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 $1,064 per month in La Serena vs $1,086 in San Pedro de Atacama, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,803 per month in La Serena vs $1,649 in San Pedro de Atacama, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,541 per month in La Serena vs $2,212 in San Pedro de Atacama, rent included.

La Serena is about 2% 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 20% lower, San Pedro de Atacama 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.16 CLP 7,597

$7.19 CLP 6,686

13.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.8 CLP 48.2K

$44.66 CLP 41.6K

15.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.67 CLP 8,063

$7.81 CLP 7,271

11.01%

Cappuccino

$3.03 CLP 2,819

$2.72 CLP 2,533

11.40%

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

$1.16 CLP 1,080

$1.62 CLP 1,505

-28.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 CLP 620

$1.20 CLP 1,118

-44.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 CLP 1,991

$3.56 CLP 3,309

-39.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.09 CLP 3,810

$4.07 CLP 3,787

0.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 CLP 1,211

$1.24 CLP 1,150

4.84%

White Bread (500g)

$2.53 CLP 2,358

$1.47 CLP 1,364

72.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 CLP 1,429

$1.63 CLP 1,514

-5.52%

Eggs

$3.90 CLP 3,630

$3.52 CLP 3,279

10.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.25 CLP 12.3K

$10.27 CLP 9,560

29.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.24 CLP 5,809

$6.81 CLP 6,334

-8.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.35 CLP 12.4K

$11.79 CLP 11.0K

13.23%

Apples (1kg)

$2.00 CLP 1,857

$1.98 CLP 1,841

1.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.82 CLP 1,690

$1.60 CLP 1,490

13.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.34 CLP 1,249

$1.77 CLP 1,651

-24.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 CLP 1,380

$1.66 CLP 1,541

-10.84%

Potato (1kg)

$1.25 CLP 1,161

$1.65 CLP 1,535

-24.24%

Onion (1kg)

$1.26 CLP 1,173

$1.49 CLP 1,388

-15.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 CLP 1,000

$1.30 CLP 1,208

-16.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 CLP 887

$1.20 CLP 1,116

-20.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.37 CLP 4,997

$5.10 CLP 4,745

5.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.23 CLP 4,867

$5.05 CLP 4,697

3.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 CLP 939

$1.60 CLP 1,492

-36.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 CLP 2,071

$2.22 CLP 2,063

0.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 CLP 1,017

$0.62 CLP 572

75.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.45 CLP 35.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 CLP 687

$0.65 CLP 604

13.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.06 CLP 1,915

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.03 CLP 12.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 CLP 1,328

$1.39 CLP 1,289

2.88%

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

$20.6K CLP 19.1M

$17.4K CLP 16.2M

18.00%

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

$13.1K CLP 12.2M

$19.8K CLP 18.4M

-33.81%

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

$93.3 CLP 86.8K

$131 CLP 121.6K

-28.62%

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

$11.35 CLP 10.6K

$13.57 CLP 12.6K

-16.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.00 CLP 20.5K

$22.21 CLP 20.7K

-0.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.74 CLP 33.3K

$38.51 CLP 35.8K

-7.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.13 CLP 19.7K

$23.35 CLP 21.7K

-9.51%

Cinema Ticket

$8.84 CLP 8,228

$5.46 CLP 5,081

61.90%

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

$439 CLP 408.9K

$392 CLP 364.6K

12.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.67 CLP 43.4K

$47.39 CLP 44.1K

-1.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.63 CLP 28.5K

$24.63 CLP 22.9K

24.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.6 CLP 89.0K

$62.5 CLP 58.1K

53.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 CLP 101.4K

$81.7 CLP 76.0K

33.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$369 CLP 343.6K

$483 CLP 449.6K

-23.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 CLP 265.4K

$367 CLP 341.6K

-22.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,035 CLP 962.7K

$897 CLP 834.6K

15.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$707 CLP 657.5K

$595 CLP 553.4K

18.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,158 CLP 2.0M

$2,311 CLP 2.2M

-6.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,354 CLP 1.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$739 CLP 687.6K

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for San Pedro de Atacama: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $369 in La Serena versus $483 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 $45.00 in San Pedro de Atacama. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $247 vs $233 – 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 2%, 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 $1,629 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 $1,064 in La Serena and $1,086 in San Pedro de Atacama. 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 $392 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 $1,064, than in San Pedro de Atacama at $1,086. 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.