Cost of Living Comparison Between La Serena and Vina del Mar Cost of Living Comparison Between La Serena and Vina del Mar

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,048 per month in La Serena vs $1,063 in Vina del Mar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,754 per month in La Serena vs $1,677 in Vina del Mar, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,459 per month in La Serena vs $2,291 in Vina del Mar, rent included.

La Serena is about 1% cheaper than Vina del Mar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both La Serena and Vina del Mar are more affordable than the global median – La Serena 22% lower, Vina del Mar 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.90 CLP 7,063

$7.17 CLP 6,413

10.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.5 CLP 46.1K

$54.8 CLP 49.0K

-6.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.94 CLP 7,999

$7.74 CLP 6,924

15.50%

Cappuccino

$2.96 CLP 2,651

$2.77 CLP 2,481

6.86%

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

$1.12 CLP 1,000

$1.19 CLP 1,066

-5.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 CLP 601

$0.90 CLP 810

-25.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 CLP 1,908

$2.12 CLP 1,900

0.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.10 CLP 3,672

$3.52 CLP 3,151

16.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 CLP 1,103

$1.23 CLP 1,098

White Bread (500g)

$2.48 CLP 2,220

$1.32 CLP 1,177

87.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.53 CLP 1,369

$1.62 CLP 1,451

-5.56%

Eggs

$3.94 CLP 3,523

$2.91 CLP 2,608

35.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.11 CLP 11.7K

$9.62 CLP 8,607

36.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.96 CLP 5,332

$5.22 CLP 4,671

14.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.27 CLP 11.9K

$10.89 CLP 9,744

21.85%

Apples (1kg)

$1.99 CLP 1,778

$1.95 CLP 1,742

2.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 CLP 1,655

$1.45 CLP 1,299

27.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.33 CLP 1,192

$1.36 CLP 1,216

-2.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 CLP 1,328

$1.46 CLP 1,303

1.37%

Potato (1kg)

$1.20 CLP 1,071

$1.31 CLP 1,170

-8.40%

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 CLP 1,169

$1.44 CLP 1,292

-9.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 CLP 1,011

$1.04 CLP 929

8.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 CLP 813

$1.11 CLP 993

-18.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.33 CLP 4,770

$5.03 CLP 4,503

5.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.50 CLP 4,918

$7.75 CLP 6,932

-29.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 CLP 925

$1.60 CLP 1,434

-35.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 CLP 2,014

$2.30 CLP 2,058

-2.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.10 CLP 988

$0.62 CLP 551

77.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.15 CLP 34.1K

$37.13 CLP 33.2K

2.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 CLP 683

$0.47 CLP 419

61.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.06 CLP 1,843

$1.41 CLP 1,264

46.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.76 CLP 11.4K

$11.31 CLP 10.1K

12.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 CLP 1,343

$1.43 CLP 1,275

4.90%

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

$21.2K CLP 19.0M

$19.3K CLP 17.2M

10.28%

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

$13.1K CLP 11.8M

$18.4K CLP 16.5M

-28.69%

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

$92.8 CLP 83.0K

$134 CLP 119.9K

-30.77%

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

$11.41 CLP 10.2K

$13.47 CLP 12.0K

-15.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.64 CLP 20.3K

$19.76 CLP 17.7K

14.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.44 CLP 32.6K

$54.6 CLP 48.9K

-33.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.62 CLP 19.3K

$21.52 CLP 19.3K

0.46%

Cinema Ticket

$8.85 CLP 7,914

$5.34 CLP 4,780

65.73%

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

$438 CLP 392.0K

$442 CLP 395.8K

-0.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,374 CLP 4.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.54 CLP 40.7K

$47.79 CLP 42.8K

-4.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.87 CLP 27.6K

$32.71 CLP 29.3K

-5.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.8 CLP 88.4K

$62.5 CLP 55.9K

58.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 CLP 99.8K

$84.3 CLP 75.4K

32.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$366 CLP 327.8K

$449 CLP 402.0K

-18.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 CLP 255.4K

$338 CLP 302.0K

-15.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,037 CLP 927.8K

$828 CLP 740.3K

25.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$708 CLP 633.2K

$629 CLP 562.3K

12.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,236 CLP 2.0M

$2,592 CLP 2.3M

-13.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,462 CLP 1.3M

$1,689 CLP 1.5M

-13.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$773 CLP 691.6K

$1,139 CLP 1.0M

-32.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

4.83

34.58%

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

Last update for La Serena: June 1, 2026

Last update for Vina del Mar: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $366 in La Serena versus $449 in Vina del Mar. 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 47% higher in Vina del Mar, 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 $55.0 in Vina del Mar. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in La Serena vs $215 in Vina del Mar – so Vina del Mar wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Vina del Mar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Vina del Mar is pricier by about 1%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,573 per month in La Serena and $1,594 in Vina del Mar. 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 $1,048 in La Serena and $1,063 in Vina del Mar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 3% 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 $1,048, than in Vina del Mar at $1,063. In La Serena it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vina del Mar 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, Vina del Mar makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.