🙂A single person spends $1,043 per month in La Serena vs $1,075 in San Antonio de Petrel, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,804 per month in La Serena vs $1,631 in San Antonio de Petrel, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,565 per month in La Serena vs $2,187 in San Antonio de Petrel, rent included.
🙂La Serena is about 3% cheaper than San Antonio de Petrel, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both La Serena and San Antonio de Petrel are more affordable than the global median – La Serena22% lower, San Antonio de Petrel20% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
La Serena
San Antonio de Petrel
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.87CLP 7,048
$8.66CLP 7,757
-9.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.8CLP 45.5K
$45.07CLP 40.4K
12.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.66CLP 7,759
$8.21CLP 7,353
5.48%
Cappuccino
$3.08CLP 2,759
$2.80CLP 2,511
10.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16CLP 1,041
$1.35CLP 1,211
-14.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69CLP 617
$1.05CLP 944
-34.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.22CLP 1,989
$3.21CLP 2,876
-30.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.15CLP 3,718
$4.30CLP 3,855
-3.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
La Serena
San Antonio de Petrel
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.30CLP 1,167
$1.24CLP 1,114
4.84%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49CLP 2,235
$1.53CLP 1,367
62.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.60CLP 1,436
$1.87CLP 1,673
-14.44%
Eggs
$3.88CLP 3,476
$3.50CLP 3,133
10.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.09CLP 11.7K
$10.41CLP 9,328
25.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.06CLP 5,429
$6.64CLP 5,945
-8.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.32CLP 11.9K
$11.02CLP 9,873
20.87%
Apples(1kg)
$1.90CLP 1,699
$1.90CLP 1,701
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.87CLP 1,675
$1.53CLP 1,367
22.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.36CLP 1,214
$1.58CLP 1,419
-13.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.55CLP 1,386
$1.44CLP 1,289
7.64%
Potato(1kg)
$1.24CLP 1,108
$1.29CLP 1,153
-3.88%
Onion(1kg)
$1.26CLP 1,125
$1.41CLP 1,260
-10.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.09CLP 974
$1.25CLP 1,121
-12.80%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89CLP 799
$1.17CLP 1,047
-23.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.31CLP 4,754
$5.53CLP 4,953
-3.98%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.64CLP 5,052
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04CLP 928
$1.62CLP 1,451
-35.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17CLP 1,944
$2.30CLP 2,059
-5.65%
🚌 Getting Around
La Serena
San Antonio de Petrel
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.10CLP 983
$0.59CLP 527
86.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$38.39CLP 34.4K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.73CLP 657
$0.47CLP 420
55.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07CLP 1,854
$3.24CLP 2,901
-36.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.77CLP 11.4K
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.43CLP 1,277
$1.39CLP 1,243
2.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2KCLP 19.0M
$19.5KCLP 17.4M
8.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$13.0KCLP 11.7M
$21.3KCLP 19.1M
-38.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
La Serena
San Antonio de Petrel
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$92.2CLP 82.6K
$130CLP 116.8K
-29.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.70CLP 10.5K
$13.69CLP 12.3K
-14.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.51CLP 20.2K
$21.91CLP 19.6K
2.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
La Serena
San Antonio de Petrel
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.00CLP 35.8K
$38.47CLP 34.5K
3.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.36CLP 19.1K
$21.24CLP 19.0K
0.56%
Cinema Ticket
$8.49CLP 7,604
$5.63CLP 5,042
50.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
La Serena
San Antonio de Petrel
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$442CLP 395.7K
$439CLP 393.6K
0.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$1,221CLP 1.1M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
La Serena
San Antonio de Petrel
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.07CLP 40.4K
$51.5CLP 46.1K
-12.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$65.0CLP 58.2K
$29.95CLP 26.8K
116.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.0CLP 86.0K
$61.1CLP 54.7K
57.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111CLP 99.3K
$81.5CLP 73.0K
36.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
La Serena
San Antonio de Petrel
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$370CLP 331.1K
$473CLP 423.5K
-21.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$286CLP 256.3K
$372CLP 333.6K
-23.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,033CLP 925.6K
$884CLP 791.7K
16.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$702CLP 629.0K
$599CLP 536.6K
17.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,184CLP 2.0M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,443CLP 1.3M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
La Serena
San Antonio de Petrel
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$780CLP 698.3K
$442CLP 395.8K
76.41%
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 San Antonio de Petrel: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $370 in La Serena versus $473 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 76% 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 $51.0 in La Serena versus $45.00 in San Antonio de Petrel. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $245 vs $217 – 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 3%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,565 per month in La Serena and $1,613 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 vs San Antonio de Petrel?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,043 in La Serena and $1,075 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 $442 per month in La Serena and $439 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 La Serena or San Antonio de Petrel?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in La Serena, where all-in costs run around $1,043, than in San Antonio de Petrel at $1,075. 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.