Cost of Living Comparison Between San Pedro de Atacama and La Serena Cost of Living Comparison Between San Pedro de Atacama and La Serena

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,072 per month in San Pedro de Atacama vs $1,053 in La Serena, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,625 per month in San Pedro de Atacama vs $1,798 in La Serena, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,178 per month in San Pedro de Atacama vs $2,543 in La Serena, rent included.

San Pedro de Atacama costs about 2% more than La Serena, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both San Pedro de Atacama and La Serena are more affordable than the global median – San Pedro de Atacama 20% lower, La Serena 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.09 CLP 6,280

$7.97 CLP 7,060

-11.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.61 CLP 38.6K

$50.6 CLP 44.8K

-13.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.83 CLP 6,938

$8.52 CLP 7,543

-8.10%

Cappuccino

$2.74 CLP 2,431

$2.96 CLP 2,624

-7.43%

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

$1.57 CLP 1,390

$1.10 CLP 977

42.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.18 CLP 1,045

$0.68 CLP 599

73.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.55 CLP 3,144

$2.13 CLP 1,889

66.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.04 CLP 3,581

$4.02 CLP 3,563

0.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 CLP 1,101

$1.29 CLP 1,142

-3.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 CLP 1,356

$2.54 CLP 2,254

-39.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 CLP 1,458

$1.60 CLP 1,421

3.12%

Eggs

$3.60 CLP 3,185

$3.98 CLP 3,521

-9.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.31 CLP 9,134

$13.25 CLP 11.7K

-22.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.79 CLP 6,015

$6.09 CLP 5,396

11.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.66 CLP 10.3K

$13.23 CLP 11.7K

-11.87%

Apples (1kg)

$1.92 CLP 1,697

$1.89 CLP 1,673

1.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 CLP 1,418

$1.85 CLP 1,643

-13.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.76 CLP 1,556

$1.35 CLP 1,191

30.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.72 CLP 1,519

$1.53 CLP 1,352

12.42%

Potato (1kg)

$1.61 CLP 1,422

$1.25 CLP 1,109

28.80%

Onion (1kg)

$1.49 CLP 1,318

$1.28 CLP 1,132

16.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.33 CLP 1,180

$1.12 CLP 996

18.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 CLP 1,042

$0.97 CLP 856

21.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.34 CLP 4,732

$5.38 CLP 4,761

-0.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.01 CLP 4,440

$5.52 CLP 4,886

-9.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 CLP 1,362

$0.99 CLP 880

55.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 CLP 1,888

$2.17 CLP 1,919

-1.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 CLP 509

$1.10 CLP 970

-48.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.99 CLP 33.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 CLP 613

$0.73 CLP 650

-5.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.04 CLP 1,809

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.10 CLP 11.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 CLP 1,261

$1.43 CLP 1,267

-0.70%

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

$17.9K CLP 15.9M

$20.7K CLP 18.4M

-13.42%

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

$19.2K CLP 17.0M

$13.1K CLP 11.6M

47.02%

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

$131 CLP 115.7K

$91.7 CLP 81.3K

42.45%

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

$13.69 CLP 12.1K

$11.56 CLP 10.2K

18.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.64 CLP 19.2K

$22.11 CLP 19.6K

-2.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.28 CLP 34.8K

$35.87 CLP 31.8K

9.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.03 CLP 20.4K

$21.47 CLP 19.0K

7.27%

Cinema Ticket

$5.48 CLP 4,854

$8.53 CLP 7,555

-35.76%

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

$385 CLP 341.0K

$441 CLP 390.4K

-12.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.40 CLP 41.1K

$46.17 CLP 40.9K

0.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.60 CLP 21.8K

$29.77 CLP 26.4K

-17.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.0 CLP 54.9K

$97.6 CLP 86.4K

-36.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.4 CLP 73.9K

$110 CLP 97.1K

-23.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$479 CLP 424.6K

$362 CLP 320.8K

32.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$375 CLP 331.8K

$291 CLP 258.1K

28.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 CLP 789.1K

$1,069 CLP 946.7K

-16.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$586 CLP 519.5K

$706 CLP 625.0K

-16.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,317 CLP 2.1M

$2,224 CLP 2.0M

4.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,450 CLP 1.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$781 CLP 691.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.01

6.5

-22.92%

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

Last update for San Pedro de Atacama: June 16, 2026

Last update for La Serena: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $479 in San Pedro de Atacama versus $362 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 $44.00 in San Pedro de Atacama versus $51.0 in La Serena. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $233 vs $247 – making San Pedro de Atacama 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 Pedro de Atacama vs La Serena: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – San Pedro de Atacama is pricier by about 2%, 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 $1,608 per month in San Pedro de Atacama and $1,579 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 $1,072 in San Pedro de Atacama and $1,053 in La Serena. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $385 per month in San Pedro de Atacama and $441 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 $1,053, than in San Pedro de Atacama at $1,072. In La Serena it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Pedro de Atacama 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, San Pedro de Atacama makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.