🙂A single person spends $1,112 per month in La Serena vs $1,113 in Temuco, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,845 per month in La Serena vs $1,656 in Temuco, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,578 per month in La Serena vs $2,199 in Temuco, rent included.
🙂La Serena and Temuco have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.
📊Both La Serena and Temuco are more affordable than the global median – La Serena19% lower, Temuco19% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
La Serena
Temuco
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.83CLP 7,468
$7.66CLP 7,309
2.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.70CLP 46.5K
$31.48CLP 30.0K
54.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.61CLP 8,212
$7.14CLP 6,817
20.59%
Cappuccino
$3.00CLP 2,866
$3.87CLP 3,693
-22.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13CLP 1,074
$2.25CLP 2,143
-49.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70CLP 668
$1.15CLP 1,093
-39.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.15CLP 2,050
$3.72CLP 3,553
-42.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.89CLP 3,711
$3.35CLP 3,199
16.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
La Serena
Temuco
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21CLP 1,159
$1.18CLP 1,121
2.54%
White Bread(500g)
$2.48CLP 2,367
$1.43CLP 1,366
73.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.54CLP 1,470
$1.33CLP 1,265
15.79%
Eggs
$3.80CLP 3,626
$3.48CLP 3,317
9.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.38CLP 11.8K
$9.25CLP 8,828
33.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84CLP 5,572
$6.05CLP 5,774
-3.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.96CLP 12.4K
$11.72CLP 11.2K
10.58%
Apples(1kg)
$1.84CLP 1,752
$1.87CLP 1,781
-1.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.80CLP 1,715
$2.06CLP 1,965
-12.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.30CLP 1,241
$2.03CLP 1,939
-35.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.45CLP 1,379
$2.24CLP 2,141
-35.27%
Potato(1kg)
$1.22CLP 1,160
$2.40CLP 2,291
-49.17%
Onion(1kg)
$1.27CLP 1,208
$2.64CLP 2,519
-51.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03CLP 987
$1.88CLP 1,792
-45.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89CLP 850
$1.21CLP 1,154
-26.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.33CLP 5,088
$4.76CLP 4,545
11.97%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.37CLP 5,128
$4.89CLP 4,665
9.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.96CLP 919
$1.56CLP 1,493
-38.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08CLP 1,989
$2.17CLP 2,072
-4.15%
🚌 Getting Around
La Serena
Temuco
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.06CLP 1,007
$0.90CLP 861
17.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$36.20CLP 34.5K
$34.55CLP 33.0K
4.78%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.72CLP 685
$0.87CLP 828
-17.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.14CLP 2,044
$1.53CLP 1,463
39.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.58CLP 12.0K
$9.48CLP 9,047
32.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.42CLP 1,359
$1.36CLP 1,296
4.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.9KCLP 19.0M
$12.5KCLP 12.0M
59.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$12.6KCLP 12.0M
$17.7KCLP 16.9M
-29.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
La Serena
Temuco
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.2CLP 84.1K
$140CLP 133.2K
-36.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.04CLP 10.5K
$11.45CLP 10.9K
-3.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.16CLP 20.2K
$23.22CLP 22.2K
-8.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
La Serena
Temuco
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$87.3CLP 83.3K
$48.19CLP 46.0K
81.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.04CLP 20.1K
$46.11CLP 44.0K
-54.37%
Cinema Ticket
$8.56CLP 8,173
$4.79CLP 4,568
78.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
La Serena
Temuco
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$218CLP 207.8K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$2,845CLP 2.7M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
La Serena
Temuco
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.70CLP 41.7K
$44.53CLP 42.5K
-1.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.5CLP 58.7K
$18.01CLP 17.2K
241.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8CLP 90.4K
$65.5CLP 62.5K
44.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106CLP 101.5K
$84.3CLP 80.4K
26.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
La Serena
Temuco
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$439CLP 419.4K
$400CLP 382.0K
9.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$327CLP 312.0K
$332CLP 316.7K
-1.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$906CLP 864.6K
$733CLP 699.7K
23.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$724CLP 690.6K
$522CLP 498.2K
38.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,089CLP 2.0M
$2,064CLP 2.0M
1.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,374CLP 1.3M
$1,696CLP 1.6M
-18.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
La Serena
Temuco
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$733CLP 699.0K
$542CLP 516.8K
35.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.5
4.8
35.42%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for La Serena: September 15, 2026
Last update for Temuco: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $439 in La Serena versus $400 in Temuco. 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 35% higher in La Serena. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in La Serena versus $31.00 in Temuco. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $236 – making Temuco 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 Temuco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,668 per month in La Serena and $1,670 in Temuco. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 5% less in La Serena. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is eating out cheaper in La Serena or in Temuco?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in La Serena and $31.00 in Temuco. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in La Serena or in Temuco?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in La Serena, where all-in costs run around $1,112, than in Temuco at $1,113. In La Serena it covers expenses comfortably, while in Temuco it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is La Serena or Temuco more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with La Serena. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Temuco makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.