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 $1,086 per month in San Pedro de Atacama vs $1,064 in La Serena, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,649 per month in San Pedro de Atacama vs $1,803 in La Serena, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,212 per month in San Pedro de Atacama vs $2,541 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 18% lower, La Serena 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.19 CLP 6,686

$8.16 CLP 7,597

-11.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.66 CLP 41.6K

$51.8 CLP 48.2K

-13.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.81 CLP 7,271

$8.67 CLP 8,063

-9.92%

Cappuccino

$2.72 CLP 2,533

$3.03 CLP 2,819

-10.23%

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

$1.62 CLP 1,505

$1.16 CLP 1,080

39.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.20 CLP 1,118

$0.67 CLP 620

79.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.56 CLP 3,309

$2.14 CLP 1,991

66.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.07 CLP 3,787

$4.09 CLP 3,810

-0.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 CLP 1,150

$1.30 CLP 1,211

-4.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 CLP 1,364

$2.53 CLP 2,358

-41.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 CLP 1,514

$1.54 CLP 1,429

5.84%

Eggs

$3.52 CLP 3,279

$3.90 CLP 3,630

-9.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.27 CLP 9,560

$13.25 CLP 12.3K

-22.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.81 CLP 6,334

$6.24 CLP 5,809

9.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.79 CLP 11.0K

$13.35 CLP 12.4K

-11.69%

Apples (1kg)

$1.98 CLP 1,841

$2.00 CLP 1,857

-1.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 CLP 1,490

$1.82 CLP 1,690

-12.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 CLP 1,651

$1.34 CLP 1,249

32.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.66 CLP 1,541

$1.48 CLP 1,380

12.16%

Potato (1kg)

$1.65 CLP 1,535

$1.25 CLP 1,161

32.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.49 CLP 1,388

$1.26 CLP 1,173

18.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.30 CLP 1,208

$1.08 CLP 1,000

20.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 CLP 1,116

$0.95 CLP 887

26.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.10 CLP 4,745

$5.37 CLP 4,997

-5.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.05 CLP 4,697

$5.23 CLP 4,867

-3.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 CLP 1,492

$1.01 CLP 939

58.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 CLP 2,063

$2.23 CLP 2,071

-0.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.62 CLP 572

$1.09 CLP 1,017

-43.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.45 CLP 35.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.65 CLP 604

$0.74 CLP 687

-12.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.06 CLP 1,915

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.03 CLP 12.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 CLP 1,289

$1.43 CLP 1,328

-2.80%

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

$17.4K CLP 16.2M

$20.6K CLP 19.1M

-15.25%

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

$19.8K CLP 18.4M

$13.1K CLP 12.2M

51.08%

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

$131 CLP 121.6K

$93.3 CLP 86.8K

40.11%

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

$13.57 CLP 12.6K

$11.35 CLP 10.6K

19.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.21 CLP 20.7K

$22.00 CLP 20.5K

0.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.51 CLP 35.8K

$35.74 CLP 33.3K

7.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.35 CLP 21.7K

$21.13 CLP 19.7K

10.51%

Cinema Ticket

$5.46 CLP 5,081

$8.84 CLP 8,228

-38.24%

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

$392 CLP 364.6K

$439 CLP 408.9K

-10.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.39 CLP 44.1K

$46.67 CLP 43.4K

1.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.63 CLP 22.9K

$30.63 CLP 28.5K

-19.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.5 CLP 58.1K

$95.6 CLP 89.0K

-34.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.7 CLP 76.0K

$109 CLP 101.4K

-25.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$483 CLP 449.6K

$369 CLP 343.6K

30.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$367 CLP 341.6K

$285 CLP 265.4K

28.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$897 CLP 834.6K

$1,035 CLP 962.7K

-13.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$595 CLP 553.4K

$707 CLP 657.5K

-15.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,311 CLP 2.2M

$2,158 CLP 2.0M

7.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,354 CLP 1.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$739 CLP 687.6K

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for La Serena: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $483 in San Pedro de Atacama 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in San Pedro de Atacama versus $52.0 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 $1,629 per month in San Pedro de Atacama 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 $1,086 in San Pedro de Atacama and $1,064 in La Serena. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $392 per month in San Pedro de Atacama 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 Pedro de Atacama at $1,086. 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.