Cost of Living Comparison Between La Serena and Los Ángeles Cost of Living Comparison Between La Serena and Los Ángeles

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,137 per month in La Serena vs $958 in Los Ángeles, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,903 per month in La Serena vs $1,421 in Los Ángeles, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,668 per month in La Serena vs $1,885 in Los Ángeles, rent included.

La Serena costs about 19% more than Los Ángeles, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both La Serena and Los Ángeles are more affordable than the global median – La Serena 18% lower, Los Ángeles 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.79 CLP 7,333

$12.59 CLP 11.8K

-38.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.1 CLP 48.1K

$26.39 CLP 24.8K

93.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.50 CLP 8,004

$10.78 CLP 10.1K

-21.15%

Cappuccino

$2.91 CLP 2,739

$2.17 CLP 2,044

34.10%

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

$1.14 CLP 1,076

$1.65 CLP 1,549

-30.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 CLP 680

$1.58 CLP 1,485

-54.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.20 CLP 2,071

$2.69 CLP 2,536

-18.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 CLP 3,685

$3.13 CLP 2,947

25.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 CLP 1,202

$1.27 CLP 1,193

0.79%

White Bread (500g)

$2.53 CLP 2,382

$2.86 CLP 2,694

-11.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 CLP 1,489

$3.13 CLP 2,947

-49.52%

Eggs

$4.01 CLP 3,770

$4.57 CLP 4,304

-12.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.66 CLP 11.9K

$8.41 CLP 7,916

50.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.17 CLP 5,811

$11.17 CLP 10.5K

-44.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.13 CLP 12.4K

$14.94 CLP 14.1K

-12.12%

Apples (1kg)

$1.87 CLP 1,760

$2.72 CLP 2,564

-31.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 CLP 1,666

$1.75 CLP 1,648

1.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.32 CLP 1,246

$2.72 CLP 2,561

-51.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.51 CLP 1,423

$2.30 CLP 2,166

-34.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 CLP 1,122

$1.63 CLP 1,538

-26.99%

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 CLP 1,237

$1.67 CLP 1,573

-21.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 CLP 998

$1.45 CLP 1,362

-26.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 CLP 863

$1.16 CLP 1,088

-20.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.23 CLP 4,920

$5.89 CLP 5,541

-11.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.46 CLP 5,141

$4.39 CLP 4,127

24.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 CLP 977

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 CLP 1,993

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 CLP 993

$0.56 CLP 527

87.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.05 CLP 34.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 CLP 720

$2.16 CLP 2,034

-64.81%

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

$1.37 CLP 1,294

7.30%

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

$21.0K CLP 19.8M

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

$12.6K CLP 11.9M

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

$90.6 CLP 85.3K

$129 CLP 121.6K

-29.85%

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

$11.59 CLP 10.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.49 CLP 21.2K

$21.17 CLP 19.9K

6.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$89.2 CLP 83.9K

$85.4 CLP 80.4K

4.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.60 CLP 20.3K

$10.62 CLP 9,993

103.39%

Cinema Ticket

$8.34 CLP 7,853

$4.47 CLP 4,206

86.58%

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

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 CLP 101.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$447 CLP 420.8K

$294 CLP 276.4K

52.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$332 CLP 312.6K

$235 CLP 221.0K

41.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$953 CLP 896.6K

$470 CLP 441.9K

102.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$731 CLP 687.7K

$360 CLP 338.4K

103.20%

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

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

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

Last update for La Serena: September 6, 2026

Last update for Los Ángeles: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $447 in La Serena versus $294 in Los Ángeles. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in La Serena versus $26.00 in Los Ángeles. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in La Serena vs $286 in Los Ángeles – 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 Los Ángeles: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – La Serena is pricier by about 19%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,705 per month in La Serena and $1,436 in Los Ángeles. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 18% cheaper in La Serena – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in La Serena and $26.00 in Los Ángeles. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Los Ángeles, where all-in costs run around $958, than in La Serena at $1,137. In Los Ángeles it covers expenses comfortably, while in La Serena it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Los Ángeles – 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 Los Ángeles. 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.