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 $1,112 per month in La Serena vs $455 in Puerto Montt, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,845 per month in La Serena vs $769 in Puerto Montt, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,578 per month in La Serena vs $1,083 in Puerto Montt, rent included.

La Serena costs about 144% more than Puerto Montt, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both La Serena and Puerto Montt are more affordable than the global median – La Serena 19% lower, Puerto Montt 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.83 CLP 7,468

$8.42 CLP 8,036

-7.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.70 CLP 46.5K

$36.27 CLP 34.6K

34.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.61 CLP 8,212

$7.51 CLP 7,165

14.65%

Cappuccino

$3.00 CLP 2,866

$2.78 CLP 2,650

7.91%

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

$1.13 CLP 1,074

$0.90 CLP 861

25.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 CLP 668

$0.96 CLP 916

-27.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 CLP 2,050

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.89 CLP 3,711

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 CLP 1,159

$1.17 CLP 1,120

3.42%

White Bread (500g)

$2.48 CLP 2,367

$2.59 CLP 2,467

-4.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 CLP 1,470

$1.45 CLP 1,381

6.21%

Eggs

$3.80 CLP 3,626

$3.21 CLP 3,060

18.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.38 CLP 11.8K

$11.34 CLP 10.8K

9.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 CLP 5,572

$5.81 CLP 5,546

0.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.96 CLP 12.4K

$7.24 CLP 6,907

79.01%

Apples (1kg)

$1.84 CLP 1,752

$1.06 CLP 1,011

73.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 CLP 1,715

$1.44 CLP 1,370

25.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 CLP 1,241

$2.65 CLP 2,527

-50.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 CLP 1,379

$1.87 CLP 1,784

-22.46%

Potato (1kg)

$1.22 CLP 1,160

Onion (1kg)

$1.27 CLP 1,208

$1.59 CLP 1,514

-20.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 CLP 987

$1.30 CLP 1,238

-20.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 CLP 850

$1.56 CLP 1,490

-42.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.33 CLP 5,088

$4.84 CLP 4,618

10.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.37 CLP 5,128

$5.89 CLP 5,622

-8.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 CLP 919

$1.44 CLP 1,371

-33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 CLP 1,989

$1.56 CLP 1,488

33.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.06 CLP 1,007

$0.90 CLP 863

17.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.20 CLP 34.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.72 CLP 685

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.14 CLP 2,044

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.58 CLP 12.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 CLP 1,359

$1.32 CLP 1,262

7.58%

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

$19.9K CLP 19.0M

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

$12.6K CLP 12.0M

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

$88.2 CLP 84.1K

$63.9 CLP 61.0K

37.90%

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

$11.04 CLP 10.5K

$11.40 CLP 10.9K

-3.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.16 CLP 20.2K

$31.60 CLP 30.2K

-33.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$87.3 CLP 83.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.04 CLP 20.1K

Cinema Ticket

$8.56 CLP 8,173

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

$147 CLP 139.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.70 CLP 41.7K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.5 CLP 58.7K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.8 CLP 90.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 CLP 101.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$439 CLP 419.4K

$529 CLP 505.0K

-16.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$327 CLP 312.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$906 CLP 864.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 CLP 690.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,089 CLP 2.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,374 CLP 1.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$733 CLP 699.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

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

Last update for La Serena: September 15, 2026

Last update for Puerto Montt: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $439 in La Serena versus $529 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 $49.00 in La Serena versus $36.00 in Puerto Montt. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $224 – 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 – La Serena is pricier by about 144%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $682 in Puerto Montt. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Puerto Montt, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 6% more in La Serena, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in La Serena and $36.00 in Puerto Montt. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Puerto Montt, where all-in costs run around $455, than in La Serena at $1,112. In Puerto Montt it covers expenses comfortably, while in La Serena it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Puerto Montt – 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 Puerto Montt. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, La Serena makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.