Cost of Living Comparison Between La Serena and San Bernardo Cost of Living Comparison Between La Serena and San Bernardo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,042 per month in La Serena vs $1,131 in San Bernardo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,787 per month in La Serena vs $1,755 in San Bernardo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,533 per month in La Serena vs $2,379 in San Bernardo, rent included.

La Serena is about 8% cheaper than San Bernardo, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both La Serena and San Bernardo are more affordable than the global median – La Serena 23% lower, San Bernardo 16% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.22 CLP 7,389

$10.83 CLP 9,733

-24.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.9 CLP 46.6K

$53.5 CLP 48.1K

-2.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.75 CLP 7,868

$8.17 CLP 7,346

7.10%

Cappuccino

$2.98 CLP 2,674

$3.24 CLP 2,916

-8.02%

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

$1.12 CLP 1,004

$0.94 CLP 846

19.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 CLP 598

$1.31 CLP 1,174

-48.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 CLP 1,998

$3.27 CLP 2,936

-32.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.10 CLP 3,682

$4.20 CLP 3,775

-2.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 CLP 1,159

$1.12 CLP 1,006

15.18%

White Bread (500g)

$2.56 CLP 2,302

$1.57 CLP 1,415

63.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 CLP 1,401

$2.18 CLP 1,957

-28.44%

Eggs

$4.03 CLP 3,624

$4.01 CLP 3,601

0.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.98 CLP 11.7K

$10.54 CLP 9,469

23.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.24 CLP 5,605

$6.64 CLP 5,970

-6.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.04 CLP 11.7K

$10.94 CLP 9,829

19.20%

Apples (1kg)

$1.92 CLP 1,728

$2.07 CLP 1,863

-7.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 CLP 1,615

$1.55 CLP 1,391

16.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.40 CLP 1,255

$2.10 CLP 1,889

-33.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.47 CLP 1,317

$1.94 CLP 1,747

-24.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 CLP 1,107

$1.96 CLP 1,762

-37.24%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 CLP 1,194

$1.61 CLP 1,451

-17.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 CLP 1,015

$1.29 CLP 1,161

-12.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 CLP 826

$1.18 CLP 1,058

-22.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.33 CLP 4,791

$3.51 CLP 3,155

51.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.35 CLP 4,809

$6.58 CLP 5,917

-18.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 CLP 940

$1.56 CLP 1,404

-32.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 CLP 2,025

$2.49 CLP 2,235

-9.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.06 CLP 953

$0.62 CLP 560

70.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.12 CLP 34.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.72 CLP 643

$0.50 CLP 450

44.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 CLP 1,913

$1.48 CLP 1,330

43.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.01 CLP 11.7K

$11.54 CLP 10.4K

12.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 CLP 1,274

$1.43 CLP 1,286

-0.70%

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

$20.7K CLP 18.6M

$19.9K CLP 17.9M

3.96%

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

$13.1K CLP 11.8M

$22.8K CLP 20.5M

-42.65%

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

$92.7 CLP 83.3K

$132 CLP 118.7K

-29.82%

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

$11.35 CLP 10.2K

$13.72 CLP 12.3K

-17.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.61 CLP 20.3K

$22.30 CLP 20.0K

1.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.68 CLP 33.0K

$38.30 CLP 34.4K

-4.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.65 CLP 19.5K

$21.44 CLP 19.3K

0.98%

Cinema Ticket

$8.86 CLP 7,963

$6.56 CLP 5,891

35.06%

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

$441 CLP 396.0K

$434 CLP 390.0K

1.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,501 CLP 7.6M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.06 CLP 41.4K

$54.7 CLP 49.1K

-15.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.87 CLP 26.8K

$33.30 CLP 29.9K

-10.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.4 CLP 86.7K

$75.9 CLP 68.2K

27.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 CLP 98.4K

$83.5 CLP 75.0K

31.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$364 CLP 327.0K

$475 CLP 427.0K

-23.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$280 CLP 251.6K

$378 CLP 339.6K

-25.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,070 CLP 962.0K

$890 CLP 799.8K

20.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$699 CLP 627.9K

$592 CLP 531.6K

18.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,226 CLP 2.0M

$1,952 CLP 1.8M

14.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,434 CLP 1.3M

$1,428 CLP 1.3M

0.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$746 CLP 670.6K

$1,367 CLP 1.2M

-45.42%

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 San Bernardo: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $364 in La Serena versus $475 in San Bernardo. 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 83% higher in San Bernardo, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in La Serena versus $53.0 in San Bernardo. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in La Serena vs $241 in San Bernardo – so San Bernardo 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 San Bernardo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – San Bernardo is pricier by about 9%, 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 $1,697 in San Bernardo. 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 $1,131 in San Bernardo. 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 $434 in San Bernardo. 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 San Bernardo at $1,131. In La Serena it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Bernardo 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, San Bernardo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.