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 $1,064 per month in La Serena vs $1,392 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,803 per month in La Serena vs $2,557 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,541 per month in La Serena vs $3,723 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

La Serena is about 24% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

La Serena sits 20% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.16 CLP 7,560

$3.57 Rp 64.6K

128.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.8 CLP 47.9K

$32.32 Rp 584.1K

60.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.67 CLP 8,024

$5.01 Rp 90.5K

73.05%

Cappuccino

$3.03 CLP 2,806

$2.82 Rp 51.0K

7.45%

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

$1.16 CLP 1,074

$1.35 Rp 24.4K

-14.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 CLP 617

$0.73 Rp 13.2K

-8.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 CLP 1,981

$2.93 Rp 53.0K

-26.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.09 CLP 3,792

$3.94 Rp 71.1K

3.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 CLP 1,205

$1.78 Rp 32.1K

-26.97%

White Bread (500g)

$2.53 CLP 2,346

$2.45 Rp 44.3K

3.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 CLP 1,422

$1.15 Rp 20.8K

33.91%

Eggs

$3.90 CLP 3,613

$2.41 Rp 43.6K

61.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.25 CLP 12.3K

$14.33 Rp 259.0K

-7.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.24 CLP 5,781

$4.19 Rp 75.7K

48.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.35 CLP 12.4K

$12.06 Rp 217.9K

10.70%

Apples (1kg)

$2.00 CLP 1,848

$3.64 Rp 65.7K

-45.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.82 CLP 1,682

$1.57 Rp 28.3K

15.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.34 CLP 1,243

$2.79 Rp 50.4K

-51.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 CLP 1,374

$2.24 Rp 40.5K

-33.93%

Potato (1kg)

$1.25 CLP 1,155

$1.98 Rp 35.8K

-36.87%

Onion (1kg)

$1.26 CLP 1,167

$2.28 Rp 41.1K

-44.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 CLP 995

$1.05 Rp 19.0K

2.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 CLP 883

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

20.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.37 CLP 4,973

$3.19 Rp 57.6K

68.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.23 CLP 4,843

$23.49 Rp 424.6K

-77.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 CLP 935

$2.90 Rp 52.3K

-65.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 CLP 2,061

$2.76 Rp 49.8K

-19.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 CLP 1,013

$0.27 Rp 4,819

303.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.45 CLP 35.6K

$8.37 Rp 151.2K

359.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 CLP 683

$0.45 Rp 8,176

64.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.06 CLP 1,906

$0.46 Rp 8,307

347.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.03 CLP 12.1K

$6.07 Rp 109.7K

114.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 CLP 1,321

$0.86 Rp 15.6K

66.28%

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

$20.6K CLP 19.0M

$26.6K Rp 480.5M

-22.63%

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

$13.1K CLP 12.1M

$32.5K Rp 588.3M

-59.71%

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

$93.3 CLP 86.4K

$79.0 Rp 1.4M

18.05%

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

$11.35 CLP 10.5K

$4.09 Rp 73.9K

177.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.00 CLP 20.4K

$23.85 Rp 431.0K

-7.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.74 CLP 33.1K

$98.8 Rp 1.8M

-63.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.13 CLP 19.6K

$6.35 Rp 114.8K

232.76%

Cinema Ticket

$8.84 CLP 8,188

$4.01 Rp 72.4K

120.45%

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

$439 CLP 406.9K

$297 Rp 5.4M

47.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,602 Rp 119.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.67 CLP 43.2K

$53.4 Rp 965.6K

-12.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.63 CLP 28.4K

$38.11 Rp 688.8K

-19.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.6 CLP 88.5K

$88.7 Rp 1.6M

7.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 CLP 100.9K

$76.6 Rp 1.4M

42.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$369 CLP 341.9K

$1,020 Rp 18.4M

-63.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 CLP 264.1K

$680 Rp 12.3M

-58.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,035 CLP 958.1K

$3,469 Rp 62.7M

-70.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$707 CLP 654.3K

$2,090 Rp 37.8M

-66.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,158 CLP 2.0M

$2,729 Rp 49.3M

-20.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,354 CLP 1.3M

$2,295 Rp 41.5M

-41.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$739 CLP 684.2K

$164 Rp 3.0M

351.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

13.28

-51.05%

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

Last update for La Serena: July 26, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $369 in La Serena versus $1,020 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 351% 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 $52.0 in La Serena versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries tell a different story – $247 in La Serena vs $298 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 31%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. 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 $2,088 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 $1,064 in La Serena and $1,392 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 359% less in La Serena. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in La Serena, where all-in costs run around $1,064, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,392. 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.