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 $1,043 per month in La Serena vs $1,174 in Valparaiso, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,804 per month in La Serena vs $1,690 in Valparaiso, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,565 per month in La Serena vs $2,206 in Valparaiso, rent included.

La Serena is about 11% cheaper than Valparaiso, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both La Serena and Valparaiso are more affordable than the global median – La Serena 22% lower, Valparaiso 12% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.87 CLP 6,997

$9.84 CLP 8,753

-20.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.8 CLP 45.1K

$37.00 CLP 32.9K

37.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.66 CLP 7,703

$8.56 CLP 7,615

1.17%

Cappuccino

$3.08 CLP 2,739

$2.80 CLP 2,486

10.00%

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

$1.16 CLP 1,034

$1.19 CLP 1,061

-2.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 CLP 613

$0.87 CLP 770

-20.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 CLP 1,975

$3.25 CLP 2,893

-31.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.15 CLP 3,691

$4.22 CLP 3,751

-1.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 CLP 1,159

$1.20 CLP 1,067

8.33%

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 CLP 2,219

$1.51 CLP 1,339

64.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 CLP 1,425

$2.17 CLP 1,930

-26.27%

Eggs

$3.88 CLP 3,451

$4.13 CLP 3,673

-6.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.09 CLP 11.6K

$10.50 CLP 9,338

24.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.06 CLP 5,390

$6.86 CLP 6,099

-11.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.32 CLP 11.8K

$9.49 CLP 8,439

40.36%

Apples (1kg)

$1.90 CLP 1,687

$1.80 CLP 1,600

5.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 CLP 1,663

$1.63 CLP 1,449

14.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.36 CLP 1,205

$1.64 CLP 1,461

-17.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 CLP 1,376

$1.46 CLP 1,295

6.16%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 CLP 1,100

$1.21 CLP 1,079

2.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.26 CLP 1,117

$1.36 CLP 1,212

-7.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 CLP 967

$1.33 CLP 1,185

-18.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 CLP 793

$1.18 CLP 1,048

-24.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.31 CLP 4,720

$4.65 CLP 4,137

14.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.64 CLP 5,016

$5.45 CLP 4,844

3.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 CLP 921

$1.47 CLP 1,303

-29.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 CLP 1,930

$1.84 CLP 1,640

17.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.10 CLP 976

$0.60 CLP 538

83.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.39 CLP 34.1K

$54.4 CLP 48.4K

-29.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 CLP 652

$0.51 CLP 453

43.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.07 CLP 1,841

$0.74 CLP 659

179.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.77 CLP 11.4K

$3.88 CLP 3,450

229.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 CLP 1,267

$1.43 CLP 1,273

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

$21.2K CLP 18.8M

$15.1K CLP 13.4M

40.58%

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

$13.0K CLP 11.6M

$20.0K CLP 17.8M

-34.93%

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

$92.2 CLP 82.0K

$131 CLP 116.3K

-29.53%

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

$11.70 CLP 10.4K

$13.60 CLP 12.1K

-13.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.51 CLP 20.0K

$21.76 CLP 19.3K

3.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.00 CLP 35.6K

$22.23 CLP 19.8K

79.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.36 CLP 19.0K

$24.34 CLP 21.6K

-12.24%

Cinema Ticket

$8.49 CLP 7,549

$5.41 CLP 4,815

56.93%

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

$442 CLP 392.8K

$431 CLP 383.5K

2.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,655 CLP 7.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.07 CLP 40.1K

$31.84 CLP 28.3K

41.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.0 CLP 57.8K

$21.66 CLP 19.3K

199.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.0 CLP 85.4K

$62.2 CLP 55.3K

54.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 CLP 98.6K

$50.5 CLP 44.9K

119.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$370 CLP 328.7K

$488 CLP 434.0K

-24.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$286 CLP 254.5K

$429 CLP 381.3K

-33.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,033 CLP 918.9K

$705 CLP 626.5K

46.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$702 CLP 624.4K

$575 CLP 511.1K

22.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,184 CLP 1.9M

$1,706 CLP 1.5M

28.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,443 CLP 1.3M

$1,116 CLP 992.3K

29.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$780 CLP 693.2K

$808 CLP 718.8K

-3.55%

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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Valparaiso: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $370 in La Serena versus $488 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 4% 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 $51.0 in La Serena versus $37.00 in Valparaiso. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $245 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 12%, 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 $1,565 per month in La Serena and $1,761 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 $1,043 in La Serena and $1,174 in Valparaiso. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 42% 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 $1,043, than in Valparaiso at $1,174. 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.