Cost of Living Comparison Between San Bernardo and La Serena Cost of Living Comparison Between San Bernardo and La Serena

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,156 per month in San Bernardo vs $1,064 in La Serena, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,786 per month in San Bernardo vs $1,803 in La Serena, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,416 per month in San Bernardo vs $2,541 in La Serena, rent included.

San Bernardo costs about 9% more than La Serena, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both San Bernardo and La Serena are more affordable than the global median – San Bernardo 13% lower, La Serena 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.84 CLP 10.1K

$8.16 CLP 7,597

32.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.4 CLP 49.7K

$51.8 CLP 48.2K

3.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.40 CLP 7,813

$8.67 CLP 8,063

-3.11%

Cappuccino

$3.14 CLP 2,923

$3.03 CLP 2,819

3.63%

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

$0.94 CLP 870

$1.16 CLP 1,080

-18.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 CLP 1,200

$0.67 CLP 620

92.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.19 CLP 2,972

$2.14 CLP 1,991

49.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.27 CLP 3,975

$4.09 CLP 3,810

4.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 CLP 1,036

$1.30 CLP 1,211

-14.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.52 CLP 1,418

$2.53 CLP 2,358

-39.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.12 CLP 1,969

$1.54 CLP 1,429

37.66%

Eggs

$4.12 CLP 3,834

$3.90 CLP 3,630

5.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.51 CLP 9,783

$13.25 CLP 12.3K

-20.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.72 CLP 6,248

$6.24 CLP 5,809

7.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.83 CLP 10.1K

$13.35 CLP 12.4K

-18.88%

Apples (1kg)

$2.07 CLP 1,930

$2.00 CLP 1,857

3.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 CLP 1,513

$1.82 CLP 1,690

-10.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.11 CLP 1,962

$1.34 CLP 1,249

57.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.93 CLP 1,791

$1.48 CLP 1,380

30.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.93 CLP 1,796

$1.25 CLP 1,161

54.40%

Onion (1kg)

$1.61 CLP 1,498

$1.26 CLP 1,173

27.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.29 CLP 1,199

$1.08 CLP 1,000

19.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 CLP 1,137

$0.95 CLP 887

28.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.48 CLP 3,242

$5.37 CLP 4,997

-35.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.24 CLP 5,807

$5.23 CLP 4,867

19.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 CLP 1,431

$1.01 CLP 939

52.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 CLP 2,301

$2.23 CLP 2,071

10.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.58 CLP 539

$1.09 CLP 1,017

-46.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.45 CLP 35.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.51 CLP 471

$0.74 CLP 687

-31.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 CLP 1,354

$2.06 CLP 1,915

-29.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.69 CLP 10.9K

$13.03 CLP 12.1K

-10.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 CLP 1,320

$1.43 CLP 1,328

-0.70%

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

$19.4K CLP 18.0M

$20.6K CLP 19.1M

-5.77%

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

$23.1K CLP 21.5M

$13.1K CLP 12.2M

75.85%

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

$130 CLP 121.0K

$93.3 CLP 86.8K

39.37%

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

$13.61 CLP 12.7K

$11.35 CLP 10.6K

19.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.23 CLP 20.7K

$22.00 CLP 20.5K

1.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.49 CLP 35.8K

$35.74 CLP 33.3K

7.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.84 CLP 19.4K

$21.13 CLP 19.7K

-1.37%

Cinema Ticket

$6.52 CLP 6,066

$8.84 CLP 8,228

-26.24%

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

$444 CLP 413.0K

$439 CLP 408.9K

1.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,593 CLP 8.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 CLP 50.7K

$46.67 CLP 43.4K

16.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 CLP 30.1K

$30.63 CLP 28.5K

5.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.0 CLP 72.5K

$95.6 CLP 89.0K

-18.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 CLP 78.0K

$109 CLP 101.4K

-23.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$485 CLP 451.1K

$369 CLP 343.6K

31.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$380 CLP 353.7K

$285 CLP 265.4K

33.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$889 CLP 827.4K

$1,035 CLP 962.7K

-14.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$592 CLP 551.0K

$707 CLP 657.5K

-16.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,945 CLP 1.8M

$2,158 CLP 2.0M

-9.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,395 CLP 1.3M

$1,354 CLP 1.3M

2.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,390 CLP 1.3M

$739 CLP 687.6K

88.05%

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 San Bernardo: July 26, 2026

Last update for La Serena: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $485 in San Bernardo versus $369 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 88% higher in San Bernardo, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in San Bernardo versus $52.0 in La Serena. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in San Bernardo vs $247 in La Serena – so San Bernardo 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

San Bernardo vs La Serena: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – San Bernardo is pricier by about 9%, 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 $1,733 per month in San Bernardo and $1,597 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 $1,156 in San Bernardo and $1,064 in La Serena. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $444 per month in San Bernardo and $439 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 $1,064, than in San Bernardo at $1,156. In La Serena it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Bernardo 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, San Bernardo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.