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 $1,095 per month in Valparaiso vs $1,112 in La Serena, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,625 per month in Valparaiso vs $1,845 in La Serena, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,154 per month in Valparaiso vs $2,578 in La Serena, rent included.

Valparaiso is about 2% cheaper than La Serena, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Valparaiso and La Serena are more affordable than the global median – Valparaiso 20% lower, La Serena 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.14 CLP 8,718

$7.83 CLP 7,468

16.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.21 CLP 34.5K

$48.70 CLP 46.5K

-25.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.85 CLP 8,443

$8.61 CLP 8,212

2.79%

Cappuccino

$2.73 CLP 2,607

$3.00 CLP 2,866

-9.00%

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

$1.20 CLP 1,141

$1.13 CLP 1,074

6.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 CLP 808

$0.70 CLP 668

21.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.16 CLP 3,967

$2.15 CLP 2,050

93.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.57 CLP 4,363

$3.89 CLP 3,711

17.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 CLP 1,253

$1.21 CLP 1,159

8.26%

White Bread (500g)

$1.74 CLP 1,661

$2.48 CLP 2,367

-29.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 CLP 1,518

$1.54 CLP 1,470

3.25%

Eggs

$4.19 CLP 3,997

$3.80 CLP 3,626

10.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.41 CLP 10.9K

$12.38 CLP 11.8K

-7.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.81 CLP 6,494

$5.84 CLP 5,572

16.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.99 CLP 8,580

$12.96 CLP 12.4K

-30.63%

Apples (1kg)

$1.65 CLP 1,577

$1.84 CLP 1,752

-10.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 CLP 1,530

$1.80 CLP 1,715

-11.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 CLP 1,462

$1.30 CLP 1,241

17.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 CLP 1,413

$1.45 CLP 1,379

2.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 CLP 959

$1.22 CLP 1,160

-18.03%

Onion (1kg)

$1.27 CLP 1,211

$1.27 CLP 1,208

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 CLP 1,117

$1.03 CLP 987

13.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 CLP 1,100

$0.89 CLP 850

29.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.45 CLP 4,247

$5.33 CLP 5,088

-16.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.08 CLP 4,851

$5.37 CLP 5,128

-5.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 CLP 1,307

$0.96 CLP 919

42.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 CLP 1,678

$2.08 CLP 1,989

-15.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 CLP 704

$1.06 CLP 1,007

-30.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.0 CLP 50.5K

$36.20 CLP 34.5K

46.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.40 CLP 381

$0.72 CLP 685

-44.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.91 CLP 866

$2.14 CLP 2,044

-57.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.55 CLP 3,390

$12.58 CLP 12.0K

-71.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 CLP 1,433

$1.42 CLP 1,359

5.63%

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

$14.7K CLP 14.0M

$19.9K CLP 19.0M

-26.41%

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

$19.7K CLP 18.8M

$12.6K CLP 12.0M

57.13%

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

$119 CLP 113.7K

$88.2 CLP 84.1K

35.11%

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

$11.97 CLP 11.4K

$11.04 CLP 10.5K

8.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.78 CLP 18.9K

$21.16 CLP 20.2K

-6.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.10 CLP 24.0K

$87.3 CLP 83.3K

-71.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.47 CLP 22.4K

$21.04 CLP 20.1K

11.55%

Cinema Ticket

$7.34 CLP 7,007

$8.56 CLP 8,173

-14.25%

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

$450 CLP 429.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.9K CLP 10.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.80 CLP 31.3K

$43.70 CLP 41.7K

-24.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.23 CLP 27.9K

$61.5 CLP 58.7K

-52.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$55.9 CLP 53.3K

$94.8 CLP 90.4K

-41.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.95 CLP 47.7K

$106 CLP 101.5K

-53.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 CLP 445.4K

$439 CLP 419.4K

6.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$389 CLP 371.2K

$327 CLP 312.0K

18.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$681 CLP 649.6K

$906 CLP 864.6K

-24.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$554 CLP 528.3K

$724 CLP 690.6K

-23.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,567 CLP 1.5M

$2,089 CLP 2.0M

-25.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,050 CLP 1.0M

$1,374 CLP 1.3M

-23.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$766 CLP 730.9K

$733 CLP 699.0K

4.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.39

6.5

-17.08%

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

Last update for Valparaiso: September 14, 2026

Last update for La Serena: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $467 in Valparaiso versus $439 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 5% higher in Valparaiso, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Valparaiso versus $49.00 in La Serena. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $225 vs $237 – 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 – La Serena is pricier by about 2%, 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 $1,643 per month in Valparaiso and $1,668 in La Serena. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Valparaiso, 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 $1,095 in Valparaiso and $1,112 in La Serena. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Valparaiso and $49.00 in La Serena. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Valparaiso, where all-in costs run around $1,095, than in La Serena at $1,112. In Valparaiso it covers expenses comfortably, while in La Serena it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Valparaiso – 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 Valparaiso. 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.