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 $1,080 per month in San Pedro de Atacama vs $1,043 in La Serena, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,613 per month in San Pedro de Atacama vs $1,804 in La Serena, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,145 per month in San Pedro de Atacama vs $2,565 in La Serena, rent included.

San Pedro de Atacama costs about 4% 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 19% lower, La Serena 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.15 CLP 6,401

$7.87 CLP 7,048

-9.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.58 CLP 39.0K

$50.8 CLP 45.5K

-14.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 CLP 7,098

$8.66 CLP 7,759

-8.55%

Cappuccino

$2.86 CLP 2,562

$3.08 CLP 2,759

-7.14%

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

$1.60 CLP 1,433

$1.16 CLP 1,041

37.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.20 CLP 1,078

$0.69 CLP 617

73.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.60 CLP 3,227

$2.22 CLP 1,989

62.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.01 CLP 3,590

$4.15 CLP 3,718

-3.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 CLP 1,065

$1.30 CLP 1,167

-8.46%

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 CLP 1,373

$2.49 CLP 2,235

-38.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 CLP 1,506

$1.60 CLP 1,436

5.00%

Eggs

$3.63 CLP 3,248

$3.88 CLP 3,476

-6.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.05 CLP 9,003

$13.09 CLP 11.7K

-23.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.87 CLP 6,151

$6.06 CLP 5,429

13.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.69 CLP 10.5K

$13.32 CLP 11.9K

-12.24%

Apples (1kg)

$1.98 CLP 1,770

$1.90 CLP 1,699

4.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 CLP 1,439

$1.87 CLP 1,675

-13.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 CLP 1,514

$1.36 CLP 1,214

24.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.74 CLP 1,554

$1.55 CLP 1,386

12.26%

Potato (1kg)

$1.58 CLP 1,411

$1.24 CLP 1,108

27.42%

Onion (1kg)

$1.55 CLP 1,388

$1.26 CLP 1,125

23.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.35 CLP 1,212

$1.09 CLP 974

23.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 CLP 1,112

$0.89 CLP 799

39.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.35 CLP 4,794

$5.31 CLP 4,754

0.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.15 CLP 4,616

$5.64 CLP 5,052

-8.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.56 CLP 1,399

$1.04 CLP 928

50.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 CLP 2,020

$2.17 CLP 1,944

4.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.61 CLP 547

$1.10 CLP 983

-44.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.39 CLP 34.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 CLP 622

$0.73 CLP 657

-5.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.07 CLP 1,854

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.77 CLP 11.4K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 CLP 1,272

$1.43 CLP 1,277

-0.70%

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

$17.7K CLP 15.9M

$21.2K CLP 19.0M

-16.21%

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

$19.8K CLP 17.7M

$13.0K CLP 11.7M

52.05%

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

$134 CLP 120.2K

$92.2 CLP 82.6K

45.57%

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

$13.62 CLP 12.2K

$11.70 CLP 10.5K

16.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.10 CLP 19.8K

$22.51 CLP 20.2K

-1.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.14 CLP 35.1K

$40.00 CLP 35.8K

-2.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.22 CLP 20.8K

$21.36 CLP 19.1K

8.71%

Cinema Ticket

$5.38 CLP 4,814

$8.49 CLP 7,604

-36.63%

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

$383 CLP 342.8K

$442 CLP 395.7K

-13.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.88 CLP 42.9K

$45.07 CLP 40.4K

6.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.60 CLP 22.0K

$65.0 CLP 58.2K

-62.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.4 CLP 55.0K

$96.0 CLP 86.0K

-36.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.0 CLP 73.4K

$111 CLP 99.3K

-26.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$488 CLP 436.9K

$370 CLP 331.1K

31.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$372 CLP 333.2K

$286 CLP 256.3K

29.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$898 CLP 804.0K

$1,033 CLP 925.6K

-13.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$583 CLP 522.3K

$702 CLP 629.0K

-16.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,328 CLP 2.1M

$2,184 CLP 2.0M

6.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,443 CLP 1.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$780 CLP 698.3K

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for La Serena: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $488 in San Pedro de Atacama versus $370 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: $234 vs $245 – 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 4%, 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 $1,620 per month in San Pedro de Atacama and $1,565 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 $1,080 in San Pedro de Atacama and $1,043 in La Serena. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $383 per month in San Pedro de Atacama and $442 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 $1,043, than in San Pedro de Atacama at $1,080. 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.