Cost of Living Comparison Between Linares and La Serena Cost of Living Comparison Between Linares and La Serena

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,091 per month in Linares vs $1,042 in La Serena, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,675 per month in Linares vs $1,787 in La Serena, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,259 per month in Linares vs $2,533 in La Serena, rent included.

Linares costs about 5% more than La Serena, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Linares and La Serena are more affordable than the global median – Linares 19% lower, La Serena 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.53 CLP 4,972

$8.22 CLP 7,389

-32.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.4 CLP 48.9K

$51.9 CLP 46.6K

4.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.32 CLP 7,474

$8.75 CLP 7,868

-4.91%

Cappuccino

$3.13 CLP 2,817

$2.98 CLP 2,674

5.03%

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

$0.67 CLP 603

$1.12 CLP 1,004

-40.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 CLP 987

$0.67 CLP 598

64.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.25 CLP 2,919

$2.22 CLP 1,998

46.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 CLP 2,863

$4.10 CLP 3,682

-22.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 CLP 1,061

$1.29 CLP 1,159

-8.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.52 CLP 1,362

$2.56 CLP 2,302

-40.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 CLP 1,941

$1.56 CLP 1,401

38.46%

Eggs

$2.63 CLP 2,359

$4.03 CLP 3,624

-34.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.64 CLP 9,565

$12.98 CLP 11.7K

-18.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.70 CLP 6,018

$6.24 CLP 5,605

7.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.99 CLP 9,875

$13.04 CLP 11.7K

-15.72%

Apples (1kg)

$2.11 CLP 1,894

$1.92 CLP 1,728

9.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 CLP 1,469

$1.80 CLP 1,615

-9.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.10 CLP 1,891

$1.40 CLP 1,255

50.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.89 CLP 802

$1.47 CLP 1,317

-39.46%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 CLP 649

$1.23 CLP 1,107

-41.46%

Onion (1kg)

$1.67 CLP 1,505

$1.33 CLP 1,194

25.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.29 CLP 1,158

$1.13 CLP 1,015

14.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 CLP 1,075

$0.92 CLP 826

30.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.81 CLP 5,225

$5.33 CLP 4,791

9.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.39 CLP 5,739

$5.35 CLP 4,809

19.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 CLP 1,384

$1.05 CLP 940

46.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 CLP 2,289

$2.25 CLP 2,025

13.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.58 CLP 525

$1.06 CLP 953

-45.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.12 CLP 34.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.51 CLP 456

$0.72 CLP 643

-29.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 CLP 1,273

$2.13 CLP 1,913

-33.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.32 CLP 10.2K

$13.01 CLP 11.7K

-12.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 CLP 1,242

$1.42 CLP 1,274

-2.82%

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

$19.4K CLP 17.4M

$20.7K CLP 18.6M

-6.05%

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

$22.6K CLP 20.3M

$13.1K CLP 11.8M

72.59%

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

$132 CLP 118.4K

$92.7 CLP 83.3K

42.19%

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

$13.37 CLP 12.0K

$11.35 CLP 10.2K

17.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.28 CLP 20.0K

$22.61 CLP 20.3K

-1.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.67 CLP 34.8K

$36.68 CLP 33.0K

5.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.09 CLP 19.0K

$21.65 CLP 19.5K

-2.59%

Cinema Ticket

$6.54 CLP 5,877

$8.86 CLP 7,963

-26.19%

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

$435 CLP 391.1K

$441 CLP 396.0K

-1.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,912 CLP 3.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.4 CLP 50.7K

$46.06 CLP 41.4K

22.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.64 CLP 29.3K

$29.87 CLP 26.8K

9.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.7 CLP 68.9K

$96.4 CLP 86.7K

-20.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 CLP 75.3K

$110 CLP 98.4K

-23.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$480 CLP 431.8K

$364 CLP 327.0K

32.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$366 CLP 329.1K

$280 CLP 251.6K

30.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$895 CLP 804.6K

$1,070 CLP 962.0K

-16.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$604 CLP 543.1K

$699 CLP 627.9K

-13.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,225 CLP 2.0M

$2,226 CLP 2.0M

-0.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,239 CLP 2.0M

$1,434 CLP 1.3M

56.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$875 CLP 786.5K

$746 CLP 670.6K

17.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.94

6.5

-24.00%

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

Last update for Linares: June 8, 2026

Last update for La Serena: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $480 in Linares versus $364 in La Serena. 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 17% higher in Linares, 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 $54.0 in Linares versus $52.0 in La Serena. Groceries tell a different story – $228 in Linares vs $246 in La Serena – so Linares 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

Linares vs La Serena: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Linares is pricier by about 5%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,636 per month in Linares and $1,562 in La Serena. 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 $1,091 in Linares and $1,042 in La Serena. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $435 per month in Linares and $441 in La Serena. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in La Serena, where all-in costs run around $1,042, than in Linares at $1,091. In La Serena it covers expenses comfortably, while in Linares 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, Linares makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.