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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,169 per month in Valparaiso vs $1,064 in La Serena, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,696 per month in Valparaiso vs $1,803 in La Serena, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,223 per month in Valparaiso vs $2,541 in La Serena, rent included.

Valparaiso costs about 10% more than La Serena, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Valparaiso and La Serena are more affordable than the global median – Valparaiso 12% lower, La Serena 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.75 CLP 9,071

$8.16 CLP 7,597

19.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.86 CLP 35.2K

$51.8 CLP 48.2K

-26.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.25 CLP 7,674

$8.67 CLP 8,063

-4.84%

Cappuccino

$2.90 CLP 2,701

$3.03 CLP 2,819

-4.29%

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

$1.19 CLP 1,105

$1.16 CLP 1,080

2.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.90 CLP 842

$0.67 CLP 620

34.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.27 CLP 3,039

$2.14 CLP 1,991

52.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.34 CLP 4,042

$4.09 CLP 3,810

6.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 CLP 1,092

$1.30 CLP 1,211

-10.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 CLP 1,455

$2.53 CLP 2,358

-38.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.09 CLP 1,946

$1.54 CLP 1,429

35.71%

Eggs

$4.17 CLP 3,878

$3.90 CLP 3,630

6.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.40 CLP 9,674

$13.25 CLP 12.3K

-21.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.65 CLP 6,184

$6.24 CLP 5,809

6.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.71 CLP 9,035

$13.35 CLP 12.4K

-27.27%

Apples (1kg)

$1.76 CLP 1,641

$2.00 CLP 1,857

-12.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 CLP 1,445

$1.82 CLP 1,690

-14.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.58 CLP 1,472

$1.34 CLP 1,249

17.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.40 CLP 1,303

$1.48 CLP 1,380

-5.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 CLP 1,092

$1.25 CLP 1,161

-6.40%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 CLP 1,266

$1.26 CLP 1,173

7.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.31 CLP 1,218

$1.08 CLP 1,000

21.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 CLP 1,111

$0.95 CLP 887

25.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.68 CLP 4,356

$5.37 CLP 4,997

-12.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.22 CLP 4,860

$5.23 CLP 4,867

-0.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 CLP 1,368

$1.01 CLP 939

45.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 CLP 1,701

$2.23 CLP 2,071

-17.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 CLP 525

$1.09 CLP 1,017

-48.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.2 CLP 49.5K

$38.45 CLP 35.8K

38.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.50 CLP 470

$0.74 CLP 687

-32.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 CLP 696

$2.06 CLP 1,915

-63.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.88 CLP 3,607

$13.03 CLP 12.1K

-70.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 CLP 1,277

$1.43 CLP 1,328

-4.20%

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

$15.0K CLP 13.9M

$20.6K CLP 19.1M

-27.31%

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

$20.3K CLP 18.9M

$13.1K CLP 12.2M

55.02%

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

$134 CLP 124.8K

$93.3 CLP 86.8K

43.75%

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

$13.51 CLP 12.6K

$11.35 CLP 10.6K

19.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.81 CLP 20.3K

$22.00 CLP 20.5K

-0.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.40 CLP 20.8K

$35.74 CLP 33.3K

-37.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.28 CLP 22.6K

$21.13 CLP 19.7K

14.91%

Cinema Ticket

$5.38 CLP 5,006

$8.84 CLP 8,228

-39.14%

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

$435 CLP 404.9K

$439 CLP 408.9K

-0.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,602 CLP 8.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.60 CLP 30.3K

$46.67 CLP 43.4K

-30.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.96 CLP 20.4K

$30.63 CLP 28.5K

-28.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.7 CLP 56.4K

$95.6 CLP 89.0K

-36.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$51.1 CLP 47.5K

$109 CLP 101.4K

-53.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 CLP 454.7K

$369 CLP 343.6K

32.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$438 CLP 407.7K

$285 CLP 265.4K

53.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$707 CLP 657.6K

$1,035 CLP 962.7K

-31.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$563 CLP 524.2K

$707 CLP 657.5K

-20.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,604 CLP 1.5M

$2,158 CLP 2.0M

-25.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,045 CLP 972.7K

$1,354 CLP 1.3M

-22.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$783 CLP 728.6K

$739 CLP 687.6K

5.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.18

6.5

-20.31%

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

Last update for Valparaiso: July 26, 2026

Last update for La Serena: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $489 in Valparaiso 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.

Salaries run about 6% higher in Valparaiso, 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 $38.00 in Valparaiso versus $52.0 in La Serena. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $225 vs $247 – making Valparaiso 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

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

Yes – Valparaiso is pricier by about 10%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,754 per month in Valparaiso 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 $1,169 in Valparaiso and $1,064 in La Serena. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 38% less in La Serena. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in La Serena, where all-in costs run around $1,064, than in Valparaiso at $1,169. In La Serena it covers expenses comfortably, while in Valparaiso 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.

If budget matters most, go with La Serena. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Valparaiso makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.