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 $1,174 per month in Valparaiso vs $1,043 in La Serena, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,690 per month in Valparaiso vs $1,804 in La Serena, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,206 per month in Valparaiso vs $2,565 in La Serena, rent included.

Valparaiso costs about 12% 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 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.84 CLP 8,753

$7.87 CLP 6,997

25.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.00 CLP 32.9K

$50.8 CLP 45.1K

-27.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.56 CLP 7,615

$8.66 CLP 7,703

-1.15%

Cappuccino

$2.80 CLP 2,486

$3.08 CLP 2,739

-9.09%

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

$1.19 CLP 1,061

$1.16 CLP 1,034

2.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 CLP 770

$0.69 CLP 613

26.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.25 CLP 2,893

$2.22 CLP 1,975

46.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.22 CLP 3,751

$4.15 CLP 3,691

1.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.20 CLP 1,067

$1.30 CLP 1,159

-7.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 CLP 1,339

$2.49 CLP 2,219

-39.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 CLP 1,930

$1.60 CLP 1,425

35.62%

Eggs

$4.13 CLP 3,673

$3.88 CLP 3,451

6.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.50 CLP 9,338

$13.09 CLP 11.6K

-19.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.86 CLP 6,099

$6.06 CLP 5,390

13.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.49 CLP 8,439

$13.32 CLP 11.8K

-28.75%

Apples (1kg)

$1.80 CLP 1,600

$1.90 CLP 1,687

-5.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 CLP 1,449

$1.87 CLP 1,663

-12.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 CLP 1,461

$1.36 CLP 1,205

20.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 CLP 1,295

$1.55 CLP 1,376

-5.81%

Potato (1kg)

$1.21 CLP 1,079

$1.24 CLP 1,100

-2.42%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 CLP 1,212

$1.26 CLP 1,117

7.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.33 CLP 1,185

$1.09 CLP 967

22.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 CLP 1,048

$0.89 CLP 793

32.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 CLP 4,137

$5.31 CLP 4,720

-12.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.45 CLP 4,844

$5.64 CLP 5,016

-3.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 CLP 1,303

$1.04 CLP 921

41.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 CLP 1,640

$2.17 CLP 1,930

-15.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 CLP 538

$1.10 CLP 976

-45.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.4 CLP 48.4K

$38.39 CLP 34.1K

41.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.51 CLP 453

$0.73 CLP 652

-30.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 CLP 659

$2.07 CLP 1,841

-64.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.88 CLP 3,450

$12.77 CLP 11.4K

-69.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 CLP 1,273

$1.43 CLP 1,267

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

$15.1K CLP 13.4M

$21.2K CLP 18.8M

-28.87%

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

$20.0K CLP 17.8M

$13.0K CLP 11.6M

53.69%

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

$131 CLP 116.3K

$92.2 CLP 82.0K

41.90%

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

$13.60 CLP 12.1K

$11.70 CLP 10.4K

16.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.76 CLP 19.3K

$22.51 CLP 20.0K

-3.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.23 CLP 19.8K

$40.00 CLP 35.6K

-44.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.34 CLP 21.6K

$21.36 CLP 19.0K

13.95%

Cinema Ticket

$5.41 CLP 4,815

$8.49 CLP 7,549

-36.28%

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

$431 CLP 383.5K

$442 CLP 392.8K

-2.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,655 CLP 7.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.84 CLP 28.3K

$45.07 CLP 40.1K

-29.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.66 CLP 19.3K

$65.0 CLP 57.8K

-66.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.2 CLP 55.3K

$96.0 CLP 85.4K

-35.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$50.5 CLP 44.9K

$111 CLP 98.6K

-54.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$488 CLP 434.0K

$370 CLP 328.7K

32.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 CLP 381.3K

$286 CLP 254.5K

49.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$705 CLP 626.5K

$1,033 CLP 918.9K

-31.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$575 CLP 511.1K

$702 CLP 624.4K

-18.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,706 CLP 1.5M

$2,184 CLP 1.9M

-21.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,116 CLP 992.3K

$1,443 CLP 1.3M

-22.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$808 CLP 718.8K

$780 CLP 693.2K

3.68%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for La Serena: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $488 in Valparaiso versus $370 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 4% 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 $37.00 in Valparaiso versus $51.0 in La Serena. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $227 vs $245 – 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 12%, 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 $1,761 per month in Valparaiso and $1,565 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 $1,174 in Valparaiso and $1,043 in La Serena. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 42% 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 $1,043, than in Valparaiso at $1,174. 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.