Cost of Living Comparison Between Los Ángeles and La Serena Cost of Living Comparison Between Los Ángeles and La Serena

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $958 per month in Los Ángeles vs $1,137 in La Serena, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,421 per month in Los Ángeles vs $1,903 in La Serena, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,885 per month in Los Ángeles vs $2,668 in La Serena, rent included.

Los Ángeles is about 16% cheaper than La Serena, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Los Ángeles and La Serena are more affordable than the global median – Los Ángeles 31% lower, La Serena 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.59 CLP 11.8K

$7.79 CLP 7,333

61.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.39 CLP 24.8K

$51.1 CLP 48.1K

-48.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.78 CLP 10.1K

$8.50 CLP 8,004

26.82%

Cappuccino

$2.17 CLP 2,044

$2.91 CLP 2,739

-25.43%

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

$1.65 CLP 1,549

$1.14 CLP 1,076

44.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 CLP 1,485

$0.72 CLP 680

119.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.69 CLP 2,536

$2.20 CLP 2,071

22.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 CLP 2,947

$3.92 CLP 3,685

-20.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 CLP 1,193

$1.28 CLP 1,202

-0.78%

White Bread (500g)

$2.86 CLP 2,694

$2.53 CLP 2,382

13.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.13 CLP 2,947

$1.58 CLP 1,489

98.10%

Eggs

$4.57 CLP 4,304

$4.01 CLP 3,770

13.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.41 CLP 7,916

$12.66 CLP 11.9K

-33.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.17 CLP 10.5K

$6.17 CLP 5,811

81.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.94 CLP 14.1K

$13.13 CLP 12.4K

13.79%

Apples (1kg)

$2.72 CLP 2,564

$1.87 CLP 1,760

45.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 CLP 1,648

$1.77 CLP 1,666

-1.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 CLP 2,561

$1.32 CLP 1,246

106.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.30 CLP 2,166

$1.51 CLP 1,423

52.32%

Potato (1kg)

$1.63 CLP 1,538

$1.19 CLP 1,122

36.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.67 CLP 1,573

$1.31 CLP 1,237

27.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.45 CLP 1,362

$1.06 CLP 998

36.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 CLP 1,088

$0.92 CLP 863

26.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.89 CLP 5,541

$5.23 CLP 4,920

12.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.39 CLP 4,127

$5.46 CLP 5,141

-19.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 CLP 977

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 CLP 1,993

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 CLP 527

$1.05 CLP 993

-46.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.05 CLP 34.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 CLP 2,034

$0.76 CLP 720

184.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 CLP 2,069

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.63 CLP 11.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 CLP 1,294

$1.47 CLP 1,382

-6.80%

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

$21.0K CLP 19.8M

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

$12.6K CLP 11.9M

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

$129 CLP 121.6K

$90.6 CLP 85.3K

42.55%

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

$11.59 CLP 10.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.17 CLP 19.9K

$22.49 CLP 21.2K

-5.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$85.4 CLP 80.4K

$89.2 CLP 83.9K

-4.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.62 CLP 9,993

$21.60 CLP 20.3K

-50.83%

Cinema Ticket

$4.47 CLP 4,206

$8.34 CLP 7,853

-46.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.97 CLP 42.3K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$64.7 CLP 60.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.1 CLP 92.3K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 CLP 101.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$294 CLP 276.4K

$447 CLP 420.8K

-34.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$235 CLP 221.0K

$332 CLP 312.6K

-29.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$470 CLP 441.9K

$953 CLP 896.6K

-50.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$360 CLP 338.4K

$731 CLP 687.7K

-50.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,116 CLP 2.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,363 CLP 1.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$736 CLP 692.4K

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 Los Ángeles: September 7, 2026

Last update for La Serena: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $294 in Los Ángeles versus $447 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Los Ángeles versus $51.0 in La Serena. Groceries tell a different story – $286 in Los Ángeles vs $243 in La Serena – so La Serena 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

Los Ángeles vs La Serena: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – La Serena is pricier by about 19%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,436 per month in Los Ángeles and $1,705 in La Serena. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Los Ángeles, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 18% cheaper in La Serena – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Los Ángeles and $51.0 in La Serena. 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 Los Ángeles, where all-in costs run around $958, than in La Serena at $1,137. In Los Ángeles it covers expenses comfortably, while in La Serena it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Los Ángeles – 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 Los Ángeles. 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.