Cost of Living Comparison Between La Serena and San Antonio de Petrel Cost of Living Comparison Between La Serena and San Antonio de Petrel

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,064 per month in La Serena vs $1,091 in San Antonio de Petrel, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,803 per month in La Serena vs $1,653 in San Antonio de Petrel, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,541 per month in La Serena vs $2,216 in San Antonio de Petrel, rent included.

La Serena is about 2% cheaper than San Antonio de Petrel, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both La Serena and San Antonio de Petrel are more affordable than the global median – La Serena 20% lower, San Antonio de Petrel 18% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
La Serena
San Antonio de Petrel
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.16 CLP 7,597
$8.60 CLP 7,999
-5.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.8 CLP 48.2K
$44.50 CLP 41.4K
16.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.67 CLP 8,063
$7.87 CLP 7,319
10.17%
Cappuccino
$3.03 CLP 2,819
$2.81 CLP 2,611
7.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16 CLP 1,080
$1.36 CLP 1,268
-14.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67 CLP 620
$1.07 CLP 992
-37.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.14 CLP 1,991
$3.27 CLP 3,047
-34.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.09 CLP 3,810
$4.09 CLP 3,804
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
La Serena
San Antonio de Petrel
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.30 CLP 1,211
$1.24 CLP 1,158
4.84%
White Bread (500g)
$2.53 CLP 2,358
$1.51 CLP 1,402
67.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.54 CLP 1,429
$1.93 CLP 1,797
-20.21%
Eggs
$3.90 CLP 3,630
$3.49 CLP 3,251
11.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.25 CLP 12.3K
$10.36 CLP 9,638
27.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.24 CLP 5,809
$6.52 CLP 6,071
-4.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.35 CLP 12.4K
$10.77 CLP 10.0K
23.96%
Apples (1kg)
$2.00 CLP 1,857
$1.82 CLP 1,694
9.89%
Banana (1kg)
$1.82 CLP 1,690
$1.52 CLP 1,418
19.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.34 CLP 1,249
$1.60 CLP 1,490
-16.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.48 CLP 1,380
$1.49 CLP 1,389
-0.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.25 CLP 1,161
$1.30 CLP 1,205
-3.85%
Onion (1kg)
$1.26 CLP 1,173
$1.40 CLP 1,298
-10.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 CLP 1,000
$1.21 CLP 1,124
-10.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95 CLP 887
$1.18 CLP 1,096
-19.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.37 CLP 4,997
$5.30 CLP 4,929
1.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.23 CLP 4,867
$6.10 CLP 5,675
-14.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.01 CLP 939
$1.54 CLP 1,435
-34.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 CLP 2,071
$2.23 CLP 2,072
-
🚌 Getting Around
La Serena
San Antonio de Petrel
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.09 CLP 1,017
$0.57 CLP 534
91.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.45 CLP 35.8K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.74 CLP 687
$0.50 CLP 468
48.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.06 CLP 1,915
$3.17 CLP 2,953
-35.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.03 CLP 12.1K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 CLP 1,328
$1.36 CLP 1,268
5.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.6K CLP 19.1M
$19.8K CLP 18.5M
3.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$13.1K CLP 12.2M
$21.3K CLP 19.8M
-38.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
La Serena
San Antonio de Petrel
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.3 CLP 86.8K
$133 CLP 123.6K
-29.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.35 CLP 10.6K
$13.69 CLP 12.7K
-17.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.00 CLP 20.5K
$22.03 CLP 20.5K
-0.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
La Serena
San Antonio de Petrel
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.74 CLP 33.3K
$38.17 CLP 35.5K
-6.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.13 CLP 19.7K
$21.66 CLP 20.1K
-2.45%
Cinema Ticket
$8.84 CLP 8,228
$5.77 CLP 5,369
53.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
La Serena
San Antonio de Petrel
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$439 CLP 408.9K
$431 CLP 401.5K
1.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$1,226 CLP 1.1M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
La Serena
San Antonio de Petrel
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.67 CLP 43.4K
$50.1 CLP 46.6K
-6.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.63 CLP 28.5K
$29.73 CLP 27.7K
3.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.6 CLP 89.0K
$62.0 CLP 57.7K
54.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 CLP 101.4K
$83.6 CLP 77.8K
30.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
La Serena
San Antonio de Petrel
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$369 CLP 343.6K
$488 CLP 454.5K
-24.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$285 CLP 265.4K
$374 CLP 348.3K
-23.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,035 CLP 962.7K
$874 CLP 813.3K
18.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$707 CLP 657.5K
$582 CLP 541.1K
21.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,158 CLP 2.0M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,354 CLP 1.3M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
La Serena
San Antonio de Petrel
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$739 CLP 687.6K
$433 CLP 402.9K
70.63%
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 San Antonio de Petrel: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $369 in La Serena versus $488 in San Antonio de Petrel. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 71% higher in La Serena, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in La Serena versus $44.00 in San Antonio de Petrel. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $247 vs $227 – making San Antonio de Petrel 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 San Antonio de Petrel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Antonio de Petrel cheaper than La Serena?
Yes – San Antonio de Petrel is pricier by about 2%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,597 per month in La Serena and $1,636 in San Antonio de Petrel. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in La Serena and in San Antonio de Petrel?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,064 in La Serena and $1,091 in San Antonio de Petrel. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $439 per month in La Serena and $431 in San Antonio de Petrel. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in La Serena or in San Antonio de Petrel?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in La Serena, where all-in costs run around $1,064, than in San Antonio de Petrel at $1,091. In La Serena it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Antonio de Petrel it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is La Serena or San Antonio de Petrel more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with La Serena. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, San Antonio de Petrel makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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