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 $1,090 per month in Los Ángeles vs $1,044 in La Serena, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,627 per month in Los Ángeles vs $1,757 in La Serena, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,164 per month in Los Ángeles vs $2,469 in La Serena, rent included.

Los Ángeles costs about 4% more than La Serena, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Los Ángeles and La Serena are more affordable than the global median – Los Ángeles 18% lower, La Serena 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.41 CLP 7,828

$8.00 CLP 7,448

5.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.87 CLP 41.8K

$50.7 CLP 47.2K

-11.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.87 CLP 7,333

$8.87 CLP 8,256

-11.27%

Cappuccino

$2.75 CLP 2,560

$3.09 CLP 2,879

-11.00%

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

$1.36 CLP 1,268

$1.10 CLP 1,027

23.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 CLP 958

$0.72 CLP 670

43.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.25 CLP 3,028

$2.14 CLP 1,990

51.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.13 CLP 3,849

$3.95 CLP 3,680

4.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 CLP 1,109

$1.30 CLP 1,214

-8.46%

White Bread (500g)

$1.52 CLP 1,414

$2.57 CLP 2,396

-40.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.94 CLP 1,809

$1.54 CLP 1,437

25.97%

Eggs

$3.44 CLP 3,202

$3.95 CLP 3,678

-12.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.66 CLP 9,928

$12.84 CLP 12.0K

-16.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.64 CLP 6,187

$6.05 CLP 5,638

9.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.14 CLP 10.4K

$13.54 CLP 12.6K

-17.73%

Apples (1kg)

$1.80 CLP 1,677

$1.98 CLP 1,839

-9.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 CLP 1,473

$1.78 CLP 1,661

-11.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 CLP 1,495

$1.39 CLP 1,296

15.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 CLP 1,418

$1.55 CLP 1,441

-1.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 CLP 1,150

$1.18 CLP 1,103

5.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.41 CLP 1,316

$1.31 CLP 1,216

7.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.27 CLP 1,180

$1.07 CLP 999

18.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 CLP 1,130

$0.96 CLP 891

26.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.54 CLP 5,160

$5.46 CLP 5,085

1.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.90 CLP 5,490

$5.46 CLP 5,082

8.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 CLP 1,503

$1.04 CLP 968

54.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 CLP 2,161

$2.23 CLP 2,072

4.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.61 CLP 570

$1.05 CLP 981

-41.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.37 CLP 34.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.50 CLP 469

$0.72 CLP 670

-30.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 CLP 1,978

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.70 CLP 11.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 CLP 1,292

$1.44 CLP 1,344

-3.47%

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

$19.4K CLP 18.1M

$20.9K CLP 19.5M

-7.19%

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

$21.7K CLP 20.2M

$12.8K CLP 11.9M

70.07%

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

$134 CLP 124.7K

$91.6 CLP 85.3K

46.18%

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

$13.66 CLP 12.7K

$11.51 CLP 10.7K

18.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.90 CLP 20.4K

$22.61 CLP 21.1K

-3.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.70 CLP 36.0K

$35.97 CLP 33.5K

7.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.89 CLP 19.4K

$21.67 CLP 20.2K

-3.60%

Cinema Ticket

$5.58 CLP 5,198

$8.74 CLP 8,137

-36.16%

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

$428 CLP 399.0K

$428 CLP 398.9K

0.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.96 CLP 46.5K

$45.25 CLP 42.1K

10.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.88 CLP 28.8K

$30.18 CLP 28.1K

2.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.3 CLP 57.1K

$97.0 CLP 90.3K

-36.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.0 CLP 77.3K

$110 CLP 102.4K

-24.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$486 CLP 452.4K

$363 CLP 338.1K

33.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$377 CLP 351.0K

$285 CLP 265.0K

32.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$877 CLP 816.9K

$1,067 CLP 993.7K

-17.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$589 CLP 548.6K

$709 CLP 660.0K

-16.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,151 CLP 2.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,373 CLP 1.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$736 CLP 685.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.18

6.5

-20.31%

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

Last update for Los Ángeles: July 12, 2026

Last update for La Serena: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $486 in Los Ángeles versus $363 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 $45.00 in Los Ángeles versus $51.0 in La Serena. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $230 vs $247 – making Los Ángeles the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 – Los Ángeles is pricier by about 4%, 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 $1,635 per month in Los Ángeles and $1,567 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 $1,090 in Los Ángeles and $1,044 in La Serena. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $428 per month in Los Ángeles and $428 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 $1,044, than in Los Ángeles at $1,090. In La Serena it covers expenses comfortably, while in Los Ángeles 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, Los Ángeles makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.