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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,042 per month in La Serena vs $1,091 in Linares, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,787 per month in La Serena vs $1,675 in Linares, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,533 per month in La Serena vs $2,259 in Linares, rent included.

La Serena is about 5% cheaper than Linares, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both La Serena and Linares are more affordable than the global median – La Serena 23% lower, Linares 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.22 CLP 7,389

$5.53 CLP 4,972

48.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.9 CLP 46.6K

$54.4 CLP 48.9K

-4.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.75 CLP 7,868

$8.32 CLP 7,474

5.17%

Cappuccino

$2.98 CLP 2,674

$3.13 CLP 2,817

-4.79%

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

$1.12 CLP 1,004

$0.67 CLP 603

67.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 CLP 598

$1.10 CLP 987

-39.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 CLP 1,998

$3.25 CLP 2,919

-31.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.10 CLP 3,682

$3.19 CLP 2,863

28.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 CLP 1,159

$1.18 CLP 1,061

9.32%

White Bread (500g)

$2.56 CLP 2,302

$1.52 CLP 1,362

68.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 CLP 1,401

$2.16 CLP 1,941

-27.78%

Eggs

$4.03 CLP 3,624

$2.63 CLP 2,359

53.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.98 CLP 11.7K

$10.64 CLP 9,565

21.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.24 CLP 5,605

$6.70 CLP 6,018

-6.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.04 CLP 11.7K

$10.99 CLP 9,875

18.65%

Apples (1kg)

$1.92 CLP 1,728

$2.11 CLP 1,894

-9.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 CLP 1,615

$1.63 CLP 1,469

10.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.40 CLP 1,255

$2.10 CLP 1,891

-33.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.47 CLP 1,317

$0.89 CLP 802

65.17%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 CLP 1,107

$0.72 CLP 649

70.83%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 CLP 1,194

$1.67 CLP 1,505

-20.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 CLP 1,015

$1.29 CLP 1,158

-12.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 CLP 826

$1.20 CLP 1,075

-23.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.33 CLP 4,791

$5.81 CLP 5,225

-8.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.35 CLP 4,809

$6.39 CLP 5,739

-16.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 CLP 940

$1.54 CLP 1,384

-31.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 CLP 2,025

$2.55 CLP 2,289

-11.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.06 CLP 953

$0.58 CLP 525

82.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.12 CLP 34.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.72 CLP 643

$0.51 CLP 456

41.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 CLP 1,913

$1.42 CLP 1,273

50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.01 CLP 11.7K

$11.32 CLP 10.2K

14.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 CLP 1,274

$1.38 CLP 1,242

2.90%

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

$20.7K CLP 18.6M

$19.4K CLP 17.4M

6.44%

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

$13.1K CLP 11.8M

$22.6K CLP 20.3M

-42.06%

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

$92.7 CLP 83.3K

$132 CLP 118.4K

-29.67%

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

$11.35 CLP 10.2K

$13.37 CLP 12.0K

-15.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.61 CLP 20.3K

$22.28 CLP 20.0K

1.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.68 CLP 33.0K

$38.67 CLP 34.8K

-5.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.65 CLP 19.5K

$21.09 CLP 19.0K

2.66%

Cinema Ticket

$8.86 CLP 7,963

$6.54 CLP 5,877

35.47%

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

$441 CLP 396.0K

$435 CLP 391.1K

1.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,912 CLP 3.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.06 CLP 41.4K

$56.4 CLP 50.7K

-18.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.87 CLP 26.8K

$32.64 CLP 29.3K

-8.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.4 CLP 86.7K

$76.7 CLP 68.9K

25.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 CLP 98.4K

$83.8 CLP 75.3K

30.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$364 CLP 327.0K

$480 CLP 431.8K

-24.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$280 CLP 251.6K

$366 CLP 329.1K

-23.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,070 CLP 962.0K

$895 CLP 804.6K

19.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$699 CLP 627.9K

$604 CLP 543.1K

15.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,226 CLP 2.0M

$2,225 CLP 2.0M

0.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,434 CLP 1.3M

$2,239 CLP 2.0M

-35.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$746 CLP 670.6K

$875 CLP 786.5K

-14.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

4.94

31.58%

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

Last update for La Serena: June 7, 2026

Last update for Linares: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $364 in La Serena versus $480 in Linares. 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 17% higher in Linares, 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 $52.0 in La Serena versus $54.0 in Linares. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in La Serena vs $228 in Linares – so Linares 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 Linares: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Linares is pricier by about 5%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,562 per month in La Serena and $1,636 in Linares. 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 $1,042 in La Serena and $1,091 in Linares. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $441 per month in La Serena and $435 in Linares. 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 $1,042, than in Linares at $1,091. In La Serena it covers expenses comfortably, while in Linares 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, Linares makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.