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 $1,064 per month in La Serena vs $1,156 in San Bernardo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,803 per month in La Serena vs $1,786 in San Bernardo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,541 per month in La Serena vs $2,416 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 20% lower, San Bernardo 13% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.16 CLP 7,597

$10.84 CLP 10.1K

-24.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.8 CLP 48.2K

$53.4 CLP 49.7K

-3.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.67 CLP 8,063

$8.40 CLP 7,813

3.21%

Cappuccino

$3.03 CLP 2,819

$3.14 CLP 2,923

-3.50%

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

$1.16 CLP 1,080

$0.94 CLP 870

23.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 CLP 620

$1.29 CLP 1,200

-48.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 CLP 1,991

$3.19 CLP 2,972

-32.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.09 CLP 3,810

$4.27 CLP 3,975

-4.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 CLP 1,211

$1.11 CLP 1,036

17.12%

White Bread (500g)

$2.53 CLP 2,358

$1.52 CLP 1,418

66.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 CLP 1,429

$2.12 CLP 1,969

-27.36%

Eggs

$3.90 CLP 3,630

$4.12 CLP 3,834

-5.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.25 CLP 12.3K

$10.51 CLP 9,783

26.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.24 CLP 5,809

$6.72 CLP 6,248

-7.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.35 CLP 12.4K

$10.83 CLP 10.1K

23.27%

Apples (1kg)

$2.00 CLP 1,857

$2.07 CLP 1,930

-3.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.82 CLP 1,690

$1.63 CLP 1,513

11.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.34 CLP 1,249

$2.11 CLP 1,962

-36.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 CLP 1,380

$1.93 CLP 1,791

-23.32%

Potato (1kg)

$1.25 CLP 1,161

$1.93 CLP 1,796

-35.23%

Onion (1kg)

$1.26 CLP 1,173

$1.61 CLP 1,498

-21.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 CLP 1,000

$1.29 CLP 1,199

-16.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 CLP 887

$1.22 CLP 1,137

-22.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.37 CLP 4,997

$3.48 CLP 3,242

54.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.23 CLP 4,867

$6.24 CLP 5,807

-16.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 CLP 939

$1.54 CLP 1,431

-34.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 CLP 2,071

$2.47 CLP 2,301

-9.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 CLP 1,017

$0.58 CLP 539

87.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.45 CLP 35.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 CLP 687

$0.51 CLP 471

45.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.06 CLP 1,915

$1.46 CLP 1,354

41.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.03 CLP 12.1K

$11.69 CLP 10.9K

11.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 CLP 1,328

$1.42 CLP 1,320

0.70%

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

$20.6K CLP 19.1M

$19.4K CLP 18.0M

6.12%

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

$13.1K CLP 12.2M

$23.1K CLP 21.5M

-43.13%

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

$93.3 CLP 86.8K

$130 CLP 121.0K

-28.25%

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

$11.35 CLP 10.6K

$13.61 CLP 12.7K

-16.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.00 CLP 20.5K

$22.23 CLP 20.7K

-1.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.74 CLP 33.3K

$38.49 CLP 35.8K

-7.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.13 CLP 19.7K

$20.84 CLP 19.4K

1.39%

Cinema Ticket

$8.84 CLP 8,228

$6.52 CLP 6,066

35.58%

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

$439 CLP 408.9K

$444 CLP 413.0K

-1.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,593 CLP 8.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.67 CLP 43.4K

$54.4 CLP 50.7K

-14.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.63 CLP 28.5K

$32.35 CLP 30.1K

-5.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.6 CLP 89.0K

$78.0 CLP 72.5K

22.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 CLP 101.4K

$83.8 CLP 78.0K

30.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$369 CLP 343.6K

$485 CLP 451.1K

-23.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 CLP 265.4K

$380 CLP 353.7K

-24.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,035 CLP 962.7K

$889 CLP 827.4K

16.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$707 CLP 657.5K

$592 CLP 551.0K

19.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,158 CLP 2.0M

$1,945 CLP 1.8M

10.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,354 CLP 1.3M

$1,395 CLP 1.3M

-2.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$739 CLP 687.6K

$1,390 CLP 1.3M

-46.82%

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 Bernardo: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $369 in La Serena versus $485 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 88% 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 – $247 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 $1,597 per month in La Serena and $1,733 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 $1,064 in La Serena and $1,156 in San Bernardo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $439 per month in La Serena and $444 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 $1,064, than in San Bernardo at $1,156. 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.