Cost of Living Comparison Between Vina del Mar and La Serena Cost of Living Comparison Between Vina del Mar and La Serena

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,107 per month in Vina del Mar vs $1,142 in La Serena, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,788 per month in Vina del Mar vs $1,883 in La Serena, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,468 per month in Vina del Mar vs $2,624 in La Serena, rent included.

Vina del Mar is about 3% cheaper than La Serena, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Vina del Mar and La Serena are more affordable than the global median – Vina del Mar 19% lower, La Serena 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.71 CLP 8,107

$8.26 CLP 7,687

5.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.6 CLP 58.2K

$51.4 CLP 47.8K

21.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.81 CLP 7,262

$8.45 CLP 7,858

-7.57%

Cappuccino

$3.72 CLP 3,460

$3.03 CLP 2,818

22.77%

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

$1.45 CLP 1,353

$1.11 CLP 1,029

30.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 CLP 1,073

$0.72 CLP 671

59.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.79 CLP 3,528

$2.17 CLP 2,015

74.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.38 CLP 3,147

$4.02 CLP 3,743

-15.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 CLP 1,235

$1.29 CLP 1,205

3.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.32 CLP 1,224

$2.47 CLP 2,301

-46.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 CLP 1,560

$1.55 CLP 1,439

8.39%

Eggs

$3.74 CLP 3,479

$3.85 CLP 3,585

-2.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.95 CLP 9,258

$13.16 CLP 12.2K

-24.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.29 CLP 4,925

$6.00 CLP 5,585

-11.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.76 CLP 11.9K

$13.05 CLP 12.1K

-2.22%

Apples (1kg)

$1.52 CLP 1,419

$1.88 CLP 1,752

-19.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 CLP 1,744

$1.77 CLP 1,648

5.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 CLP 1,209

$1.39 CLP 1,296

-6.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 CLP 1,082

$1.52 CLP 1,412

-23.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.63 CLP 1,519

$1.18 CLP 1,098

38.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 CLP 1,229

$1.24 CLP 1,158

6.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 CLP 998

$1.11 CLP 1,031

-3.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 CLP 1,263

$0.89 CLP 825

52.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.28 CLP 4,915

$5.40 CLP 5,023

-2.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.66 CLP 7,131

$5.20 CLP 4,834

47.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 CLP 1,718

$1.00 CLP 935

85.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 CLP 2,145

$2.13 CLP 1,980

8.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 CLP 521

$1.08 CLP 1,009

-48.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.94 CLP 38.1K

$38.04 CLP 35.4K

7.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.59 CLP 1,481

$0.72 CLP 670

120.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 CLP 1,217

$2.18 CLP 2,028

-39.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.63 CLP 11.8K

$13.08 CLP 12.2K

-3.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 CLP 1,246

$1.42 CLP 1,324

-5.63%

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

$19.2K CLP 17.9M

$21.1K CLP 19.6M

-8.99%

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

$17.9K CLP 16.7M

$12.7K CLP 11.8M

41.41%

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

$116 CLP 107.9K

$92.3 CLP 85.9K

25.58%

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

$15.57 CLP 14.5K

$11.39 CLP 10.6K

36.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.77 CLP 17.5K

$22.39 CLP 20.8K

-16.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.90 CLP 41.8K

$90.4 CLP 84.1K

-50.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.06 CLP 23.3K

$20.98 CLP 19.5K

19.45%

Cinema Ticket

$6.39 CLP 5,948

$8.52 CLP 7,923

-25.00%

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

$523 CLP 486.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,321 CLP 5.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.64 CLP 41.5K

$45.06 CLP 41.9K

-0.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.04 CLP 32.6K

$63.5 CLP 59.1K

-44.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.4 CLP 55.2K

$97.3 CLP 90.5K

-38.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.6 CLP 85.3K

$108 CLP 100.2K

-14.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 CLP 443.5K

$437 CLP 406.8K

9.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$341 CLP 316.9K

$331 CLP 308.2K

2.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$863 CLP 803.0K

$942 CLP 876.3K

-8.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$653 CLP 607.9K

$736 CLP 685.2K

-11.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,497 CLP 2.3M

$2,159 CLP 2.0M

15.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,575 CLP 1.5M

$1,389 CLP 1.3M

13.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,124 CLP 1.0M

$741 CLP 689.1K

51.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.83

6.5

-25.69%

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

Last update for Vina del Mar: August 30, 2026

Last update for La Serena: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Vina del Mar versus $437 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 52% higher in Vina del Mar, 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 $63.0 in Vina del Mar versus $51.0 in La Serena. Groceries tell a different story – $230 in Vina del Mar vs $242 in La Serena – so Vina del Mar 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

Vina del Mar vs La Serena: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – La Serena is pricier by about 3%, 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 $1,661 per month in Vina del Mar and $1,712 in La Serena. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Vina del Mar, 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 $1,107 in Vina del Mar and $1,142 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 $63.0 in Vina del Mar and $51.0 in La Serena. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Vina del Mar, where all-in costs run around $1,107, than in La Serena at $1,142. In Vina del Mar it covers expenses comfortably, while in La Serena it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Vina del Mar – 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 Vina del Mar. 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.