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 $1,112 per month in La Serena vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,845 per month in La Serena vs $2,054 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,578 per month in La Serena vs $2,876 in Phuket, rent included.

La Serena is about 10% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both La Serena and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – La Serena 19% lower, Phuket 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.83 CLP 7,468

$4.41 ฿147

77.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.70 CLP 46.5K

$32.26 ฿1,077

50.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.61 CLP 8,212

$8.93 ฿298

-3.58%

Cappuccino

$3.00 CLP 2,866

$2.90 ฿96.6

3.45%

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

$1.13 CLP 1,074

$0.88 ฿29.38

28.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 CLP 668

$0.48 ฿16.06

45.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 CLP 2,050

$2.35 ฿78.5

-8.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.89 CLP 3,711

$3.72 ฿124

4.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 CLP 1,159

$1.87 ฿62.3

-35.29%

White Bread (500g)

$2.48 CLP 2,367

$1.47 ฿48.94

68.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 CLP 1,470

$1.55 ฿51.8

-0.65%

Eggs

$3.80 CLP 3,626

$2.10 ฿70.1

80.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.38 CLP 11.8K

$19.59 ฿654

-36.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 CLP 5,572

$3.42 ฿114

70.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.96 CLP 12.4K

$11.38 ฿380

13.88%

Apples (1kg)

$1.84 CLP 1,752

$2.98 ฿99.6

-38.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 CLP 1,715

$1.68 ฿56.2

7.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 CLP 1,241

$2.21 ฿73.7

-41.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 CLP 1,379

$2.16 ฿72.1

-32.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.22 CLP 1,160

$1.52 ฿50.9

-19.74%

Onion (1kg)

$1.27 CLP 1,208

$1.34 ฿44.67

-5.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 CLP 987

$1.13 ฿37.67

-8.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 CLP 850

$0.55 ฿18.24

61.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.33 CLP 5,088

$4.26 ฿142

25.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.37 CLP 5,128

$19.09 ฿637

-71.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 CLP 919

$1.78 ฿59.4

-46.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 CLP 1,989

$2.78 ฿92.9

-25.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.06 CLP 1,007

$2.23 ฿74.4

-52.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.20 CLP 34.5K

$22.74 ฿759

59.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.72 CLP 685

$3.03 ฿101

-76.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.14 CLP 2,044

$1.02 ฿34.15

109.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.58 CLP 12.0K

$3.89 ฿130

223.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 CLP 1,359

$1.49 ฿49.77

-4.70%

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

$19.9K CLP 19.0M

$26.6K ฿887.3K

-24.96%

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

$12.6K CLP 12.0M

$27.0K ฿902.2K

-53.56%

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

$88.2 CLP 84.1K

$102 ฿3,420

-13.97%

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

$11.04 CLP 10.5K

$11.33 ฿378

-2.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.16 CLP 20.2K

$17.40 ฿581

21.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$87.3 CLP 83.3K

$52.1 ฿1,738

67.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.04 CLP 20.1K

$11.07 ฿370

90.06%

Cinema Ticket

$8.56 CLP 8,173

$7.69 ฿257

11.31%

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

$561 ฿18.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿384.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.70 CLP 41.7K

$63.0 ฿2,104

-30.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.5 CLP 58.7K

$29.52 ฿986

108.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.8 CLP 90.4K

$98.0 ฿3,272

-3.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 CLP 101.5K

$88.5 ฿2,954

20.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$439 CLP 419.4K

$738 ฿24.6K

-40.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$327 CLP 312.0K

$482 ฿16.1K

-32.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$906 CLP 864.6K

$2,107 ฿70.3K

-56.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 CLP 690.6K

$1,226 ฿40.9K

-40.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,089 CLP 2.0M

$3,617 ฿120.7K

-42.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,374 CLP 1.3M

$2,603 ฿86.9K

-47.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$733 CLP 699.0K

$494 ฿16.5K

48.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

5.57

16.70%

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

Last update for La Serena: September 15, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $439 in La Serena versus $738 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 48% 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 $49.00 in La Serena versus $32.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in La Serena vs $274 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 11%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,668 per month in La Serena and $1,847 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 $1,112 in La Serena and $1,232 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in La Serena and $32.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in La Serena, where all-in costs run around $1,112, than in Phuket at $1,232. 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.