Cost of Living Comparison Between La Serena and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between La Serena and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,137 per month in La Serena vs $1,378 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,903 per month in La Serena vs $2,327 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,668 per month in La Serena vs $3,275 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

La Serena is about 17% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

La Serena sits 18% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 0% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.79 CLP 7,333

$3.33 Rp 58.7K

133.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.1 CLP 48.1K

$35.82 Rp 630.7K

42.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.50 CLP 8,004

$5.63 Rp 99.1K

50.98%

Cappuccino

$2.91 CLP 2,739

$2.82 Rp 49.7K

3.19%

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

$1.14 CLP 1,076

$1.75 Rp 30.8K

-34.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 CLP 680

$0.80 Rp 14.0K

-10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.20 CLP 2,071

$3.04 Rp 53.6K

-27.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 CLP 3,685

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

-8.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 CLP 1,202

$1.61 Rp 28.3K

-20.50%

White Bread (500g)

$2.53 CLP 2,382

$2.27 Rp 39.9K

11.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 CLP 1,489

$1.17 Rp 20.6K

35.04%

Eggs

$4.01 CLP 3,770

$2.17 Rp 38.2K

84.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.66 CLP 11.9K

$17.63 Rp 310.5K

-28.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.17 CLP 5,811

$4.05 Rp 71.4K

52.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.13 CLP 12.4K

$12.18 Rp 214.5K

7.80%

Apples (1kg)

$1.87 CLP 1,760

$3.62 Rp 63.7K

-48.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 CLP 1,666

$1.64 Rp 28.8K

7.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.32 CLP 1,246

$2.31 Rp 40.6K

-42.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.51 CLP 1,423

$1.96 Rp 34.5K

-22.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 CLP 1,122

$1.84 Rp 32.5K

-35.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 CLP 1,237

$2.37 Rp 41.7K

-44.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 CLP 998

$1.05 Rp 18.5K

0.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 CLP 863

$0.54 Rp 9,560

70.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.23 CLP 4,920

$2.30 Rp 40.6K

127.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.46 CLP 5,141

$23.08 Rp 406.4K

-76.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 CLP 977

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

-55.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 CLP 1,993

$3.07 Rp 54.0K

-30.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 CLP 993

$0.25 Rp 4,365

320.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.05 CLP 34.9K

$9.42 Rp 165.9K

293.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 CLP 720

$0.49 Rp 8,631

55.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 CLP 2,069

$0.47 Rp 8,349

368.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.63 CLP 11.9K

$5.60 Rp 98.6K

125.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 CLP 1,382

$0.81 Rp 14.2K

81.48%

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

$21.0K CLP 19.8M

$25.0K Rp 440.3M

-15.88%

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

$12.6K CLP 11.9M

$31.1K Rp 547.0M

-59.33%

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

$90.6 CLP 85.3K

$82.7 Rp 1.5M

9.56%

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

$11.59 CLP 10.9K

$6.49 Rp 114.2K

78.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.49 CLP 21.2K

$18.79 Rp 330.8K

19.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$89.2 CLP 83.9K

$55.2 Rp 972.6K

61.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.60 CLP 20.3K

$18.21 Rp 320.6K

18.62%

Cinema Ticket

$8.34 CLP 7,853

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

93.95%

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

$494 Rp 8.7M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,917 Rp 104.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.97 CLP 42.3K

$46.28 Rp 814.8K

-2.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$64.7 CLP 60.9K

$36.44 Rp 641.6K

77.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.1 CLP 92.3K

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

21.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 CLP 101.0K

$78.8 Rp 1.4M

36.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$447 CLP 420.8K

$1,114 Rp 19.6M

-59.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$332 CLP 312.6K

$693 Rp 12.2M

-52.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$953 CLP 896.6K

$3,639 Rp 64.1M

-73.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$731 CLP 687.7K

$1,712 Rp 30.1M

-57.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,116 CLP 2.0M

$2,761 Rp 48.6M

-23.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,363 CLP 1.3M

$2,293 Rp 40.4M

-40.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$736 CLP 692.4K

$167 Rp 2.9M

340.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

13.78

-52.83%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for La Serena: September 6, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $447 in La Serena versus $1,114 in Ubud, Bali. 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 340% higher in La Serena, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in La Serena versus $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in La Serena vs $294 in Ubud, Bali – so La Serena 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 Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 21%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,705 per month in La Serena and $2,067 in Ubud, Bali. 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 $1,137 in La Serena and $1,378 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in La Serena and $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in La Serena, where all-in costs run around $1,137, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,378. In La Serena it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali 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, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.