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 $925 per month in San Bernardo vs $1,112 in La Serena, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,448 per month in San Bernardo vs $1,845 in La Serena, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,972 per month in San Bernardo vs $2,578 in La Serena, rent included.

San Bernardo is about 17% cheaper than La Serena, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both San Bernardo and La Serena are more affordable than the global median – San Bernardo 32% lower, La Serena 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.01 CLP 7,647

$7.83 CLP 7,468

2.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.45 CLP 25.2K

$48.70 CLP 46.5K

-45.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.98 CLP 6,657

$8.61 CLP 8,212

-18.93%

Cappuccino

$2.65 CLP 2,533

$3.00 CLP 2,866

-11.67%

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

$0.99 CLP 949

$1.13 CLP 1,074

-12.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.07 CLP 1,020

$0.70 CLP 668

52.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.20 CLP 4,010

$2.15 CLP 2,050

95.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.72 CLP 4,504

$3.89 CLP 3,711

21.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 CLP 1,086

$1.21 CLP 1,159

-5.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 CLP 1,219

$2.48 CLP 2,367

-48.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 CLP 1,560

$1.54 CLP 1,470

5.84%

Eggs

$4.08 CLP 3,895

$3.80 CLP 3,626

7.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.42 CLP 10.9K

$12.38 CLP 11.8K

-7.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.51 CLP 4,308

$5.84 CLP 5,572

-22.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.98 CLP 10.5K

$12.96 CLP 12.4K

-15.28%

Apples (1kg)

$1.90 CLP 1,809

$1.84 CLP 1,752

3.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 CLP 1,516

$1.80 CLP 1,715

-11.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.47 CLP 1,407

$1.30 CLP 1,241

13.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.77 CLP 1,688

$1.45 CLP 1,379

22.07%

Potato (1kg)

$0.88 CLP 840

$1.22 CLP 1,160

-27.87%

Onion (1kg)

$0.80 CLP 764

$1.27 CLP 1,208

-37.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.25 CLP 1,188

$1.03 CLP 987

21.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 CLP 1,081

$0.89 CLP 850

26.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 CLP 3,164

$5.33 CLP 5,088

-37.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.09 CLP 5,810

$5.37 CLP 5,128

13.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 CLP 1,540

$0.96 CLP 919

67.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 CLP 2,405

$2.08 CLP 1,989

21.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.81 CLP 776

$1.06 CLP 1,007

-23.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.20 CLP 34.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 CLP 389

$0.72 CLP 685

-43.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.93 CLP 886

$2.14 CLP 2,044

-56.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.80 CLP 11.3K

$12.58 CLP 12.0K

-6.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 CLP 1,301

$1.42 CLP 1,359

-4.23%

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

$18.4K CLP 17.5M

$19.9K CLP 19.0M

-7.94%

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

$21.7K CLP 20.7M

$12.6K CLP 12.0M

72.69%

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

$125 CLP 118.9K

$88.2 CLP 84.1K

41.35%

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

$12.48 CLP 11.9K

$11.04 CLP 10.5K

13.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.51 CLP 15.8K

$21.16 CLP 20.2K

-21.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.41 CLP 19.5K

$87.3 CLP 83.3K

-76.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.04 CLP 20.1K

Cinema Ticket

$7.67 CLP 7,320

$8.56 CLP 8,173

-10.40%

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

$447 CLP 426.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.1K CLP 10.6M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.13 CLP 35.4K

$43.70 CLP 41.7K

-15.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.27 CLP 26.0K

$61.5 CLP 58.7K

-55.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.2 CLP 65.1K

$94.8 CLP 90.4K

-28.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.1 CLP 78.4K

$106 CLP 101.5K

-22.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$279 CLP 265.8K

$439 CLP 419.4K

-36.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$256 CLP 244.0K

$327 CLP 312.0K

-21.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$716 CLP 683.3K

$906 CLP 864.6K

-20.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$552 CLP 526.7K

$724 CLP 690.6K

-23.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,925 CLP 1.8M

$2,089 CLP 2.0M

-7.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,417 CLP 1.4M

$1,374 CLP 1.3M

3.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,347 CLP 1.3M

$733 CLP 699.0K

83.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.39

6.5

-17.08%

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

Last update for San Bernardo: September 12, 2026

Last update for La Serena: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $279 in San Bernardo 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.

Salaries run about 84% higher in San Bernardo, 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 $26.00 in San Bernardo versus $49.00 in La Serena. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $219 vs $237 – making San Bernardo 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

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

Yes – La Serena is pricier by about 20%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,387 per month in San Bernardo 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 San Bernardo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 8% 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 $26.00 in San Bernardo 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 San Bernardo, where all-in costs run around $925, than in La Serena at $1,112. In San Bernardo it covers expenses comfortably, while in La Serena it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward San Bernardo – 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 San Bernardo. 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.