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 $1,056 per month in San Pedro de Atacama vs $1,042 in La Serena, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,635 per month in San Pedro de Atacama vs $1,787 in La Serena, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,214 per month in San Pedro de Atacama vs $2,533 in La Serena, rent included.

San Pedro de Atacama costs about 1% 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 21% lower, La Serena 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.24 CLP 6,505

$8.22 CLP 7,389

-11.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.39 CLP 39.9K

$51.9 CLP 46.6K

-14.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.77 CLP 6,984

$8.75 CLP 7,868

-11.20%

Cappuccino

$2.73 CLP 2,451

$2.98 CLP 2,674

-8.39%

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

$1.63 CLP 1,467

$1.12 CLP 1,004

45.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 CLP 1,042

$0.67 CLP 598

73.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.46 CLP 3,107

$2.22 CLP 1,998

55.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.99 CLP 3,586

$4.10 CLP 3,682

-2.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 CLP 1,116

$1.29 CLP 1,159

-3.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 CLP 1,323

$2.56 CLP 2,302

-42.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 CLP 1,510

$1.56 CLP 1,401

7.69%

Eggs

$3.65 CLP 3,280

$4.03 CLP 3,624

-9.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.95 CLP 8,944

$12.98 CLP 11.7K

-23.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.59 CLP 5,920

$6.24 CLP 5,605

5.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.42 CLP 10.3K

$13.04 CLP 11.7K

-12.42%

Apples (1kg)

$1.97 CLP 1,768

$1.92 CLP 1,728

2.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 CLP 1,395

$1.80 CLP 1,615

-13.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.73 CLP 1,550

$1.40 CLP 1,255

23.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.68 CLP 1,512

$1.47 CLP 1,317

14.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.64 CLP 1,478

$1.23 CLP 1,107

33.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 CLP 1,333

$1.33 CLP 1,194

11.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.36 CLP 1,219

$1.13 CLP 1,015

20.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 CLP 1,106

$0.92 CLP 826

33.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.06 CLP 4,551

$5.33 CLP 4,791

-5.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.13 CLP 4,608

$5.35 CLP 4,809

-4.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 CLP 1,386

$1.05 CLP 940

46.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 CLP 1,947

$2.25 CLP 2,025

-3.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 CLP 513

$1.06 CLP 953

-46.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.12 CLP 34.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.70 CLP 629

$0.72 CLP 643

-2.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 CLP 1,913

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.01 CLP 11.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 CLP 1,244

$1.42 CLP 1,274

-2.82%

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

$17.5K CLP 15.7M

$20.7K CLP 18.6M

-15.46%

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

$19.4K CLP 17.4M

$13.1K CLP 11.8M

48.19%

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

$134 CLP 120.7K

$92.7 CLP 83.3K

44.92%

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

$13.60 CLP 12.2K

$11.35 CLP 10.2K

19.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.88 CLP 19.7K

$22.61 CLP 20.3K

-3.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.82 CLP 34.9K

$36.68 CLP 33.0K

5.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.92 CLP 20.6K

$21.65 CLP 19.5K

5.87%

Cinema Ticket

$5.41 CLP 4,865

$8.86 CLP 7,963

-38.94%

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

$385 CLP 345.8K

$441 CLP 396.0K

-12.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.05 CLP 42.3K

$46.06 CLP 41.4K

2.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.53 CLP 22.0K

$29.87 CLP 26.8K

-17.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.9 CLP 54.7K

$96.4 CLP 86.7K

-36.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.6 CLP 73.3K

$110 CLP 98.4K

-25.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 CLP 426.8K

$364 CLP 327.0K

30.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 CLP 336.3K

$280 CLP 251.6K

33.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$889 CLP 798.8K

$1,070 CLP 962.0K

-16.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$593 CLP 532.8K

$699 CLP 627.9K

-15.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,364 CLP 2.1M

$2,226 CLP 2.0M

6.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,434 CLP 1.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$746 CLP 670.6K

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 7, 2026

Last update for La Serena: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in San Pedro de Atacama versus $364 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 $52.0 in La Serena. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $230 vs $246 – 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 1%, 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 $1,584 per month in San Pedro de Atacama and $1,562 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 $1,056 in San Pedro de Atacama and $1,042 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 $1,042, than in San Pedro de Atacama at $1,056. 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.