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 $1,261 per month in Phuket vs $1,042 in La Serena, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,286 per month in Phuket vs $1,787 in La Serena, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,310 per month in Phuket vs $2,533 in La Serena, rent included.

Phuket costs about 21% more than La Serena, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and La Serena are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, La Serena 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 ฿149

$8.22 CLP 7,389

-44.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.63 ฿1,519

$51.9 CLP 46.6K

-10.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.47 ฿276

$8.75 CLP 7,868

-3.20%

Cappuccino

$3.03 ฿98.6

$2.98 CLP 2,674

1.68%

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

$0.69 ฿22.45

$1.12 CLP 1,004

-38.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.92

$0.67 CLP 598

-44.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 ฿81.0

$2.22 CLP 1,998

12.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$4.10 CLP 3,682

-10.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 ฿71.0

$1.29 CLP 1,159

68.99%

White Bread (500g)

$1.90 ฿62.0

$2.56 CLP 2,302

-25.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 ฿71.6

$1.56 CLP 1,401

41.03%

Eggs

$2.22 ฿72.4

$4.03 CLP 3,624

-44.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.99 ฿651

$12.98 CLP 11.7K

54.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.66 ฿119

$6.24 CLP 5,605

-41.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.25 ฿432

$13.04 CLP 11.7K

1.61%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿105

$1.92 CLP 1,728

68.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.3

$1.80 CLP 1,615

-5.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ฿78.0

$1.40 CLP 1,255

70.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿67.7

$1.47 CLP 1,317

41.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.23 CLP 1,107

29.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.31

$1.33 CLP 1,194

11.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ฿33.54

$1.13 CLP 1,015

-8.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿16.83

$0.92 CLP 826

-43.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.25 ฿138

$5.33 CLP 4,791

-20.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿612

$5.35 CLP 4,809

251.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ฿57.2

$1.05 CLP 940

67.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ฿89.8

$2.25 CLP 2,025

22.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 ฿44.32

$1.06 CLP 953

28.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.36 ฿370

$38.12 CLP 34.3K

-70.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 ฿102

$0.72 CLP 643

336.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿33.74

$2.13 CLP 1,913

-51.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.77 ฿448

$13.01 CLP 11.7K

5.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿43.79

$1.42 CLP 1,274

-5.63%

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

$27.7K ฿901.4K

$20.7K CLP 18.6M

33.97%

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

$33.9K ฿1.1M

$13.1K CLP 11.8M

158.89%

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

$124 ฿4,025

$92.7 CLP 83.3K

33.35%

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

$13.52 ฿440

$11.35 CLP 10.2K

19.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.69 ฿609

$22.61 CLP 20.3K

-17.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 ฿2,013

$36.68 CLP 33.0K

68.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.25 ฿562

$21.65 CLP 19.5K

-20.32%

Cinema Ticket

$9.14 ฿298

$8.86 CLP 7,963

3.16%

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

$703 ฿22.9K

$441 CLP 396.0K

59.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K ฿517.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,937

$46.06 CLP 41.4K

29.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.07 ฿1,142

$29.87 CLP 26.8K

17.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,754

$96.4 CLP 86.7K

19.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.1 ฿2,737

$110 CLP 98.4K

-23.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$619 ฿20.1K

$364 CLP 327.0K

70.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$433 ฿14.1K

$280 CLP 251.6K

54.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,062 ฿67.2K

$1,070 CLP 962.0K

92.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,511 ฿49.2K

$699 CLP 627.9K

116.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,646 ฿118.7K

$2,226 CLP 2.0M

63.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,626 ฿85.5K

$1,434 CLP 1.3M

83.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$507 ฿16.5K

$746 CLP 670.6K

-32.05%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for La Serena: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $619 in Phuket 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 47% 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 $52.0 in La Serena. Groceries tell a different story – $293 in Phuket vs $246 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 21%, 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 $1,892 per month in Phuket 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 $1,261 in Phuket and $1,042 in La Serena. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 236% 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 $1,042, than in Phuket at $1,261. 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.