Cost of Living Comparison Between La Serena and San Pedro de Atacama Cost of Living Comparison Between La Serena and San Pedro de Atacama

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,043 per month in La Serena vs $1,080 in San Pedro de Atacama, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,804 per month in La Serena vs $1,613 in San Pedro de Atacama, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,565 per month in La Serena vs $2,145 in San Pedro de Atacama, rent included.

La Serena is about 3% cheaper than San Pedro de Atacama, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both La Serena and San Pedro de Atacama are more affordable than the global median – La Serena 22% lower, San Pedro de Atacama 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.87 CLP 7,048

$7.15 CLP 6,401

10.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.8 CLP 45.5K

$43.58 CLP 39.0K

16.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.66 CLP 7,759

$7.92 CLP 7,098

9.34%

Cappuccino

$3.08 CLP 2,759

$2.86 CLP 2,562

7.69%

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

$1.16 CLP 1,041

$1.60 CLP 1,433

-27.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 CLP 617

$1.20 CLP 1,078

-42.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 CLP 1,989

$3.60 CLP 3,227

-38.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.15 CLP 3,718

$4.01 CLP 3,590

3.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 CLP 1,167

$1.19 CLP 1,065

9.24%

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 CLP 2,235

$1.53 CLP 1,373

62.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 CLP 1,436

$1.68 CLP 1,506

-4.76%

Eggs

$3.88 CLP 3,476

$3.63 CLP 3,248

6.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.09 CLP 11.7K

$10.05 CLP 9,003

30.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.06 CLP 5,429

$6.87 CLP 6,151

-11.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.32 CLP 11.9K

$11.69 CLP 10.5K

13.94%

Apples (1kg)

$1.90 CLP 1,699

$1.98 CLP 1,770

-4.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 CLP 1,675

$1.61 CLP 1,439

16.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.36 CLP 1,214

$1.69 CLP 1,514

-19.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 CLP 1,386

$1.74 CLP 1,554

-10.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 CLP 1,108

$1.58 CLP 1,411

-21.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.26 CLP 1,125

$1.55 CLP 1,388

-18.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 CLP 974

$1.35 CLP 1,212

-19.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 CLP 799

$1.24 CLP 1,112

-28.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.31 CLP 4,754

$5.35 CLP 4,794

-0.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.64 CLP 5,052

$5.15 CLP 4,616

9.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 CLP 928

$1.56 CLP 1,399

-33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 CLP 1,944

$2.26 CLP 2,020

-3.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.10 CLP 983

$0.61 CLP 547

80.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.39 CLP 34.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 CLP 657

$0.69 CLP 622

5.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.07 CLP 1,854

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.77 CLP 11.4K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 CLP 1,277

$1.42 CLP 1,272

0.70%

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

$21.2K CLP 19.0M

$17.7K CLP 15.9M

19.34%

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

$13.0K CLP 11.7M

$19.8K CLP 17.7M

-34.23%

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

$92.2 CLP 82.6K

$134 CLP 120.2K

-31.31%

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

$11.70 CLP 10.5K

$13.62 CLP 12.2K

-14.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.51 CLP 20.2K

$22.10 CLP 19.8K

1.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.00 CLP 35.8K

$39.14 CLP 35.1K

2.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.36 CLP 19.1K

$23.22 CLP 20.8K

-8.01%

Cinema Ticket

$8.49 CLP 7,604

$5.38 CLP 4,814

57.81%

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

$442 CLP 395.7K

$383 CLP 342.8K

15.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.07 CLP 40.4K

$47.88 CLP 42.9K

-5.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.0 CLP 58.2K

$24.60 CLP 22.0K

164.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.0 CLP 86.0K

$61.4 CLP 55.0K

56.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 CLP 99.3K

$82.0 CLP 73.4K

35.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$370 CLP 331.1K

$488 CLP 436.9K

-24.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$286 CLP 256.3K

$372 CLP 333.2K

-23.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,033 CLP 925.6K

$898 CLP 804.0K

15.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$702 CLP 629.0K

$583 CLP 522.3K

20.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,184 CLP 2.0M

$2,328 CLP 2.1M

-6.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,443 CLP 1.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$780 CLP 698.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

5.01

29.74%

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 Pedro de Atacama: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $370 in La Serena versus $488 in San Pedro de Atacama. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in La Serena versus $44.00 in San Pedro de Atacama. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $245 vs $234 – making San Pedro de Atacama 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 Pedro de Atacama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – San Pedro de Atacama is pricier by about 4%, 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 $1,620 in San Pedro de Atacama. 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 $1,080 in San Pedro de Atacama. 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 $383 in San Pedro de Atacama. 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 Pedro de Atacama at $1,080. In La Serena it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Pedro de Atacama 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.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with La Serena. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, San Pedro de Atacama makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.