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 $1,142 per month in La Serena vs $1,107 in Vina del Mar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,883 per month in La Serena vs $1,788 in Vina del Mar, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,624 per month in La Serena vs $2,468 in Vina del Mar, rent included.

La Serena costs about 3% more than Vina del Mar, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both La Serena and Vina del Mar are more affordable than the global median – La Serena 17% lower, Vina del Mar 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.26 CLP 7,687

$8.71 CLP 8,107

-5.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.4 CLP 47.8K

$62.6 CLP 58.2K

-17.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.45 CLP 7,858

$7.81 CLP 7,262

8.19%

Cappuccino

$3.03 CLP 2,818

$3.72 CLP 3,460

-18.55%

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

$1.11 CLP 1,029

$1.45 CLP 1,353

-23.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 CLP 671

$1.15 CLP 1,073

-37.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.17 CLP 2,015

$3.79 CLP 3,528

-42.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 CLP 3,743

$3.38 CLP 3,147

18.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 CLP 1,205

$1.33 CLP 1,235

-3.01%

White Bread (500g)

$2.47 CLP 2,301

$1.32 CLP 1,224

87.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 CLP 1,439

$1.68 CLP 1,560

-7.74%

Eggs

$3.85 CLP 3,585

$3.74 CLP 3,479

2.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.16 CLP 12.2K

$9.95 CLP 9,258

32.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.00 CLP 5,585

$5.29 CLP 4,925

13.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.05 CLP 12.1K

$12.76 CLP 11.9K

2.27%

Apples (1kg)

$1.88 CLP 1,752

$1.52 CLP 1,419

23.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 CLP 1,648

$1.87 CLP 1,744

-5.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.39 CLP 1,296

$1.30 CLP 1,209

6.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 CLP 1,412

$1.16 CLP 1,082

31.03%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 CLP 1,098

$1.63 CLP 1,519

-27.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 CLP 1,158

$1.32 CLP 1,229

-6.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 CLP 1,031

$1.07 CLP 998

3.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 CLP 825

$1.36 CLP 1,263

-34.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.40 CLP 5,023

$5.28 CLP 4,915

2.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.20 CLP 4,834

$7.66 CLP 7,131

-32.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 CLP 935

$1.85 CLP 1,718

-45.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 CLP 1,980

$2.31 CLP 2,145

-7.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.08 CLP 1,009

$0.56 CLP 521

92.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.04 CLP 35.4K

$40.94 CLP 38.1K

-7.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.72 CLP 670

$1.59 CLP 1,481

-54.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.18 CLP 2,028

$1.31 CLP 1,217

66.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.08 CLP 12.2K

$12.63 CLP 11.8K

3.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 CLP 1,324

$1.34 CLP 1,246

5.97%

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

$21.1K CLP 19.6M

$19.2K CLP 17.9M

9.88%

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

$12.7K CLP 11.8M

$17.9K CLP 16.7M

-29.28%

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

$92.3 CLP 85.9K

$116 CLP 107.9K

-20.37%

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

$11.39 CLP 10.6K

$15.57 CLP 14.5K

-26.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.39 CLP 20.8K

$18.77 CLP 17.5K

19.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$90.4 CLP 84.1K

$44.90 CLP 41.8K

101.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.98 CLP 19.5K

$25.06 CLP 23.3K

-16.28%

Cinema Ticket

$8.52 CLP 7,923

$6.39 CLP 5,948

33.33%

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

$523 CLP 486.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,321 CLP 5.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.06 CLP 41.9K

$44.64 CLP 41.5K

0.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.5 CLP 59.1K

$35.04 CLP 32.6K

81.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 CLP 90.5K

$59.4 CLP 55.2K

63.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 CLP 100.2K

$91.6 CLP 85.3K

17.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$437 CLP 406.8K

$477 CLP 443.5K

-8.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$331 CLP 308.2K

$341 CLP 316.9K

-2.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$942 CLP 876.3K

$863 CLP 803.0K

9.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$736 CLP 685.2K

$653 CLP 607.9K

12.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,159 CLP 2.0M

$2,497 CLP 2.3M

-13.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,389 CLP 1.3M

$1,575 CLP 1.5M

-11.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$741 CLP 689.1K

$1,124 CLP 1.0M

-34.10%

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: August 31, 2026

Last update for Vina del Mar: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $437 in La Serena versus $477 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 52% higher in Vina del Mar, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in La Serena versus $63.0 in Vina del Mar. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in La Serena vs $230 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 – La Serena is pricier by about 3%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,712 per month in La Serena and $1,661 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 Vina del Mar, 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 $1,142 in La Serena and $1,107 in Vina del Mar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in La Serena and $63.0 in Vina del Mar. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Vina del Mar, where all-in costs run around $1,107, than in La Serena at $1,142. In Vina del Mar it covers expenses comfortably, while in La Serena it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Vina del Mar – 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 Vina del Mar. 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.