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 $1,151 per month in Valparaiso vs $1,042 in La Serena, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,674 per month in Valparaiso vs $1,787 in La Serena, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,196 per month in Valparaiso vs $2,533 in La Serena, rent included.

Valparaiso costs about 11% more than La Serena, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Valparaiso and La Serena are more affordable than the global median – Valparaiso 14% lower, La Serena 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.65 CLP 8,674

$8.22 CLP 7,389

17.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.03 CLP 34.2K

$51.9 CLP 46.6K

-26.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.55 CLP 7,681

$8.75 CLP 7,868

-2.29%

Cappuccino

$2.78 CLP 2,501

$2.98 CLP 2,674

-6.71%

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

$1.19 CLP 1,067

$1.12 CLP 1,004

6.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 CLP 785

$0.67 CLP 598

29.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.29 CLP 2,954

$2.22 CLP 1,998

48.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.33 CLP 3,895

$4.10 CLP 3,682

5.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 CLP 1,103

$1.29 CLP 1,159

-4.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 CLP 1,415

$2.56 CLP 2,302

-38.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.11 CLP 1,900

$1.56 CLP 1,401

35.26%

Eggs

$4.07 CLP 3,656

$4.03 CLP 3,624

0.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.37 CLP 9,322

$12.98 CLP 11.7K

-20.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.64 CLP 5,969

$6.24 CLP 5,605

6.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.74 CLP 8,750

$13.04 CLP 11.7K

-25.31%

Apples (1kg)

$1.80 CLP 1,619

$1.92 CLP 1,728

-6.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 CLP 1,397

$1.80 CLP 1,615

-13.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.59 CLP 1,428

$1.40 CLP 1,255

13.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 CLP 1,328

$1.47 CLP 1,317

0.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 CLP 1,056

$1.23 CLP 1,107

-4.07%

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 CLP 1,213

$1.33 CLP 1,194

1.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.34 CLP 1,202

$1.13 CLP 1,015

18.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 CLP 1,103

$0.92 CLP 826

33.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.46 CLP 4,011

$5.33 CLP 4,791

-16.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.53 CLP 4,969

$5.35 CLP 4,809

3.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 CLP 1,311

$1.05 CLP 940

39.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 CLP 1,653

$2.25 CLP 2,025

-18.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 CLP 511

$1.06 CLP 953

-46.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.7 CLP 49.2K

$38.12 CLP 34.3K

43.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.47 CLP 419

$0.72 CLP 643

-34.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 CLP 640

$2.13 CLP 1,913

-66.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.76 CLP 3,377

$13.01 CLP 11.7K

-71.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 CLP 1,267

$1.42 CLP 1,274

-0.70%

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

$14.9K CLP 13.4M

$20.7K CLP 18.6M

-28.05%

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

$19.8K CLP 17.8M

$13.1K CLP 11.8M

51.17%

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

$134 CLP 120.1K

$92.7 CLP 83.3K

44.23%

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

$13.75 CLP 12.4K

$11.35 CLP 10.2K

21.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.01 CLP 19.8K

$22.61 CLP 20.3K

-2.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.74 CLP 20.4K

$36.68 CLP 33.0K

-38.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.54 CLP 22.1K

$21.65 CLP 19.5K

13.35%

Cinema Ticket

$5.34 CLP 4,798

$8.86 CLP 7,963

-39.73%

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

$440 CLP 395.9K

$441 CLP 396.0K

-0.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,751 CLP 7.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.56 CLP 29.3K

$46.06 CLP 41.4K

-29.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.65 CLP 19.5K

$29.87 CLP 26.8K

-27.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.1 CLP 54.9K

$96.4 CLP 86.7K

-36.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$50.5 CLP 45.4K

$110 CLP 98.4K

-53.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$496 CLP 445.8K

$364 CLP 327.0K

36.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$439 CLP 394.2K

$280 CLP 251.6K

56.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$702 CLP 630.5K

$1,070 CLP 962.0K

-34.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$580 CLP 521.2K

$699 CLP 627.9K

-17.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,703 CLP 1.5M

$2,226 CLP 2.0M

-23.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,137 CLP 1.0M

$1,434 CLP 1.3M

-20.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$785 CLP 705.6K

$746 CLP 670.6K

5.22%

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: June 9, 2026

Last update for La Serena: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $496 in Valparaiso versus $364 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 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: $227 vs $246 – 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 11%, 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 $1,727 per month in Valparaiso and $1,562 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 $1,151 in Valparaiso and $1,042 in La Serena. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 44% 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 $1,042, than in Valparaiso at $1,151. 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.