Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between La Serena and Villarrica

For one person, living is cheaper in Villarrica: $406 a month against $1,099 in La Serena, rent and utilities included – about $8,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

53

Cost of Living Index in La Serena
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La Serena Living Index
51

Cost of Living Index in Villarrica
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Villarrica Living Index

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La Serena

🇨🇱 Chile

$1,099

/mo nomad

Villarrica

🇨🇱 Chile

$406

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in La Serena and in Villarrica

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in La Serena and in Villarrica actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,099 per month in La Serena vs $406 in Villarrica, rent included.

La Serena $1,099
Villarrica $406

A couple spends around $1,829 per month in La Serena vs $608 in Villarrica, rent included.

La Serena $1,829
Villarrica $608

A family of three spends $2,559 per month in La Serena vs $811 in Villarrica, rent included.

La Serena $2,559
Villarrica $811

La Serena costs about 171% more than Villarrica, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both La Serena and Villarrica are more affordable than the global median – La Serena 19% lower, Villarrica 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.80 CLP 7,678

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.89 CLP 47.1K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.39 CLP 8,255

Cappuccino

$2.78 CLP 2,733

$2.34 CLP 2,303

18.80%

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

$1.05 CLP 1,037

$1.55 CLP 1,528

-32.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 CLP 638

$1.01 CLP 990

-35.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.08 CLP 2,047

$2.50 CLP 2,465

-16.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 CLP 3,844

$4.50 CLP 4,431

-13.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 CLP 1,197

$1.24 CLP 1,223

-1.61%

White Bread (500g)

$2.36 CLP 2,326

$2.58 CLP 2,535

-8.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 CLP 1,448

$2.41 CLP 2,374

-39.00%

Eggs

$3.85 CLP 3,793

$3.03 CLP 2,986

27.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.15 CLP 12.0K

$8.26 CLP 8,134

47.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.89 CLP 5,801

$10.72 CLP 10.5K

-45.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.43 CLP 12.2K

Apples (1kg)

$1.89 CLP 1,861

$2.56 CLP 2,525

-26.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 CLP 1,733

$1.80 CLP 1,775

-2.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.28 CLP 1,257

$2.69 CLP 2,648

-52.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 CLP 1,431

$1.38 CLP 1,363

5.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 CLP 1,128

$1.47 CLP 1,448

-21.77%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 CLP 1,177

$1.21 CLP 1,189

-0.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 CLP 1,010

$1.56 CLP 1,538

-33.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 CLP 863

$1.95 CLP 1,924

-54.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.22 CLP 5,138

Wine (Bottle)

$5.18 CLP 5,100

$5.50 CLP 5,417

-5.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 CLP 929

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 CLP 1,992

$3.52 CLP 3,469

-42.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.04 CLP 1,028

$1.81 CLP 1,777

-42.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.03 CLP 35.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.71 CLP 697

$2.02 CLP 1,984

-64.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.07 CLP 2,041

$2.02 CLP 1,989

2.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.19 CLP 12.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 CLP 1,394

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

$20.1K CLP 19.7M

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

$12.3K CLP 12.1M

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

$85.8 CLP 84.5K

$62.1 CLP 61.1K

38.18%

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

$10.93 CLP 10.8K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.68 CLP 20.4K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$83.9 CLP 82.6K

$30.23 CLP 29.8K

177.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.71 CLP 20.4K

Cinema Ticket

$8.04 CLP 7,912

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.49 CLP 42.8K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.1 CLP 60.1K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.3 CLP 90.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 CLP 103.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 CLP 417.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$316 CLP 311.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$899 CLP 884.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 CLP 711.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,068 CLP 2.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,319 CLP 1.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$698 CLP 687.3K

$509 CLP 501.0K

37.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

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

Last update for La Serena: October 18, 2026

Last update for Villarrica: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

La Serena

$316 28.8%

Villarrica

- * 0% 100%

Groceries & Markets

La Serena

$232 21.1%

Villarrica

$234 * 57.7% 0.8% $2

Eating Out

La Serena

$146 13.3%

Villarrica

$60 * 14.8% 59% $86

Clothing & Footwear

La Serena

$136 12.4%

Villarrica

- * 0% 100%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

La Serena

$117 10.7%

Villarrica

$62 * 15.3% 47.1% $55

Sport & Entertainment

La Serena

$100 9.1%

Villarrica

$30 * 7.5% 69.8% $70

Getting Around

La Serena

$51 4.7%

Villarrica

$19 * 4.8% 62.3% $32

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 37% higher in La Serena, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

Good to know

🇨🇱 La Serena

🇨🇱 Villarrica

🕒 Local time

08:42 8:42 AM

Same time as La Serena

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

195,382

31,780

💱 Currency

Chilean Peso CLP $

📈 Exchange rate

10,000 CLP = 10.16 USD

10,000 CLP = 9.04 EUR

10,000 CLP = 10.16 USD

10,000 CLP = 9.04 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

La Serena Villarrica 1,050 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

La Serena
Villarrica

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Villarrica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – La Serena is pricier by about 171%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,648 per month in La Serena and $609 in Villarrica. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,099 in La Serena and $406 in Villarrica. That's a gap of about 171%.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in La Serena – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Villarrica, where all-in costs run around $406, than in La Serena at $1,099. In Villarrica it covers expenses comfortably, while in La Serena it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Villarrica – 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 Villarrica. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, La Serena makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.