Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Valparaiso and La Serena

For one person, living costs are similar in Valparaiso and in La Serena: $1,075 and $1,093 a month, rent and utilities included.

Valparaiso, Chile
La Serena, Chile
Valparaiso
🇨🇱 Chile
$1,075
/mo nomad
La Serena
🇨🇱 Chile
$1,093
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Valparaiso and in La Serena

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Valparaiso and in La Serena actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,075 per month in Valparaiso vs $1,093 in La Serena, rent included.

  • Valparaiso $1,075
  • La Serena $1,093

A couple spends around $1,582 per month in Valparaiso vs $1,806 in La Serena, rent included.

  • Valparaiso $1,582
  • La Serena $1,806

A family of three spends $2,090 per month in Valparaiso vs $2,518 in La Serena, rent included.

  • Valparaiso $2,090
  • La Serena $2,518

Valparaiso and La Serena have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Valparaiso and La Serena are more affordable than the global median – Valparaiso 21% lower, La Serena 20% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Valparaiso
La Serena
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.94 CLP 8,882
$7.54 CLP 7,489
18.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.36 CLP 35.1K
$47.87 CLP 47.5K
-26.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.54 CLP 8,482
$8.24 CLP 8,183
3.64%
Cappuccino
$2.75 CLP 2,728
$2.91 CLP 2,890
-5.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18 CLP 1,170
$1.08 CLP 1,075
9.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 CLP 822
$0.63 CLP 624
31.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.92 CLP 3,890
$2.08 CLP 2,062
88.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.43 CLP 4,400
$3.90 CLP 3,874
13.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Valparaiso
La Serena
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 CLP 1,227
$1.16 CLP 1,150
6.03%
White Bread (500g)
$1.80 CLP 1,791
$2.38 CLP 2,361
-24.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 CLP 1,559
$1.50 CLP 1,488
4.67%
Eggs
$3.81 CLP 3,788
$3.69 CLP 3,663
3.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.96 CLP 10.9K
$12.25 CLP 12.2K
-10.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.74 CLP 6,698
$5.63 CLP 5,596
19.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.80 CLP 8,740
$12.68 CLP 12.6K
-30.60%
Apples (1kg)
$1.66 CLP 1,649
$1.86 CLP 1,847
-10.75%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 CLP 1,539
$1.67 CLP 1,663
-7.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 CLP 1,513
$1.25 CLP 1,238
21.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.51 CLP 1,499
$1.42 CLP 1,414
6.34%
Potato (1kg)
$0.93 CLP 920
$1.16 CLP 1,149
-19.83%
Onion (1kg)
$1.24 CLP 1,231
$1.18 CLP 1,168
5.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 CLP 1,179
$1.00 CLP 996
19.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 CLP 1,104
$0.89 CLP 886
24.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.17 CLP 4,138
$5.11 CLP 5,074
-18.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.10 CLP 5,064
$5.14 CLP 5,109
-0.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32 CLP 1,310
$0.97 CLP 968
36.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 CLP 1,762
$2.01 CLP 2,001
-11.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Valparaiso
La Serena
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.58 CLP 581
$0.99 CLP 983
-41.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$50.1 CLP 49.7K
$34.66 CLP 34.4K
44.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.42 CLP 417
$0.70 CLP 693
-40.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.83 CLP 823
$2.00 CLP 1,982
-58.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.44 CLP 3,414
$12.35 CLP 12.3K
-72.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.41 CLP 1,404
$1.38 CLP 1,368
2.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$14.3K CLP 14.2M
$19.2K CLP 19.1M
-25.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.6K CLP 18.5M
$12.1K CLP 12.0M
54.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Valparaiso
La Serena
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$117 CLP 115.8K
$84.7 CLP 84.2K
37.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.94 CLP 11.9K
$10.79 CLP 10.7K
10.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.86 CLP 18.7K
$20.76 CLP 20.6K
-9.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Valparaiso
La Serena
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.53 CLP 24.4K
$88.4 CLP 87.8K
-72.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.75 CLP 22.6K
$20.59 CLP 20.4K
10.49%
Cinema Ticket
$7.24 CLP 7,191
$7.97 CLP 7,912
-9.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Valparaiso
La Serena
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$438 CLP 434.7K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.8K CLP 10.8M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Valparaiso
La Serena
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.44 CLP 31.2K
$42.44 CLP 42.2K
-25.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.41 CLP 27.2K
$59.5 CLP 59.1K
-53.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$54.0 CLP 53.6K
$90.1 CLP 89.5K
-40.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$48.80 CLP 48.5K
$102 CLP 100.9K
-51.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Valparaiso
La Serena
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$464 CLP 461.1K
$414 CLP 411.6K
12.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$373 CLP 370.1K
$316 CLP 313.7K
17.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$676 CLP 671.7K
$877 CLP 871.4K
-22.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$532 CLP 528.8K
$696 CLP 690.9K
-23.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,526 CLP 1.5M
$2,009 CLP 2.0M
-24.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$991 CLP 984.1K
$1,298 CLP 1.3M
-23.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Valparaiso
La Serena
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$725 CLP 720.2K
$710 CLP 705.2K
2.12%
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: October 26, 2026

Last update for La Serena: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Valparaiso
$373
La Serena
$316 15.2% $57
Groceries & Markets
Valparaiso
$220
La Serena
$230 4.7% $10
Eating Out
Valparaiso
$167
La Serena
$145 13% $22
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Valparaiso
$147
La Serena
$116 21.1% $31
Clothing & Footwear
Valparaiso
$73
La Serena
$132 81.7% $59
Getting Around
Valparaiso
$57
La Serena
$49 13.5% $7.7
Sport & Entertainment
Valparaiso
$39
La Serena
$104 168% $65

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $464 in Valparaiso versus $414 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 $35 in Valparaiso versus $48 in La Serena. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $220 vs $230 – making Valparaiso the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇱 Valparaiso
🇨🇱 La Serena
🕒 Local time
06:46 6:46 AM
06:46 6:46 AM
Same time as Valparaiso
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
251,177
195,382
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CLP – Chilean Peso Converter

Chilean Peso exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 993 CLP (1,000 CLP = 1.01 USD). 1 EUR = 1,109 CLP (10,000 CLP = 9.02 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Valparaiso La Serena 350 km
From you
  • Valparaiso
  • La Serena

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,613 per month in Valparaiso and $1,640 in La Serena. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in La Serena, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $414 there versus $464 in Valparaiso.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 31% less in La Serena. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is eating out cheaper in Valparaiso or in La Serena?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $35 in Valparaiso and $48 in La Serena. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $2,000 enough for either Valparaiso or La Serena?
$2,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,075 in Valparaiso and $1,093 in La Serena, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Valparaiso vs other spots: cost of living compared

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