🙂A single person spends $541 per month in Villa Alemana vs $1,137 in La Serena, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $945 per month in Villa Alemana vs $1,903 in La Serena, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,348 per month in Villa Alemana vs $2,668 in La Serena, rent included.
🙂Villa Alemana is about 52% cheaper than La Serena, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both Villa Alemana and La Serena are more affordable than the global median – Villa Alemana61% lower, La Serena18% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Villa Alemana
La Serena
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.48CLP 6,097
$7.79CLP 7,333
-16.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.5CLP 51.2K
$51.1CLP 48.1K
6.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.92CLP 8,395
$8.50CLP 8,004
4.94%
Cappuccino
$1.42CLP 1,340
$2.91CLP 2,739
-51.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88CLP 826
$1.14CLP 1,076
-22.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32CLP 1,244
$0.72CLP 680
83.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.22CLP 3,972
$2.20CLP 2,071
91.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19CLP 2,058
$3.92CLP 3,685
-44.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Villa Alemana
La Serena
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.20CLP 1,132
$1.28CLP 1,202
-6.25%
White Bread(500g)
$1.82CLP 1,709
$2.53CLP 2,382
-28.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70CLP 1,599
$1.58CLP 1,489
7.59%
Eggs
$3.84CLP 3,618
$4.01CLP 3,770
-4.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.58CLP 10.9K
$12.66CLP 11.9K
-8.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.87CLP 4,581
$6.17CLP 5,811
-21.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.28CLP 10.6K
$13.13CLP 12.4K
-14.09%
Apples(1kg)
$2.05CLP 1,934
$1.87CLP 1,760
9.63%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63CLP 1,536
$1.77CLP 1,666
-7.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.68CLP 1,578
$1.32CLP 1,246
27.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58CLP 1,486
$1.51CLP 1,423
4.64%
Potato(1kg)
$1.11CLP 1,041
$1.19CLP 1,122
-6.72%
Onion(1kg)
$1.61CLP 1,512
$1.31CLP 1,237
22.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.26CLP 1,186
$1.06CLP 998
18.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16CLP 1,096
$0.92CLP 863
26.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.39CLP 5,069
$5.23CLP 4,920
3.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.49CLP 6,110
$5.46CLP 5,141
18.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67CLP 1,574
$1.04CLP 977
60.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50CLP 2,348
$2.12CLP 1,993
17.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Villa Alemana
La Serena
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.05CLP 993
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$37.05CLP 34.9K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.42CLP 394
$0.76CLP 720
-44.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.94CLP 881
$2.20CLP 2,069
-57.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.26CLP 11.5K
$12.63CLP 11.9K
-2.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.57CLP 1,478
$1.47CLP 1,382
6.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KCLP 17.6M
$21.0KCLP 19.8M
-11.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5KCLP 21.2M
$12.6KCLP 11.9M
78.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Villa Alemana
La Serena
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$64.7CLP 60.9K
$90.6CLP 85.3K
-28.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.82CLP 12.1K
$11.59CLP 10.9K
10.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.60CLP 19.4K
$22.49CLP 21.2K
-8.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Villa Alemana
La Serena
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$89.2CLP 83.9K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$21.60CLP 20.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.50CLP 7,059
$8.34CLP 7,853
-10.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Villa Alemana
La Serena
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$455CLP 428.0K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.4KCLP 10.7M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Villa Alemana
La Serena
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.37CLP 39.9K
$44.97CLP 42.3K
-5.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.31CLP 20.1K
$64.7CLP 60.9K
-67.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$59.6CLP 56.1K
$98.1CLP 92.3K
-39.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$32.68CLP 30.8K
$107CLP 101.0K
-69.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Villa Alemana
La Serena
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$447CLP 420.8K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$332CLP 312.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$377CLP 355.3K
$953CLP 896.6K
-60.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$731CLP 687.7K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,116CLP 2.0M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,363CLP 1.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Villa Alemana
La Serena
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$466CLP 438.5K
$736CLP 692.4K
-36.67%
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 Villa Alemana: September 6, 2026
Last update for La Serena: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 58% higher in La Serena, 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 $54.0 in Villa Alemana versus $51.0 in La Serena. Groceries tell a different story – $232 in Villa Alemana vs $243 in La Serena – so Villa Alemana wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Villa Alemana vs La Serena: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is La Serena cheaper than Villa Alemana?
Yes – La Serena is pricier by about 110%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $812 per month in Villa Alemana and $1,705 in La Serena. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do food prices compare in Villa Alemana and in La Serena?
Groceries cost about 5% more in La Serena, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Villa Alemana or in La Serena?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Villa Alemana and $51.0 in La Serena. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Villa Alemana or in La Serena?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Villa Alemana, where all-in costs run around $541, than in La Serena at $1,137. In Villa Alemana it covers expenses comfortably, while in La Serena it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Villa Alemana or La Serena more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Villa Alemana – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Villa Alemana. 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.
Villa Alemana vs other spots: cost of living compared