Cost of Living Comparison Between La Serena and Quellón Cost of Living Comparison Between La Serena and Quellón

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,043 per month in La Serena vs $1,075 in Quellón, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,804 per month in La Serena vs $1,663 in Quellón, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,565 per month in La Serena vs $2,251 in Quellón, rent included.

La Serena is about 3% cheaper than Quellón, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both La Serena and Quellón are more affordable than the global median – La Serena 22% lower, Quellón 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.87 CLP 6,997

$8.54 CLP 7,592

-7.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.8 CLP 45.1K

$44.87 CLP 39.9K

13.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.66 CLP 7,703

$8.06 CLP 7,166

7.44%

Cappuccino

$3.08 CLP 2,739

$2.86 CLP 2,539

7.69%

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

$1.16 CLP 1,034

$1.29 CLP 1,150

-10.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 CLP 613

$1.01 CLP 900

-31.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 CLP 1,975

$3.30 CLP 2,933

-32.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.15 CLP 3,691

$4.21 CLP 3,746

-1.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 CLP 1,159

$1.19 CLP 1,058

9.24%

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 CLP 2,219

$1.57 CLP 1,392

58.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 CLP 1,425

$1.96 CLP 1,740

-18.37%

Eggs

$3.88 CLP 3,451

$3.61 CLP 3,208

7.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.09 CLP 11.6K

$10.45 CLP 9,291

25.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.06 CLP 5,390

$6.50 CLP 5,783

-6.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.32 CLP 11.8K

$10.83 CLP 9,626

22.99%

Apples (1kg)

$1.90 CLP 1,687

$1.87 CLP 1,665

1.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 CLP 1,663

$1.50 CLP 1,338

24.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.36 CLP 1,205

$1.59 CLP 1,414

-14.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 CLP 1,376

$1.46 CLP 1,301

6.16%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 CLP 1,100

$1.23 CLP 1,094

0.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.26 CLP 1,117

$1.41 CLP 1,253

-10.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 CLP 967

$1.25 CLP 1,112

-12.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 CLP 793

$1.17 CLP 1,043

-23.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.31 CLP 4,720

$5.41 CLP 4,811

-1.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.64 CLP 5,016

$10.23 CLP 9,093

-44.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 CLP 921

$1.62 CLP 1,440

-35.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 CLP 1,930

$2.33 CLP 2,076

-6.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.10 CLP 976

$0.61 CLP 543

80.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.39 CLP 34.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 CLP 652

$0.48 CLP 425

52.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.07 CLP 1,841

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.77 CLP 11.4K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 CLP 1,267

$1.38 CLP 1,223

3.62%

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

$21.2K CLP 18.8M

$19.7K CLP 17.5M

7.40%

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

$13.0K CLP 11.6M

$21.1K CLP 18.8M

-38.39%

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

$92.2 CLP 82.0K

$130 CLP 115.3K

-28.89%

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

$11.70 CLP 10.4K

$13.31 CLP 11.8K

-12.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.51 CLP 20.0K

$22.35 CLP 19.9K

0.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.00 CLP 35.6K

$38.25 CLP 34.0K

4.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.36 CLP 19.0K

$21.49 CLP 19.1K

-0.60%

Cinema Ticket

$8.49 CLP 7,549

$5.52 CLP 4,910

53.80%

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

$442 CLP 392.8K

$428 CLP 380.8K

3.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.07 CLP 40.1K

$50.3 CLP 44.8K

-10.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.0 CLP 57.8K

$30.11 CLP 26.8K

115.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.0 CLP 85.4K

$61.1 CLP 54.3K

57.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 CLP 98.6K

$83.4 CLP 74.1K

33.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$370 CLP 328.7K

$480 CLP 426.5K

-22.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$286 CLP 254.5K

$369 CLP 328.1K

-22.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,033 CLP 918.9K

$870 CLP 773.2K

18.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$702 CLP 624.4K

$593 CLP 527.2K

18.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,184 CLP 1.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,443 CLP 1.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$780 CLP 693.2K

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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Quellón: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $370 in La Serena versus $480 in Quellón. 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 $45.00 in Quellón. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $245 vs $237 – making Quellón 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 Quellón: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Quellón is pricier by about 3%, 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 $1,565 per month in La Serena and $1,612 in Quellón. 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 $1,043 in La Serena and $1,075 in Quellón. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $442 per month in La Serena and $428 in Quellón. 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 $1,043, than in Quellón at $1,075. In La Serena it covers expenses comfortably, while in Quellón 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, Quellón makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.