🙂A single person spends $1,043 per month in La Serena vs $1,103 in Puerto Montt, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,804 per month in La Serena vs $1,660 in Puerto Montt, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,565 per month in La Serena vs $2,217 in Puerto Montt, rent included.
🙂La Serena is about 5% cheaper than Puerto Montt, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both La Serena and Puerto Montt are more affordable than the global median – La Serena22% lower, Puerto Montt18% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
La Serena
Puerto Montt
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.87CLP 6,997
$8.45CLP 7,515
-6.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.8CLP 45.1K
$38.39CLP 34.1K
32.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.66CLP 7,703
$7.69CLP 6,838
12.61%
Cappuccino
$3.08CLP 2,739
$2.94CLP 2,611
4.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16CLP 1,034
$0.94CLP 833
23.40%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69CLP 613
$1.00CLP 886
-31.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.22CLP 1,975
$3.28CLP 2,914
-32.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.15CLP 3,691
$4.13CLP 3,677
0.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
La Serena
Puerto Montt
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.30CLP 1,159
$1.16CLP 1,035
12.07%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49CLP 2,219
$1.50CLP 1,334
66.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.60CLP 1,425
$1.92CLP 1,710
-16.67%
Eggs
$3.88CLP 3,451
$3.25CLP 2,893
19.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.09CLP 11.6K
$11.95CLP 10.6K
9.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.06CLP 5,390
$6.48CLP 5,760
-6.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.32CLP 11.8K
$10.85CLP 9,646
22.76%
Apples(1kg)
$1.90CLP 1,687
$1.89CLP 1,677
0.53%
Banana(1kg)
$1.87CLP 1,663
$1.49CLP 1,328
25.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.36CLP 1,205
$1.60CLP 1,421
-15.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.55CLP 1,376
$1.91CLP 1,699
-18.85%
Potato(1kg)
$1.24CLP 1,100
$1.28CLP 1,141
-3.13%
Onion(1kg)
$1.26CLP 1,117
$1.40CLP 1,245
-10.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.09CLP 967
$1.38CLP 1,230
-21.01%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89CLP 793
$1.52CLP 1,348
-41.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.31CLP 4,720
$4.86CLP 4,324
9.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.64CLP 5,016
$6.32CLP 5,618
-10.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04CLP 921
$1.47CLP 1,310
-29.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17CLP 1,930
$2.22CLP 1,974
-2.25%
🚌 Getting Around
La Serena
Puerto Montt
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.10CLP 976
$0.62CLP 554
77.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$38.39CLP 34.1K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.73CLP 652
$0.51CLP 455
43.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07CLP 1,841
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.77CLP 11.4K
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.43CLP 1,267
$1.43CLP 1,270
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2KCLP 18.8M
$19.2KCLP 17.1M
10.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$13.0KCLP 11.6M
$21.2KCLP 18.8M
-38.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
La Serena
Puerto Montt
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$92.2CLP 82.0K
$133CLP 118.2K
-30.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.70CLP 10.4K
$11.62CLP 10.3K
0.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.51CLP 20.0K
$22.25CLP 19.8K
1.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
La Serena
Puerto Montt
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.00CLP 35.6K
$38.09CLP 33.9K
5.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.36CLP 19.0K
$21.45CLP 19.1K
-0.42%
Cinema Ticket
$8.49CLP 7,549
$5.62CLP 4,994
51.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
La Serena
Puerto Montt
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$442CLP 392.8K
$433CLP 385.2K
1.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
La Serena
Puerto Montt
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.07CLP 40.1K
$51.5CLP 45.8K
-12.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$65.0CLP 57.8K
$30.65CLP 27.3K
111.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.0CLP 85.4K
$62.2CLP 55.3K
54.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111CLP 98.6K
$81.2CLP 72.2K
36.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
La Serena
Puerto Montt
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$370CLP 328.7K
$472CLP 419.6K
-21.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$286CLP 254.5K
$374CLP 332.8K
-23.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,033CLP 918.9K
$886CLP 787.4K
16.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$702CLP 624.4K
$595CLP 528.8K
18.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,184CLP 1.9M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,443CLP 1.3M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
La Serena
Puerto Montt
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$780CLP 693.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.5
5.18
25.48%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para La Serena: April 25, 2026
Última actualización para Puerto Montt: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $370 in La Serena versus $472 in Puerto Montt. 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 $38.00 in Puerto Montt. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $245 vs $237 – making Puerto Montt the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
La Serena vs Puerto Montt: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Is Puerto Montt cheaper than La Serena?
Yes – Puerto Montt is pricier by about 6%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,565 per month in La Serena and $1,655 in Puerto Montt. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in La Serena vs Puerto Montt?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,043 in La Serena and $1,103 in Puerto Montt. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $442 per month in La Serena and $433 in Puerto Montt. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for La Serena or Puerto Montt?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in La Serena, where all-in costs run around $1,043, than in Puerto Montt at $1,103. In La Serena it covers expenses comfortably, while in Puerto Montt it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is La Serena or Puerto Montt more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with La Serena. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Puerto Montt makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
La Serena vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado