.4K CLP 20.2M

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

$12.4K CLP 12.3M

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

$89.5 CLP 88.5K

$105 CLP 103.6K

-14.55%

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

$10.87 CLP 10.8K

$12.18 CLP 12.1K

-10.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.52 CLP 21.3K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$87.7 CLP 86.8K

$26.14 CLP 25.9K

235.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.93 CLP 20.7K

$5.10 CLP 5,047

310.39%

Cinema Ticket

$8.46 CLP 8,371

$4.02 CLP 3,979

110.45%

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

$255 CLP 252.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.4K CLP 29.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.15 CLP 42.7K

$45.59 CLP 45.1K

-5.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.5 CLP 61.9K

$25.39 CLP 25.1K

146.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.4 CLP 90.4K

$61.4 CLP 60.8K

48.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 CLP 104.9K

$81.1 CLP 80.3K

30.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 CLP 425.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$325 CLP 322.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$896 CLP 886.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$721 CLP 713.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,093 CLP 2.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,326 CLP 1.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$701 CLP 693.8K

$617 CLP 610.4K

13.65%

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 26, 2026

Last update for Coquimbo: September 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

La Serena pays 14% 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: $48.00 in La Serena vs $46.00 in Coquimbo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $237 vs $158 per month, with Coquimbo 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 Coquimbo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

La Serena and Coquimbo differ by about 96% in total monthly costs ($1,108 vs $567 including rent). Coquimbo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 14% higher in La Serena, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Dining out is cheaper in Coquimbo – a meal for two runs $46.00 versus $48.00 in La Serena. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,108 per month in La Serena versus $567 in Coquimbo – a 96% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $567 in Coquimbo versus $1,108 in La Serena, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Coquimbo but tight or insufficient in La Serena. The gap between the two cities makes Coquimbo 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 Coquimbo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 96% less than in La Serena. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.