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 $1,044 per month in La Serena vs $1,077 in Vina del Mar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,757 per month in La Serena vs $1,703 in Vina del Mar, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,469 per month in La Serena vs $2,329 in Vina del Mar, rent included.

La Serena is about 3% 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 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.00 CLP 7,448

$7.05 CLP 6,563

13.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.7 CLP 47.2K

$53.5 CLP 49.8K

-5.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.87 CLP 8,256

$7.71 CLP 7,178

15.05%

Cappuccino

$3.09 CLP 2,879

$2.78 CLP 2,584

11.15%

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

$1.10 CLP 1,027

$1.14 CLP 1,066

-3.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 CLP 670

$0.90 CLP 834

-20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 CLP 1,990

$2.11 CLP 1,967

1.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.95 CLP 3,680

$3.41 CLP 3,178

15.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 CLP 1,214

$1.22 CLP 1,136

6.56%

White Bread (500g)

$2.57 CLP 2,396

$1.33 CLP 1,236

93.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 CLP 1,437

$1.68 CLP 1,566

-8.33%

Eggs

$3.95 CLP 3,678

$2.99 CLP 2,780

32.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.84 CLP 12.0K

$9.58 CLP 8,925

34.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.05 CLP 5,638

$5.10 CLP 4,752

18.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.54 CLP 12.6K

$10.86 CLP 10.1K

24.68%

Apples (1kg)

$1.98 CLP 1,839

$1.89 CLP 1,756

4.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 CLP 1,661

$1.44 CLP 1,337

23.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.39 CLP 1,296

$1.36 CLP 1,265

2.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 CLP 1,441

$1.46 CLP 1,359

6.16%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 CLP 1,103

$1.29 CLP 1,199

-8.53%

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 CLP 1,216

$1.44 CLP 1,344

-9.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 CLP 999

$1.01 CLP 940

5.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 CLP 891

$1.06 CLP 985

-9.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.46 CLP 5,085

$5.14 CLP 4,783

6.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.46 CLP 5,082

$7.45 CLP 6,939

-26.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 CLP 968

$1.59 CLP 1,482

-34.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 CLP 2,072

$2.40 CLP 2,237

-7.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 CLP 981

$0.61 CLP 567

72.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.37 CLP 34.8K

$38.10 CLP 35.5K

-1.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.72 CLP 670

$0.48 CLP 446

50.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 CLP 1,978

$1.40 CLP 1,305

51.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.70 CLP 11.8K

$11.35 CLP 10.6K

11.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 CLP 1,344

$1.37 CLP 1,277

5.11%

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

$20.9K CLP 19.5M

$19.6K CLP 18.2M

7.01%

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

$12.8K CLP 11.9M

$18.7K CLP 17.4M

-31.66%

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

$91.6 CLP 85.3K

$130 CLP 121.2K

-29.64%

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

$11.51 CLP 10.7K

$13.74 CLP 12.8K

-16.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.61 CLP 21.1K

$19.34 CLP 18.0K

16.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.97 CLP 33.5K

$53.2 CLP 49.5K

-32.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.67 CLP 20.2K

$21.32 CLP 19.9K

1.64%

Cinema Ticket

$8.74 CLP 8,137

$5.30 CLP 4,932

64.91%

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

$428 CLP 398.9K

$435 CLP 405.0K

-1.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,310 CLP 4.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.25 CLP 42.1K

$47.74 CLP 44.5K

-5.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.18 CLP 28.1K

$32.78 CLP 30.5K

-7.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.0 CLP 90.3K

$62.2 CLP 57.9K

55.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 CLP 102.4K

$83.4 CLP 77.6K

31.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$363 CLP 338.1K

$462 CLP 430.2K

-21.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 CLP 265.0K

$337 CLP 314.1K

-15.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,067 CLP 993.7K

$829 CLP 771.6K

28.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$709 CLP 660.0K

$635 CLP 591.4K

11.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,151 CLP 2.0M

$2,443 CLP 2.3M

-11.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,373 CLP 1.3M

$1,603 CLP 1.5M

-14.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$736 CLP 685.1K

$1,130 CLP 1.1M

-34.87%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Vina del Mar: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $363 in La Serena versus $462 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 54% 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 $54.0 in Vina del Mar. Groceries tell a different story – $247 in La Serena vs $213 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 3%, 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 $1,567 per month in La Serena and $1,615 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 $1,044 in La Serena and $1,077 in Vina del Mar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 2% 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 $1,044, than in Vina del Mar at $1,077. 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.