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 $1,048 per month in La Serena vs $1,067 in Los Ángeles, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,754 per month in La Serena vs $1,641 in Los Ángeles, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,459 per month in La Serena vs $2,216 in Los Ángeles, rent included.

La Serena is about 2% cheaper than Los Ángeles, driven mainly by Getting Around.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.90 CLP 7,063

$8.89 CLP 7,950

-11.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.5 CLP 46.1K

$44.60 CLP 39.9K

15.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.94 CLP 7,999

$7.78 CLP 6,963

14.91%

Cappuccino

$2.96 CLP 2,651

$2.86 CLP 2,557

3.50%

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

$1.12 CLP 1,000

$1.35 CLP 1,205

-17.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 CLP 601

$1.07 CLP 954

-37.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 CLP 1,908

$3.26 CLP 2,914

-34.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.10 CLP 3,672

$4.17 CLP 3,730

-1.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 CLP 1,103

$1.18 CLP 1,058

4.24%

White Bread (500g)

$2.48 CLP 2,220

$1.53 CLP 1,367

62.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.53 CLP 1,369

$1.85 CLP 1,652

-17.30%

Eggs

$3.94 CLP 3,523

$3.49 CLP 3,121

12.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.11 CLP 11.7K

$10.51 CLP 9,402

24.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.96 CLP 5,332

$6.87 CLP 6,143

-13.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.27 CLP 11.9K

$10.92 CLP 9,770

21.52%

Apples (1kg)

$1.99 CLP 1,778

$1.88 CLP 1,678

5.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 CLP 1,655

$1.55 CLP 1,389

19.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.33 CLP 1,192

$1.60 CLP 1,431

-16.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 CLP 1,328

$1.44 CLP 1,287

2.78%

Potato (1kg)

$1.20 CLP 1,071

$1.27 CLP 1,139

-5.51%

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 CLP 1,169

$1.36 CLP 1,214

-3.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 CLP 1,011

$1.23 CLP 1,097

-8.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 CLP 813

$1.19 CLP 1,064

-23.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.33 CLP 4,770

$5.49 CLP 4,912

-2.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.50 CLP 4,918

$6.00 CLP 5,368

-8.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 CLP 925

$1.54 CLP 1,375

-33.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 CLP 2,014

$2.24 CLP 2,004

0.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.10 CLP 988

$0.63 CLP 561

74.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.15 CLP 34.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 CLP 683

$0.50 CLP 448

52.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.06 CLP 1,843

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.76 CLP 11.4K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 CLP 1,343

$1.44 CLP 1,288

4.17%

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

$21.2K CLP 19.0M

$19.6K CLP 17.6M

8.22%

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

$13.1K CLP 11.8M

$21.2K CLP 18.9M

-37.90%

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

$92.8 CLP 83.0K

$133 CLP 119.4K

-30.47%

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

$11.41 CLP 10.2K

$13.39 CLP 12.0K

-14.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.64 CLP 20.3K

$22.26 CLP 19.9K

1.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.44 CLP 32.6K

$38.96 CLP 34.9K

-6.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.62 CLP 19.3K

$21.48 CLP 19.2K

0.65%

Cinema Ticket

$8.85 CLP 7,914

$5.56 CLP 4,973

59.17%

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

$438 CLP 392.0K

$435 CLP 389.4K

0.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.54 CLP 40.7K

$49.71 CLP 44.5K

-8.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.87 CLP 27.6K

$30.92 CLP 27.7K

-0.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.8 CLP 88.4K

$62.0 CLP 55.5K

59.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 CLP 99.8K

$83.1 CLP 74.3K

34.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$366 CLP 327.8K

$486 CLP 434.8K

-24.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 CLP 255.4K

$377 CLP 337.6K

-24.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,037 CLP 927.8K

$874 CLP 782.3K

18.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$708 CLP 633.2K

$599 CLP 535.8K

18.18%

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 691.6K

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 Los Ángeles: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $366 in La Serena versus $486 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 $45.00 in Los Ángeles. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $229 – making Los Ángeles 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 Los Ángeles: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Los Ángeles is pricier by about 2%, 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 $1,573 per month in La Serena and $1,601 in Los Ángeles. 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 $1,067 in Los Ángeles. 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 $435 in Los Ángeles. 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 $1,048, than in Los Ángeles at $1,067. In La Serena it covers expenses comfortably, while in Los Ángeles 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, Los Ángeles makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.