Cost of Living Comparison Between Valdivia and La Serena Cost of Living Comparison Between Valdivia and La Serena

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,068 per month in Valdivia vs $1,142 in La Serena, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Valdivia vs $1,883 in La Serena, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,135 per month in Valdivia vs $2,624 in La Serena, rent included.

Valdivia is about 6% cheaper than La Serena, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Valdivia and La Serena are more affordable than the global median – Valdivia 22% lower, La Serena 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.71 CLP 6,248

$8.26 CLP 7,687

-18.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.54 CLP 44.2K

$51.4 CLP 47.8K

-7.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.86 CLP 6,385

$8.45 CLP 7,858

-18.82%

Cappuccino

$2.25 CLP 2,092

$3.03 CLP 2,818

-25.74%

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

$2.06 CLP 1,919

$1.11 CLP 1,029

85.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 CLP 1,211

$0.72 CLP 671

80.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.78 CLP 3,513

$2.17 CLP 2,015

74.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 CLP 3,414

$4.02 CLP 3,743

-8.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 CLP 1,101

$1.29 CLP 1,205

-8.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.35 CLP 1,255

$2.47 CLP 2,301

-45.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 CLP 1,506

$1.55 CLP 1,439

4.52%

Eggs

$3.05 CLP 2,840

$3.85 CLP 3,585

-20.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.33 CLP 8,680

$13.16 CLP 12.2K

-29.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.88 CLP 6,404

$6.00 CLP 5,585

14.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.03 CLP 12.1K

$13.05 CLP 12.1K

-0.15%

Apples (1kg)

$2.21 CLP 2,055

$1.88 CLP 1,752

17.55%

Banana (1kg)

$2.01 CLP 1,866

$1.77 CLP 1,648

13.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.83 CLP 1,705

$1.39 CLP 1,296

31.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.87 CLP 1,744

$1.52 CLP 1,412

23.03%

Potato (1kg)

$2.48 CLP 2,312

$1.18 CLP 1,098

110.17%

Onion (1kg)

$1.56 CLP 1,453

$1.24 CLP 1,158

25.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.48 CLP 1,376

$1.11 CLP 1,031

33.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 CLP 1,114

$0.89 CLP 825

34.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.44 CLP 5,057

$5.40 CLP 5,023

0.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.79 CLP 4,458

$5.20 CLP 4,834

-7.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 CLP 1,443

$1.00 CLP 935

55.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 CLP 2,057

$2.13 CLP 1,980

3.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.62 CLP 578

$1.08 CLP 1,009

-42.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.04 CLP 35.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.00 CLP 934

$0.72 CLP 670

38.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.18 CLP 2,028

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.08 CLP 12.2K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 CLP 1,383

$1.42 CLP 1,324

4.93%

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

$15.6K CLP 14.5M

$21.1K CLP 19.6M

-25.88%

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

$18.5K CLP 17.2M

$12.7K CLP 11.8M

46.11%

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

$94.9 CLP 88.3K

$92.3 CLP 85.9K

2.79%

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

$14.00 CLP 13.0K

$11.39 CLP 10.6K

22.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.86 CLP 29.6K

$22.39 CLP 20.8K

42.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.99 CLP 39.1K

$90.4 CLP 84.1K

-53.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.40 CLP 22.7K

$20.98 CLP 19.5K

16.30%

Cinema Ticket

$4.80 CLP 4,464

$8.52 CLP 7,923

-43.66%

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

$260 CLP 241.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,258 CLP 3.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.9 CLP 50.2K

$45.06 CLP 41.9K

19.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.59 CLP 17.3K

$63.5 CLP 59.1K

-70.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$51.6 CLP 48.0K

$97.3 CLP 90.5K

-46.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.3 CLP 73.8K

$108 CLP 100.2K

-26.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$608 CLP 565.7K

$437 CLP 406.8K

39.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$394 CLP 367.0K

$331 CLP 308.2K

19.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,028 CLP 956.5K

$942 CLP 876.3K

9.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$598 CLP 556.1K

$736 CLP 685.2K

-18.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,608 CLP 4.3M

$2,159 CLP 2.0M

113.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,389 CLP 1.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$653 CLP 607.8K

$741 CLP 689.1K

-11.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

6.5

-30.77%

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

Last update for Valdivia: August 30, 2026

Last update for La Serena: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $608 in Valdivia versus $437 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 13% higher in La Serena, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Valdivia versus $51.0 in La Serena. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $238 vs $242 – making Valdivia 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

Valdivia vs La Serena: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – La Serena is pricier by about 7%, 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 $1,603 per month in Valdivia and $1,712 in La Serena. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Valdivia, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 2% 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 $48.00 in Valdivia and $51.0 in La Serena. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Valdivia, where all-in costs run around $1,068, than in La Serena at $1,142. In Valdivia it covers expenses comfortably, while in La Serena it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Valdivia – 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 Valdivia. 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.