Cost of Living Comparison Between La Serena and Puerto Montt Cost of Living Comparison Between La Serena and Puerto Montt

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,064 per month in La Serena vs $1,074 in Puerto Montt, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,803 per month in La Serena vs $1,632 in Puerto Montt, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,541 per month in La Serena vs $2,190 in Puerto Montt, rent included.

La Serena is about 1% cheaper than Puerto Montt, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both La Serena and Puerto Montt are more affordable than the global median – La Serena 20% lower, Puerto Montt 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.16 CLP 7,597

$8.59 CLP 7,996

-5.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.8 CLP 48.2K

$37.14 CLP 34.6K

39.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.67 CLP 8,063

$7.58 CLP 7,056

14.38%

Cappuccino

$3.03 CLP 2,819

$2.89 CLP 2,694

4.84%

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

$1.16 CLP 1,080

$0.98 CLP 915

18.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 CLP 620

$0.98 CLP 914

-31.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 CLP 1,991

$3.22 CLP 2,993

-33.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.09 CLP 3,810

$4.24 CLP 3,943

-3.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 CLP 1,211

$1.22 CLP 1,139

6.56%

White Bread (500g)

$2.53 CLP 2,358

$1.50 CLP 1,398

68.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 CLP 1,429

$1.86 CLP 1,730

-17.20%

Eggs

$3.90 CLP 3,630

$3.43 CLP 3,192

13.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.25 CLP 12.3K

$11.63 CLP 10.8K

13.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.24 CLP 5,809

$6.53 CLP 6,073

-4.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.35 CLP 12.4K

$10.91 CLP 10.1K

22.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.00 CLP 1,857

$1.83 CLP 1,706

9.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.82 CLP 1,690

$1.44 CLP 1,340

26.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.34 CLP 1,249

$1.59 CLP 1,482

-15.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 CLP 1,380

$1.91 CLP 1,780

-22.51%

Potato (1kg)

$1.25 CLP 1,161

$1.23 CLP 1,147

1.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.26 CLP 1,173

$1.35 CLP 1,252

-6.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 CLP 1,000

$1.32 CLP 1,231

-18.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 CLP 887

$1.52 CLP 1,410

-37.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.37 CLP 4,997

$4.98 CLP 4,633

7.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.23 CLP 4,867

$5.78 CLP 5,379

-9.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 CLP 939

$1.48 CLP 1,381

-31.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 CLP 2,071

$2.24 CLP 2,083

-0.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 CLP 1,017

$0.61 CLP 569

78.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.45 CLP 35.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 CLP 687

$0.47 CLP 435

57.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.06 CLP 1,915

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.03 CLP 12.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 CLP 1,328

$1.37 CLP 1,274

4.38%

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

$20.6K CLP 19.1M

$19.8K CLP 18.4M

4.07%

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

$13.1K CLP 12.2M

$21.6K CLP 20.1M

-39.30%

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

$93.3 CLP 86.8K

$130 CLP 120.8K

-28.14%

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

$11.35 CLP 10.6K

$11.91 CLP 11.1K

-4.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.00 CLP 20.5K

$21.93 CLP 20.4K

0.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.74 CLP 33.3K

$39.08 CLP 36.4K

-8.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.13 CLP 19.7K

$21.29 CLP 19.8K

-0.75%

Cinema Ticket

$8.84 CLP 8,228

$5.54 CLP 5,151

59.57%

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

$439 CLP 408.9K

$439 CLP 408.0K

0.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.67 CLP 43.4K

$50.6 CLP 47.1K

-7.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.63 CLP 28.5K

$30.76 CLP 28.6K

-0.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.6 CLP 89.0K

$62.9 CLP 58.5K

52.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 CLP 101.4K

$80.9 CLP 75.3K

34.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$369 CLP 343.6K

$487 CLP 453.6K

-24.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 CLP 265.4K

$380 CLP 353.7K

-24.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,035 CLP 962.7K

$878 CLP 816.9K

17.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$707 CLP 657.5K

$591 CLP 549.5K

19.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,158 CLP 2.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,354 CLP 1.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$739 CLP 687.6K

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Puerto Montt: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $369 in La Serena versus $487 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 $52.0 in La Serena versus $37.00 in Puerto Montt. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $247 vs $236 – making Puerto Montt 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 Puerto Montt: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Puerto Montt is pricier by about 1%, 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 $1,597 per month in La Serena and $1,611 in Puerto Montt. 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 $1,064 in La Serena and $1,074 in Puerto Montt. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $439 per month in La Serena and $439 in Puerto Montt. 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 $1,064, than in Puerto Montt at $1,074. In La Serena it covers expenses comfortably, while in Puerto Montt 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, Puerto Montt makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.