Cost of Living Comparison Between Puerto Montt and La Serena Cost of Living Comparison Between Puerto Montt and La Serena

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $455 per month in Puerto Montt vs $1,112 in La Serena, rent included.

A couple spends around $769 per month in Puerto Montt vs $1,845 in La Serena, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,083 per month in Puerto Montt vs $2,578 in La Serena, rent included.

Puerto Montt is about 59% cheaper than La Serena, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Puerto Montt and La Serena are more affordable than the global median – Puerto Montt 67% lower, La Serena 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.42 CLP 8,036

$7.83 CLP 7,468

7.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.27 CLP 34.6K

$48.70 CLP 46.5K

-25.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.51 CLP 7,165

$8.61 CLP 8,212

-12.78%

Cappuccino

$2.78 CLP 2,650

$3.00 CLP 2,866

-7.33%

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

$0.90 CLP 861

$1.13 CLP 1,074

-20.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.96 CLP 916

$0.70 CLP 668

37.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 CLP 2,050

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.89 CLP 3,711

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 CLP 1,120

$1.21 CLP 1,159

-3.31%

White Bread (500g)

$2.59 CLP 2,467

$2.48 CLP 2,367

4.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.45 CLP 1,381

$1.54 CLP 1,470

-5.84%

Eggs

$3.21 CLP 3,060

$3.80 CLP 3,626

-15.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.34 CLP 10.8K

$12.38 CLP 11.8K

-8.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.81 CLP 5,546

$5.84 CLP 5,572

-0.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.24 CLP 6,907

$12.96 CLP 12.4K

-44.14%

Apples (1kg)

$1.06 CLP 1,011

$1.84 CLP 1,752

-42.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 CLP 1,370

$1.80 CLP 1,715

-20.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.65 CLP 2,527

$1.30 CLP 1,241

103.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.87 CLP 1,784

$1.45 CLP 1,379

28.97%

Potato (1kg)

$1.22 CLP 1,160

Onion (1kg)

$1.59 CLP 1,514

$1.27 CLP 1,208

25.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.30 CLP 1,238

$1.03 CLP 987

26.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.56 CLP 1,490

$0.89 CLP 850

75.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.84 CLP 4,618

$5.33 CLP 5,088

-9.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.89 CLP 5,622

$5.37 CLP 5,128

9.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 CLP 1,371

$0.96 CLP 919

50.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 CLP 1,488

$2.08 CLP 1,989

-25.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 CLP 863

$1.06 CLP 1,007

-15.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.20 CLP 34.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.72 CLP 685

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.14 CLP 2,044

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.58 CLP 12.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 CLP 1,262

$1.42 CLP 1,359

-7.04%

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

$19.9K CLP 19.0M

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

$12.6K CLP 12.0M

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

$63.9 CLP 61.0K

$88.2 CLP 84.1K

-27.48%

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

$11.40 CLP 10.9K

$11.04 CLP 10.5K

3.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.60 CLP 30.2K

$21.16 CLP 20.2K

49.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$87.3 CLP 83.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.04 CLP 20.1K

Cinema Ticket

$8.56 CLP 8,173

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

$147 CLP 139.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.70 CLP 41.7K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.5 CLP 58.7K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.8 CLP 90.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 CLP 101.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$529 CLP 505.0K

$439 CLP 419.4K

20.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$327 CLP 312.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$906 CLP 864.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 CLP 690.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,089 CLP 2.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,374 CLP 1.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$733 CLP 699.0K

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 Puerto Montt: September 14, 2026

Last update for La Serena: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $529 in Puerto Montt versus $439 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 $36.00 in Puerto Montt versus $49.00 in La Serena. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $224 vs $237 – making Puerto Montt 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

Puerto Montt vs La Serena: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – La Serena is pricier by about 144%, 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 $682 per month in Puerto Montt and $1,668 in La Serena. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 6% more in La Serena, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Puerto Montt and $49.00 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 Puerto Montt, where all-in costs run around $455, than in La Serena at $1,112. In Puerto Montt it covers expenses comfortably, while in La Serena it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Puerto Montt – 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 Puerto Montt. 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.