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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $1,043 in La Serena, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $1,804 in La Serena, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $2,565 in La Serena, rent included.

Phuket costs about 18% more than La Serena, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and La Serena are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, La Serena 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.63 ฿151

$7.87 CLP 6,997

-41.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.84 ฿1,532

$50.8 CLP 45.1K

-7.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿289

$8.66 CLP 7,703

2.08%

Cappuccino

$3.00 ฿98.0

$3.08 CLP 2,739

-2.60%

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

$0.74 ฿24.25

$1.16 CLP 1,034

-36.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.95

$0.69 CLP 613

-46.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ฿79.8

$2.22 CLP 1,975

9.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ฿118

$4.15 CLP 3,691

-13.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿73.9

$1.30 CLP 1,159

73.85%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 ฿60.1

$2.49 CLP 2,219

-26.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 ฿73.4

$1.60 CLP 1,425

40.00%

Eggs

$2.32 ฿75.7

$3.88 CLP 3,451

-40.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.67 ฿643

$13.09 CLP 11.6K

50.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿119

$6.06 CLP 5,390

-39.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.10 ฿428

$13.32 CLP 11.8K

-1.65%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ฿111

$1.90 CLP 1,687

78.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.7

$1.87 CLP 1,663

-12.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿79.0

$1.36 CLP 1,205

77.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿66.4

$1.55 CLP 1,376

30.97%

Potato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿50.9

$1.24 CLP 1,100

25.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿48.94

$1.26 CLP 1,117

19.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ฿33.50

$1.09 CLP 967

-6.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.00

$0.89 CLP 793

-44.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.45 ฿145

$5.31 CLP 4,720

-16.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.88 ฿617

$5.64 CLP 5,016

234.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$1.04 CLP 921

71.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$2.17 CLP 1,930

26.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.40 ฿45.81

$1.10 CLP 976

27.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.48 ฿376

$38.39 CLP 34.1K

-70.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.12 ฿102

$0.73 CLP 652

327.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.00 ฿32.67

$2.07 CLP 1,841

-51.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.09 ฿461

$12.77 CLP 11.4K

10.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 ฿44.19

$1.43 CLP 1,267

-5.59%

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

$27.2K ฿888.9K

$21.2K CLP 18.8M

28.37%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$13.0K CLP 11.6M

152.69%

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

$125 ฿4,087

$92.2 CLP 82.0K

35.55%

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

$13.57 ฿444

$11.70 CLP 10.4K

15.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.52 ฿606

$22.51 CLP 20.0K

-17.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 ฿2,010

$40.00 CLP 35.6K

53.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿551

$21.36 CLP 19.0K

-21.16%

Cinema Ticket

$9.19 ฿300

$8.49 CLP 7,549

8.24%

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

$698 ฿22.8K

$442 CLP 392.8K

58.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.6K ฿509.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 ฿1,889

$45.07 CLP 40.1K

28.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.24 ฿1,152

$65.0 CLP 57.8K

-45.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ฿3,699

$96.0 CLP 85.4K

17.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.4 ฿2,825

$111 CLP 98.6K

-22.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$616 ฿20.1K

$370 CLP 328.7K

66.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.6K

$286 CLP 254.5K

55.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,048 ฿67.0K

$1,033 CLP 918.9K

98.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿48.8K

$702 CLP 624.4K

112.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,779 ฿123.6K

$2,184 CLP 1.9M

72.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,649 ฿86.6K

$1,443 CLP 1.3M

83.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$524 ฿17.1K

$780 CLP 693.2K

-32.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

6.5

-18.00%

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

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Last update for La Serena: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $370 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 49% higher in La Serena, 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 $47.00 in Phuket versus $51.0 in La Serena. Groceries tell a different story – $292 in Phuket vs $245 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

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

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 18%, 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 $1,847 per month in Phuket and $1,565 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 $1,232 in Phuket and $1,043 in La Serena. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 234% 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 $1,043, than in Phuket at $1,232. In La Serena it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket 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.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with La Serena. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.