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 $1,042 per month in La Serena vs $1,110 in Puerto Montt, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,787 per month in La Serena vs $1,648 in Puerto Montt, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,533 per month in La Serena vs $2,186 in Puerto Montt, rent included.

La Serena is about 6% cheaper than Puerto Montt, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both La Serena and Puerto Montt are more affordable than the global median – La Serena 23% lower, Puerto Montt 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.22 CLP 7,389

$8.72 CLP 7,834

-5.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.9 CLP 46.6K

$38.31 CLP 34.4K

35.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.75 CLP 7,868

$7.38 CLP 6,629

18.56%

Cappuccino

$2.98 CLP 2,674

$2.99 CLP 2,689

-0.33%

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

$1.12 CLP 1,004

$0.94 CLP 845

19.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 CLP 598

$0.93 CLP 833

-27.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 CLP 1,998

$3.15 CLP 2,835

-29.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.10 CLP 3,682

$4.09 CLP 3,678

0.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 CLP 1,159

$1.21 CLP 1,085

6.61%

White Bread (500g)

$2.56 CLP 2,302

$1.56 CLP 1,404

64.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 CLP 1,401

$1.92 CLP 1,723

-18.75%

Eggs

$4.03 CLP 3,624

$3.45 CLP 3,099

16.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.98 CLP 11.7K

$11.97 CLP 10.8K

8.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.24 CLP 5,605

$6.82 CLP 6,127

-8.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.04 CLP 11.7K

$11.01 CLP 9,893

18.44%

Apples (1kg)

$1.92 CLP 1,728

$1.90 CLP 1,712

1.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 CLP 1,615

$1.48 CLP 1,334

21.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.40 CLP 1,255

$1.54 CLP 1,385

-9.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.47 CLP 1,317

$1.94 CLP 1,745

-24.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 CLP 1,107

$1.29 CLP 1,158

-4.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 CLP 1,194

$1.41 CLP 1,271

-5.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 CLP 1,015

$1.33 CLP 1,197

-15.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 CLP 826

$1.52 CLP 1,369

-39.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.33 CLP 4,791

$4.89 CLP 4,391

9.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.35 CLP 4,809

$5.98 CLP 5,377

-10.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 CLP 940

$1.45 CLP 1,302

-27.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 CLP 2,025

$2.30 CLP 2,067

-2.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.06 CLP 953

$0.58 CLP 519

82.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.12 CLP 34.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.72 CLP 643

$0.48 CLP 429

50.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 CLP 1,913

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.01 CLP 11.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 CLP 1,274

$1.37 CLP 1,235

3.65%

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

$20.7K CLP 18.6M

$19.3K CLP 17.3M

7.11%

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

$13.1K CLP 11.8M

$21.7K CLP 19.5M

-39.65%

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

$92.7 CLP 83.3K

$132 CLP 119.1K

-30.05%

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

$11.35 CLP 10.2K

$11.74 CLP 10.6K

-3.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.61 CLP 20.3K

$22.29 CLP 20.0K

1.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.68 CLP 33.0K

$39.31 CLP 35.3K

-6.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.65 CLP 19.5K

$21.05 CLP 18.9K

2.85%

Cinema Ticket

$8.86 CLP 7,963

$5.54 CLP 4,983

59.93%

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

$441 CLP 396.0K

$441 CLP 396.4K

-0.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.06 CLP 41.4K

$50.4 CLP 45.3K

-8.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.87 CLP 26.8K

$30.82 CLP 27.7K

-3.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.4 CLP 86.7K

$62.5 CLP 56.2K

54.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 CLP 98.4K

$81.7 CLP 73.5K

33.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$364 CLP 327.0K

$482 CLP 432.7K

-24.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$280 CLP 251.6K

$369 CLP 331.5K

-24.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,070 CLP 962.0K

$869 CLP 781.2K

23.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$699 CLP 627.9K

$599 CLP 538.1K

16.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,226 CLP 2.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,434 CLP 1.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$746 CLP 670.6K

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Puerto Montt: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $364 in La Serena versus $482 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 $38.00 in Puerto Montt. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $241 – 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 7%, 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 $1,562 per month in La Serena and $1,664 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 $1,042 in La Serena and $1,110 in Puerto Montt. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $441 per month in La Serena and $441 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 $1,042, than in Puerto Montt at $1,110. 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.