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 $1,043 per month in La Serena vs $1,133 in San Bernardo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,804 per month in La Serena vs $1,747 in San Bernardo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,565 per month in La Serena vs $2,360 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 22% lower, San Bernardo 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.87 CLP 6,997

$10.65 CLP 9,469

-26.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.8 CLP 45.1K

$53.6 CLP 47.7K

-5.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.66 CLP 7,703

$8.39 CLP 7,460

3.22%

Cappuccino

$3.08 CLP 2,739

$3.29 CLP 2,926

-6.38%

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

$1.16 CLP 1,034

$0.87 CLP 778

33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 CLP 613

$1.31 CLP 1,163

-47.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 CLP 1,975

$3.32 CLP 2,953

-33.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.15 CLP 3,691

$4.40 CLP 3,911

-5.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 CLP 1,159

$1.16 CLP 1,030

12.07%

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 CLP 2,219

$1.51 CLP 1,345

64.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 CLP 1,425

$2.08 CLP 1,852

-23.08%

Eggs

$3.88 CLP 3,451

$4.10 CLP 3,649

-5.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.09 CLP 11.6K

$10.53 CLP 9,367

24.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.06 CLP 5,390

$6.78 CLP 6,024

-10.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.32 CLP 11.8K

$11.02 CLP 9,801

20.87%

Apples (1kg)

$1.90 CLP 1,687

$2.00 CLP 1,779

-5.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 CLP 1,663

$1.56 CLP 1,390

19.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.36 CLP 1,205

$2.11 CLP 1,873

-35.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 CLP 1,376

$1.93 CLP 1,714

-19.69%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 CLP 1,100

$1.86 CLP 1,657

-33.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.26 CLP 1,117

$1.69 CLP 1,507

-25.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 CLP 967

$1.35 CLP 1,199

-19.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 CLP 793

$1.22 CLP 1,088

-27.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.31 CLP 4,720

$3.36 CLP 2,984

58.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.64 CLP 5,016

$6.80 CLP 6,048

-17.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 CLP 921

$1.54 CLP 1,365

-32.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 CLP 1,930

$2.60 CLP 2,309

-16.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.10 CLP 976

$0.63 CLP 560

74.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.39 CLP 34.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 CLP 652

$0.51 CLP 451

43.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.07 CLP 1,841

$1.40 CLP 1,245

47.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.77 CLP 11.4K

$11.40 CLP 10.1K

12.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 CLP 1,267

$1.42 CLP 1,267

0.70%

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

$21.2K CLP 18.8M

$19.3K CLP 17.2M

9.65%

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

$13.0K CLP 11.6M

$22.3K CLP 19.8M

-41.56%

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

$92.2 CLP 82.0K

$130 CLP 115.4K

-28.97%

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

$11.70 CLP 10.4K

$13.51 CLP 12.0K

-13.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.51 CLP 20.0K

$22.15 CLP 19.7K

1.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.00 CLP 35.6K

$38.06 CLP 33.8K

5.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.36 CLP 19.0K

$21.01 CLP 18.7K

1.67%

Cinema Ticket

$8.49 CLP 7,549

$6.29 CLP 5,593

34.98%

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

$442 CLP 392.8K

$440 CLP 390.8K

0.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,722 CLP 7.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.07 CLP 40.1K

$54.9 CLP 48.8K

-17.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.0 CLP 57.8K

$32.33 CLP 28.8K

100.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.0 CLP 85.4K

$77.2 CLP 68.6K

24.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 CLP 98.6K

$83.2 CLP 74.0K

33.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$370 CLP 328.7K

$472 CLP 419.9K

-21.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$286 CLP 254.5K

$373 CLP 331.8K

-23.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,033 CLP 918.9K

$888 CLP 789.3K

16.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$702 CLP 624.4K

$594 CLP 528.5K

18.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,184 CLP 1.9M

$2,050 CLP 1.8M

6.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,443 CLP 1.3M

$1,513 CLP 1.3M

-4.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$780 CLP 693.2K

$1,382 CLP 1.2M

-43.59%

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 Bernardo: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $370 in La Serena versus $472 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 77% 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 $51.0 in La Serena versus $54.0 in San Bernardo. Groceries tell a different story – $245 in La Serena vs $243 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 $1,565 per month in La Serena and $1,700 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 $1,043 in La Serena and $1,133 in San Bernardo. 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 $440 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 $1,043, than in San Bernardo at $1,133. 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.