Cost of Living Comparison Between La Serena and Valdivia Cost of Living Comparison Between La Serena and Valdivia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,044 per month in La Serena vs $1,062 in Valdivia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,757 per month in La Serena vs $1,610 in Valdivia, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,469 per month in La Serena vs $2,157 in Valdivia, rent included.

La Serena is about 2% cheaper than Valdivia, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both La Serena and Valdivia are more affordable than the global median – La Serena 22% lower, Valdivia 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.00 CLP 7,448

$6.61 CLP 6,154

21.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.7 CLP 47.2K

$42.26 CLP 39.4K

20.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.87 CLP 8,256

$6.94 CLP 6,458

27.81%

Cappuccino

$3.09 CLP 2,879

$2.51 CLP 2,335

23.11%

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

$1.10 CLP 1,027

$2.31 CLP 2,151

-52.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 CLP 670

$1.53 CLP 1,428

-52.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 CLP 1,990

$3.81 CLP 3,551

-43.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.95 CLP 3,680

$3.94 CLP 3,666

0.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 CLP 1,214

$1.23 CLP 1,148

5.69%

White Bread (500g)

$2.57 CLP 2,396

$1.43 CLP 1,329

79.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 CLP 1,437

$1.64 CLP 1,523

-6.10%

Eggs

$3.95 CLP 3,678

$3.17 CLP 2,955

24.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.84 CLP 12.0K

$9.38 CLP 8,737

36.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.05 CLP 5,638

$6.95 CLP 6,474

-12.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.54 CLP 12.6K

$13.38 CLP 12.5K

1.20%

Apples (1kg)

$1.98 CLP 1,839

$2.22 CLP 2,063

-10.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 CLP 1,661

$1.94 CLP 1,804

-8.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.39 CLP 1,296

$1.83 CLP 1,706

-24.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 CLP 1,441

$1.97 CLP 1,833

-21.32%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 CLP 1,103

$2.44 CLP 2,275

-51.64%

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 CLP 1,216

$1.58 CLP 1,474

-17.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 CLP 999

$1.58 CLP 1,474

-32.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 CLP 891

$1.21 CLP 1,123

-20.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.46 CLP 5,085

$5.25 CLP 4,892

4.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.46 CLP 5,082

$4.78 CLP 4,454

14.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 CLP 968

$1.60 CLP 1,486

-35.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 CLP 2,072

$2.14 CLP 1,989

4.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 CLP 981

$0.59 CLP 550

77.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.37 CLP 34.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.72 CLP 670

$1.59 CLP 1,476

-54.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 CLP 1,978

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.70 CLP 11.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 CLP 1,344

$1.42 CLP 1,318

1.41%

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

$20.9K CLP 19.5M

$15.6K CLP 14.6M

34.04%

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

$12.8K CLP 11.9M

$18.2K CLP 17.0M

-29.94%

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

$91.6 CLP 85.3K

$96.1 CLP 89.5K

-4.73%

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

$11.51 CLP 10.7K

$18.60 CLP 17.3K

-38.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.61 CLP 21.1K

$29.22 CLP 27.2K

-22.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.97 CLP 33.5K

$42.96 CLP 40.0K

-16.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.67 CLP 20.2K

$24.61 CLP 22.9K

-11.95%

Cinema Ticket

$8.74 CLP 8,137

$4.90 CLP 4,560

78.37%

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

$428 CLP 398.9K

$275 CLP 255.7K

55.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.25 CLP 42.1K

$54.7 CLP 50.9K

-17.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.18 CLP 28.1K

$18.60 CLP 17.3K

62.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.0 CLP 90.3K

$52.2 CLP 48.6K

85.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 CLP 102.4K

$82.0 CLP 76.3K

34.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$363 CLP 338.1K

$598 CLP 556.8K

-39.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 CLP 265.0K

$383 CLP 357.0K

-25.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,067 CLP 993.7K

$1,039 CLP 967.9K

2.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$709 CLP 660.0K

$593 CLP 552.5K

19.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,151 CLP 2.0M

$4,745 CLP 4.4M

-54.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,373 CLP 1.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$736 CLP 685.1K

$661 CLP 615.1K

11.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

4.5

44.44%

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

Last update for La Serena: July 11, 2026

Last update for Valdivia: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $363 in La Serena versus $598 in Valdivia. 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 11% 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 $42.00 in Valdivia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $247 vs $242 – making Valdivia 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 Valdivia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Valdivia 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 $1,567 per month in La Serena and $1,593 in Valdivia. 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 $1,044 in La Serena and $1,062 in Valdivia. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $428 per month in La Serena and $275 in Valdivia. 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 $1,044, than in Valdivia at $1,062. In La Serena it covers expenses comfortably, while in Valdivia 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.

If budget matters most, go with La Serena. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Valdivia makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.