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 $1,042 per month in La Serena vs $1,056 in San Pedro de Atacama, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,787 per month in La Serena vs $1,635 in San Pedro de Atacama, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,533 per month in La Serena vs $2,214 in San Pedro de Atacama, rent included.

La Serena is about 1% 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 23% lower, San Pedro de Atacama 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.22 CLP 7,389

$7.24 CLP 6,505

13.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.9 CLP 46.6K

$44.39 CLP 39.9K

16.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.75 CLP 7,868

$7.77 CLP 6,984

12.61%

Cappuccino

$2.98 CLP 2,674

$2.73 CLP 2,451

9.16%

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

$1.12 CLP 1,004

$1.63 CLP 1,467

-31.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 CLP 598

$1.16 CLP 1,042

-42.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 CLP 1,998

$3.46 CLP 3,107

-35.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.10 CLP 3,682

$3.99 CLP 3,586

2.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 CLP 1,159

$1.24 CLP 1,116

4.03%

White Bread (500g)

$2.56 CLP 2,302

$1.47 CLP 1,323

74.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 CLP 1,401

$1.68 CLP 1,510

-7.14%

Eggs

$4.03 CLP 3,624

$3.65 CLP 3,280

10.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.98 CLP 11.7K

$9.95 CLP 8,944

30.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.24 CLP 5,605

$6.59 CLP 5,920

-5.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.04 CLP 11.7K

$11.42 CLP 10.3K

14.19%

Apples (1kg)

$1.92 CLP 1,728

$1.97 CLP 1,768

-2.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 CLP 1,615

$1.55 CLP 1,395

16.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.40 CLP 1,255

$1.73 CLP 1,550

-19.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.47 CLP 1,317

$1.68 CLP 1,512

-12.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 CLP 1,107

$1.64 CLP 1,478

-25.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 CLP 1,194

$1.48 CLP 1,333

-10.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 CLP 1,015

$1.36 CLP 1,219

-16.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 CLP 826

$1.23 CLP 1,106

-25.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.33 CLP 4,791

$5.06 CLP 4,551

5.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.35 CLP 4,809

$5.13 CLP 4,608

4.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 CLP 940

$1.54 CLP 1,386

-31.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 CLP 2,025

$2.17 CLP 1,947

3.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.06 CLP 953

$0.57 CLP 513

85.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.12 CLP 34.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.72 CLP 643

$0.70 CLP 629

2.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 CLP 1,913

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.01 CLP 11.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 CLP 1,274

$1.38 CLP 1,244

2.90%

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

$20.7K CLP 18.6M

$17.5K CLP 15.7M

18.29%

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

$13.1K CLP 11.8M

$19.4K CLP 17.4M

-32.52%

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

$92.7 CLP 83.3K

$134 CLP 120.7K

-31.00%

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

$11.35 CLP 10.2K

$13.60 CLP 12.2K

-16.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.61 CLP 20.3K

$21.88 CLP 19.7K

3.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.68 CLP 33.0K

$38.82 CLP 34.9K

-5.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.65 CLP 19.5K

$22.92 CLP 20.6K

-5.54%

Cinema Ticket

$8.86 CLP 7,963

$5.41 CLP 4,865

63.77%

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

$441 CLP 396.0K

$385 CLP 345.8K

14.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.06 CLP 41.4K

$47.05 CLP 42.3K

-2.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.87 CLP 26.8K

$24.53 CLP 22.0K

21.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.4 CLP 86.7K

$60.9 CLP 54.7K

58.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 CLP 98.4K

$81.6 CLP 73.3K

34.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$364 CLP 327.0K

$475 CLP 426.8K

-23.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$280 CLP 251.6K

$374 CLP 336.3K

-25.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,070 CLP 962.0K

$889 CLP 798.8K

20.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$699 CLP 627.9K

$593 CLP 532.8K

17.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,226 CLP 2.0M

$2,364 CLP 2.1M

-5.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,434 CLP 1.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$746 CLP 670.6K

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for San Pedro de Atacama: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $364 in La Serena versus $475 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 $52.0 in La Serena versus $44.00 in San Pedro de Atacama. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $230 – 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 1%, 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 $1,584 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 $1,042 in La Serena and $1,056 in San Pedro de Atacama. 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 $385 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 $1,042, than in San Pedro de Atacama at $1,056. 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.