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 $1,112 per month in La Serena vs $585 in Quellón, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,845 per month in La Serena vs $984 in Quellón, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,578 per month in La Serena vs $1,383 in Quellón, rent included.

La Serena costs about 90% more than Quellón, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both La Serena and Quellón are more affordable than the global median – La Serena 19% lower, Quellón 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.83 CLP 7,468

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.70 CLP 46.5K

$51.6 CLP 49.2K

-5.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.61 CLP 8,212

Cappuccino

$3.00 CLP 2,866

$2.54 CLP 2,427

18.11%

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

$1.13 CLP 1,074

$1.29 CLP 1,228

-12.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 CLP 668

$0.86 CLP 820

-18.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 CLP 2,050

$3.21 CLP 3,060

-33.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.89 CLP 3,711

$3.05 CLP 2,909

27.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 CLP 1,159

$1.27 CLP 1,214

-4.72%

White Bread (500g)

$2.48 CLP 2,367

$1.02 CLP 976

143.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 CLP 1,470

$2.03 CLP 1,935

-24.14%

Eggs

$3.80 CLP 3,626

$2.98 CLP 2,843

27.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.38 CLP 11.8K

$6.31 CLP 6,024

96.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 CLP 5,572

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.96 CLP 12.4K

Apples (1kg)

$1.84 CLP 1,752

$1.92 CLP 1,831

-4.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 CLP 1,715

$2.32 CLP 2,217

-22.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 CLP 1,241

$3.62 CLP 3,456

-64.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 CLP 1,379

$1.94 CLP 1,847

-25.26%

Potato (1kg)

$1.22 CLP 1,160

$1.01 CLP 969

20.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.27 CLP 1,208

$2.12 CLP 2,019

-40.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 CLP 987

$1.02 CLP 974

0.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 CLP 850

$2.10 CLP 2,007

-57.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.33 CLP 5,088

Wine (Bottle)

$5.37 CLP 5,128

$9.20 CLP 8,777

-41.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 CLP 919

$2.81 CLP 2,684

-65.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 CLP 1,989

$1.93 CLP 1,838

7.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.06 CLP 1,007

$0.48 CLP 460

120.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.20 CLP 34.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.72 CLP 685

$3.12 CLP 2,973

-76.92%

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

$1.37 CLP 1,311

3.65%

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

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

$11.04 CLP 10.5K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.16 CLP 20.2K

$31.11 CLP 29.7K

-31.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$87.3 CLP 83.3K

$52.4 CLP 50.0K

66.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.04 CLP 20.1K

Cinema Ticket

$8.56 CLP 8,173

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.70 CLP 41.7K

$26.30 CLP 25.1K

66.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.5 CLP 58.7K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.8 CLP 90.4K

$51.8 CLP 49.5K

82.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 CLP 101.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$439 CLP 419.4K

$263 CLP 251.0K

67.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$327 CLP 312.0K

$207 CLP 197.7K

57.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$906 CLP 864.6K

$423 CLP 403.4K

114.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 CLP 690.6K

$370 CLP 352.8K

95.79%

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 Quellón: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $439 in La Serena versus $263 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 $49.00 in La Serena versus $52.0 in Quellón. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in La Serena vs $183 in Quellón – so Quellón wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 – La Serena is pricier by about 90%, 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 $877 in Quellón. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 30% 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 $52.0 in Quellón. 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 Quellón, where all-in costs run around $585, than in La Serena at $1,112. In Quellón it covers expenses comfortably, while in La Serena it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Quellón – 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 Quellón. 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.