🙂A single person spends $579 per month in Quellón vs $1,121 in La Serena, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $973 per month in Quellón vs $1,877 in La Serena, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,367 per month in Quellón vs $2,633 in La Serena, rent included.
🙂Quellón is about 48% cheaper than La Serena, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Quellón and La Serena are more affordable than the global median – Quellón57% lower, La Serena17% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Quellón
La Serena
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$7.94CLP 7,517
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.3CLP 49.6K
$49.76CLP 47.1K
5.16%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$8.59CLP 8,135
-
Cappuccino
$2.70CLP 2,558
$2.94CLP 2,786
-8.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.25CLP 1,181
$1.07CLP 1,016
16.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83CLP 784
$0.70CLP 664
18.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.07CLP 2,903
$2.07CLP 1,963
48.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20CLP 3,034
$4.04CLP 3,821
-20.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Quellón
La Serena
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25CLP 1,183
$1.25CLP 1,183
-
White Bread(500g)
$1.08CLP 1,024
$2.45CLP 2,322
-55.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.07CLP 1,961
$1.56CLP 1,478
32.69%
Eggs
$2.93CLP 2,775
$3.98CLP 3,768
-26.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.41CLP 6,070
$12.83CLP 12.1K
-50.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$6.03CLP 5,713
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$12.80CLP 12.1K
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.91CLP 1,811
$1.90CLP 1,801
0.53%
Banana(1kg)
$2.29CLP 2,169
$1.73CLP 1,637
32.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.75CLP 3,548
$1.30CLP 1,230
188.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.89CLP 1,789
$1.43CLP 1,356
32.17%
Potato(1kg)
$1.02CLP 966
$1.15CLP 1,091
-11.30%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07CLP 1,962
$1.22CLP 1,156
69.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03CLP 971
$1.04CLP 988
-0.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.16CLP 2,050
$0.92CLP 875
134.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$5.30CLP 5,023
-
Wine(Bottle)
$9.30CLP 8,809
$5.09CLP 4,818
82.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92CLP 2,765
$1.03CLP 971
183.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87CLP 1,775
$2.06CLP 1,951
-9.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Quellón
La Serena
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.45CLP 425
$1.02CLP 962
-55.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$36.61CLP 34.7K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.09CLP 2,925
$0.71CLP 676
335.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$2.05CLP 1,937
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$12.75CLP 12.1K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.39CLP 1,314
$1.44CLP 1,362
-3.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$20.4KCLP 19.3M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$12.7KCLP 12.0M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quellón
La Serena
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$88.5CLP 83.8K
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$10.96CLP 10.4K
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.34CLP 29.7K
$21.30CLP 20.2K
47.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Quellón
La Serena
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.3CLP 50.4K
$86.0CLP 81.5K
-38.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$21.00CLP 19.9K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$8.30CLP 7,862
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Quellón
La Serena
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.58CLP 25.2K
$44.29CLP 41.9K
-39.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$61.9CLP 58.6K
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$52.1CLP 49.3K
$95.1CLP 90.0K
-45.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$107CLP 100.9K
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Quellón
La Serena
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$263CLP 249.1K
$442CLP 418.8K
-40.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$210CLP 198.4K
$326CLP 309.1K
-35.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$418CLP 396.0K
$921CLP 872.2K
-54.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$373CLP 353.6K
$728CLP 689.4K
-48.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,075CLP 2.0M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,344CLP 1.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Quellón
La Serena
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$730CLP 691.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
6.5
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Quellón: September 20, 2026
Last update for La Serena: September 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $263 in Quellón versus $442 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 $52.0 in Quellón versus $50.0 in La Serena. Groceries tell a different story – $185 in Quellón vs $239 in La Serena – so Quellón 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
Quellón vs La Serena: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is La Serena cheaper than Quellón?
Yes – La Serena is pricier by about 94%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $868 per month in Quellón and $1,682 in La Serena. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Quellón, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Quellón and in La Serena?
Groceries cost about 30% 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.
Is eating out cheaper in Quellón or in La Serena?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Quellón and $50.0 in La Serena. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Quellón or in La Serena?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Quellón, where all-in costs run around $579, than in La Serena at $1,121. In Quellón it covers expenses comfortably, while in La Serena it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Quellón or La Serena more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Quellón – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Quellón. 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.