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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,042 per month in La Serena vs $1,261 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,787 per month in La Serena vs $2,286 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,533 per month in La Serena vs $3,310 in Phuket, rent included.

La Serena is about 17% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both La Serena and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – La Serena 23% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.22 CLP 7,389

$4.56 ฿149

80.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.9 CLP 46.6K

$46.63 ฿1,519

11.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.75 CLP 7,868

$8.47 ฿276

3.31%

Cappuccino

$2.98 CLP 2,674

$3.03 ฿98.6

-1.65%

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

$1.12 CLP 1,004

$0.69 ฿22.45

62.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 CLP 598

$0.37 ฿11.92

81.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 CLP 1,998

$2.49 ฿81.0

-10.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.10 CLP 3,682

$3.66 ฿119

12.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 CLP 1,159

$2.18 ฿71.0

-40.83%

White Bread (500g)

$2.56 CLP 2,302

$1.90 ฿62.0

34.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 CLP 1,401

$2.20 ฿71.6

-29.09%

Eggs

$4.03 CLP 3,624

$2.22 ฿72.4

81.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.98 CLP 11.7K

$19.99 ฿651

-35.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.24 CLP 5,605

$3.66 ฿119

70.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.04 CLP 11.7K

$13.25 ฿432

-1.58%

Apples (1kg)

$1.92 CLP 1,728

$3.23 ฿105

-40.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 CLP 1,615

$1.70 ฿55.3

5.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.40 CLP 1,255

$2.39 ฿78.0

-41.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.47 CLP 1,317

$2.08 ฿67.7

-29.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 CLP 1,107

$1.59 ฿51.8

-22.64%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 CLP 1,194

$1.48 ฿48.31

-10.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 CLP 1,015

$1.03 ฿33.54

9.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 CLP 826

$0.52 ฿16.83

76.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.33 CLP 4,791

$4.25 ฿138

25.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.35 CLP 4,809

$18.79 ฿612

-71.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 CLP 940

$1.76 ฿57.2

-40.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 CLP 2,025

$2.76 ฿89.8

-18.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.06 CLP 953

$1.36 ฿44.32

-22.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.12 CLP 34.3K

$11.36 ฿370

235.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.72 CLP 643

$3.14 ฿102

-77.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 CLP 1,913

$1.04 ฿33.74

104.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.01 CLP 11.7K

$13.77 ฿448

-5.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 CLP 1,274

$1.34 ฿43.79

5.97%

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

$20.7K CLP 18.6M

$27.7K ฿901.4K

-25.35%

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

$13.1K CLP 11.8M

$33.9K ฿1.1M

-61.37%

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

$92.7 CLP 83.3K

$124 ฿4,025

-25.01%

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

$11.35 CLP 10.2K

$13.52 ฿440

-16.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.61 CLP 20.3K

$18.69 ฿609

20.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.68 CLP 33.0K

$61.8 ฿2,013

-40.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.65 CLP 19.5K

$17.25 ฿562

25.51%

Cinema Ticket

$8.86 CLP 7,963

$9.14 ฿298

-3.06%

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

$441 CLP 396.0K

$703 ฿22.9K

-37.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K ฿517.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.06 CLP 41.4K

$59.5 ฿1,937

-22.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.87 CLP 26.8K

$35.07 ฿1,142

-14.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.4 CLP 86.7K

$115 ฿3,754

-16.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 CLP 98.4K

$84.1 ฿2,737

30.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$364 CLP 327.0K

$619 ฿20.1K

-41.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$280 CLP 251.6K

$433 ฿14.1K

-35.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,070 CLP 962.0K

$2,062 ฿67.2K

-48.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$699 CLP 627.9K

$1,511 ฿49.2K

-53.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,226 CLP 2.0M

$3,646 ฿118.7K

-38.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,434 CLP 1.3M

$2,626 ฿85.5K

-45.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$746 CLP 670.6K

$507 ฿16.5K

47.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

5.33

21.95%

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

Last update for La Serena: June 7, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $364 in La Serena versus $619 in Phuket. 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 47% 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 $52.0 in La Serena versus $47.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in La Serena vs $293 in Phuket – 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 Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 21%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,892 in Phuket. 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 $1,261 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 236% less in La Serena. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in La Serena, where all-in costs run around $1,042, than in Phuket at $1,261. In La Serena it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket 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.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with La Serena. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.