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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,042 per month in La Serena vs $1,151 in Valparaiso, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,787 per month in La Serena vs $1,674 in Valparaiso, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,533 per month in La Serena vs $2,196 in Valparaiso, rent included.

La Serena is about 10% cheaper than Valparaiso, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both La Serena and Valparaiso are more affordable than the global median – La Serena 23% lower, Valparaiso 14% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.22 CLP 7,389

$9.65 CLP 8,674

-14.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.9 CLP 46.6K

$38.03 CLP 34.2K

36.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.75 CLP 7,868

$8.55 CLP 7,681

2.34%

Cappuccino

$2.98 CLP 2,674

$2.78 CLP 2,501

7.19%

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

$1.12 CLP 1,004

$1.19 CLP 1,067

-5.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 CLP 598

$0.87 CLP 785

-22.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 CLP 1,998

$3.29 CLP 2,954

-32.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.10 CLP 3,682

$4.33 CLP 3,895

-5.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 CLP 1,159

$1.23 CLP 1,103

4.88%

White Bread (500g)

$2.56 CLP 2,302

$1.57 CLP 1,415

63.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 CLP 1,401

$2.11 CLP 1,900

-26.07%

Eggs

$4.03 CLP 3,624

$4.07 CLP 3,656

-0.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.98 CLP 11.7K

$10.37 CLP 9,322

25.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.24 CLP 5,605

$6.64 CLP 5,969

-6.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.04 CLP 11.7K

$9.74 CLP 8,750

33.88%

Apples (1kg)

$1.92 CLP 1,728

$1.80 CLP 1,619

6.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 CLP 1,615

$1.55 CLP 1,397

16.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.40 CLP 1,255

$1.59 CLP 1,428

-11.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.47 CLP 1,317

$1.48 CLP 1,328

-0.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 CLP 1,107

$1.18 CLP 1,056

4.24%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 CLP 1,194

$1.35 CLP 1,213

-1.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 CLP 1,015

$1.34 CLP 1,202

-15.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 CLP 826

$1.23 CLP 1,103

-25.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.33 CLP 4,791

$4.46 CLP 4,011

19.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.35 CLP 4,809

$5.53 CLP 4,969

-3.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 CLP 940

$1.46 CLP 1,311

-28.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 CLP 2,025

$1.84 CLP 1,653

22.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.06 CLP 953

$0.57 CLP 511

85.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.12 CLP 34.3K

$54.7 CLP 49.2K

-30.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.72 CLP 643

$0.47 CLP 419

53.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 CLP 1,913

$0.71 CLP 640

200.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.01 CLP 11.7K

$3.76 CLP 3,377

246.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 CLP 1,274

$1.41 CLP 1,267

0.71%

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

$20.7K CLP 18.6M

$14.9K CLP 13.4M

38.99%

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

$13.1K CLP 11.8M

$19.8K CLP 17.8M

-33.85%

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

$92.7 CLP 83.3K

$134 CLP 120.1K

-30.67%

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

$11.35 CLP 10.2K

$13.75 CLP 12.4K

-17.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.61 CLP 20.3K

$22.01 CLP 19.8K

2.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.68 CLP 33.0K

$22.74 CLP 20.4K

61.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.65 CLP 19.5K

$24.54 CLP 22.1K

-11.78%

Cinema Ticket

$8.86 CLP 7,963

$5.34 CLP 4,798

65.92%

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

$441 CLP 396.0K

$440 CLP 395.9K

0.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,751 CLP 7.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.06 CLP 41.4K

$32.56 CLP 29.3K

41.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.87 CLP 26.8K

$21.65 CLP 19.5K

37.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.4 CLP 86.7K

$61.1 CLP 54.9K

57.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 CLP 98.4K

$50.5 CLP 45.4K

116.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$364 CLP 327.0K

$496 CLP 445.8K

-26.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$280 CLP 251.6K

$439 CLP 394.2K

-36.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,070 CLP 962.0K

$702 CLP 630.5K

52.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$699 CLP 627.9K

$580 CLP 521.2K

20.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,226 CLP 2.0M

$1,703 CLP 1.5M

30.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,434 CLP 1.3M

$1,137 CLP 1.0M

26.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$746 CLP 670.6K

$785 CLP 705.6K

-4.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

5.18

25.48%

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

Last update for La Serena: June 7, 2026

Last update for Valparaiso: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $364 in La Serena versus $496 in Valparaiso. 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 5% higher in Valparaiso, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in La Serena versus $38.00 in Valparaiso. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $227 – making Valparaiso 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 Valparaiso: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Valparaiso is pricier by about 11%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,562 per month in La Serena and $1,727 in Valparaiso. 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 $1,042 in La Serena and $1,151 in Valparaiso. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 44% 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 $1,042, than in Valparaiso at $1,151. In La Serena it covers expenses comfortably, while in Valparaiso 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, Valparaiso makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.