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 $1,064 per month in La Serena vs $1,169 in Valparaiso, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,803 per month in La Serena vs $1,696 in Valparaiso, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,541 per month in La Serena vs $2,223 in Valparaiso, rent included.

La Serena is about 9% cheaper than Valparaiso, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both La Serena and Valparaiso are more affordable than the global median – La Serena 20% lower, Valparaiso 12% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.16 CLP 7,597

$9.75 CLP 9,071

-16.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.8 CLP 48.2K

$37.86 CLP 35.2K

36.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.67 CLP 8,063

$8.25 CLP 7,674

5.09%

Cappuccino

$3.03 CLP 2,819

$2.90 CLP 2,701

4.48%

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

$1.16 CLP 1,080

$1.19 CLP 1,105

-2.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 CLP 620

$0.90 CLP 842

-25.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 CLP 1,991

$3.27 CLP 3,039

-34.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.09 CLP 3,810

$4.34 CLP 4,042

-5.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 CLP 1,211

$1.17 CLP 1,092

11.11%

White Bread (500g)

$2.53 CLP 2,358

$1.56 CLP 1,455

62.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 CLP 1,429

$2.09 CLP 1,946

-26.32%

Eggs

$3.90 CLP 3,630

$4.17 CLP 3,878

-6.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.25 CLP 12.3K

$10.40 CLP 9,674

27.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.24 CLP 5,809

$6.65 CLP 6,184

-6.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.35 CLP 12.4K

$9.71 CLP 9,035

37.49%

Apples (1kg)

$2.00 CLP 1,857

$1.76 CLP 1,641

13.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.82 CLP 1,690

$1.55 CLP 1,445

17.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.34 CLP 1,249

$1.58 CLP 1,472

-15.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 CLP 1,380

$1.40 CLP 1,303

5.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.25 CLP 1,161

$1.17 CLP 1,092

6.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.26 CLP 1,173

$1.36 CLP 1,266

-7.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 CLP 1,000

$1.31 CLP 1,218

-17.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 CLP 887

$1.19 CLP 1,111

-20.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.37 CLP 4,997

$4.68 CLP 4,356

14.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.23 CLP 4,867

$5.22 CLP 4,860

0.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 CLP 939

$1.47 CLP 1,368

-31.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 CLP 2,071

$1.83 CLP 1,701

21.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 CLP 1,017

$0.56 CLP 525

94.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.45 CLP 35.8K

$53.2 CLP 49.5K

-27.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 CLP 687

$0.50 CLP 470

48.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.06 CLP 1,915

$0.75 CLP 696

174.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.03 CLP 12.1K

$3.88 CLP 3,607

235.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 CLP 1,328

$1.37 CLP 1,277

4.38%

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

$20.6K CLP 19.1M

$15.0K CLP 13.9M

37.56%

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

$13.1K CLP 12.2M

$20.3K CLP 18.9M

-35.49%

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

$93.3 CLP 86.8K

$134 CLP 124.8K

-30.43%

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

$11.35 CLP 10.6K

$13.51 CLP 12.6K

-15.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.00 CLP 20.5K

$21.81 CLP 20.3K

0.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.74 CLP 33.3K

$22.40 CLP 20.8K

59.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.13 CLP 19.7K

$24.28 CLP 22.6K

-12.97%

Cinema Ticket

$8.84 CLP 8,228

$5.38 CLP 5,006

64.31%

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

$439 CLP 408.9K

$435 CLP 404.9K

0.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,602 CLP 8.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.67 CLP 43.4K

$32.60 CLP 30.3K

43.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.63 CLP 28.5K

$21.96 CLP 20.4K

39.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.6 CLP 89.0K

$60.7 CLP 56.4K

57.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 CLP 101.4K

$51.1 CLP 47.5K

113.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$369 CLP 343.6K

$489 CLP 454.7K

-24.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 CLP 265.4K

$438 CLP 407.7K

-34.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,035 CLP 962.7K

$707 CLP 657.6K

46.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$707 CLP 657.5K

$563 CLP 524.2K

25.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,158 CLP 2.0M

$1,604 CLP 1.5M

34.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,354 CLP 1.3M

$1,045 CLP 972.7K

29.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$739 CLP 687.6K

$783 CLP 728.6K

-5.63%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Valparaiso: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $369 in La Serena versus $489 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 6% 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: $247 vs $225 – 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 10%, 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 $1,597 per month in La Serena and $1,754 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 $1,064 in La Serena and $1,169 in Valparaiso. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 38% 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 Valparaiso at $1,169. 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.