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 $1,063 per month in Vina del Mar vs $1,048 in La Serena, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,677 per month in Vina del Mar vs $1,754 in La Serena, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,291 per month in Vina del Mar vs $2,459 in La Serena, rent included.

Vina del Mar costs about 1% more than La Serena, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Vina del Mar and La Serena are more affordable than the global median – Vina del Mar 21% lower, La Serena 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.17 CLP 6,361

$7.90 CLP 7,007

-9.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.8 CLP 48.7K

$51.5 CLP 45.7K

6.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.74 CLP 6,868

$8.94 CLP 7,935

-13.42%

Cappuccino

$2.77 CLP 2,461

$2.96 CLP 2,630

-6.42%

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

$1.19 CLP 1,058

$1.12 CLP 992

6.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.90 CLP 803

$0.67 CLP 597

34.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.12 CLP 1,885

$2.13 CLP 1,893

-0.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 CLP 3,126

$4.10 CLP 3,642

-14.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 CLP 1,089

$1.23 CLP 1,094

White Bread (500g)

$1.32 CLP 1,168

$2.48 CLP 2,202

-46.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 CLP 1,439

$1.53 CLP 1,358

5.88%

Eggs

$2.91 CLP 2,587

$3.94 CLP 3,495

-26.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.62 CLP 8,538

$13.11 CLP 11.6K

-26.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.22 CLP 4,634

$5.96 CLP 5,289

-12.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.89 CLP 9,666

$13.27 CLP 11.8K

-17.94%

Apples (1kg)

$1.95 CLP 1,728

$1.99 CLP 1,764

-2.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 CLP 1,288

$1.85 CLP 1,642

-21.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.36 CLP 1,206

$1.33 CLP 1,182

2.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 CLP 1,293

$1.48 CLP 1,317

-1.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.31 CLP 1,160

$1.20 CLP 1,063

9.17%

Onion (1kg)

$1.44 CLP 1,282

$1.31 CLP 1,159

9.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 CLP 922

$1.13 CLP 1,003

-7.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 CLP 986

$0.91 CLP 807

21.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.03 CLP 4,467

$5.33 CLP 4,731

-5.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.75 CLP 6,877

$5.50 CLP 4,879

40.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 CLP 1,423

$1.03 CLP 917

55.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 CLP 2,042

$2.25 CLP 1,998

2.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.62 CLP 547

$1.10 CLP 980

-43.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.13 CLP 33.0K

$38.15 CLP 33.9K

-2.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.47 CLP 415

$0.76 CLP 678

-38.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 CLP 1,254

$2.06 CLP 1,828

-31.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.31 CLP 10.0K

$12.76 CLP 11.3K

-11.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 CLP 1,265

$1.50 CLP 1,333

-4.67%

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

$19.3K CLP 17.1M

$21.2K CLP 18.9M

-9.32%

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

$18.4K CLP 16.4M

$13.1K CLP 11.7M

40.23%

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

$134 CLP 119.0K

$92.8 CLP 82.4K

44.45%

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

$13.47 CLP 12.0K

$11.41 CLP 10.1K

18.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.76 CLP 17.5K

$22.64 CLP 20.1K

-12.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.6 CLP 48.5K

$36.44 CLP 32.3K

49.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.52 CLP 19.1K

$21.62 CLP 19.2K

-0.46%

Cinema Ticket

$5.34 CLP 4,742

$8.85 CLP 7,850

-39.66%

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

$442 CLP 392.6K

$438 CLP 388.8K

0.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,374 CLP 4.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.79 CLP 42.4K

$45.54 CLP 40.4K

4.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.71 CLP 29.0K

$30.87 CLP 27.4K

5.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.5 CLP 55.5K

$98.8 CLP 87.7K

-36.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.3 CLP 74.8K

$112 CLP 99.0K

-24.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$449 CLP 398.8K

$366 CLP 325.2K

22.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$338 CLP 299.6K

$285 CLP 253.3K

18.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$828 CLP 734.4K

$1,037 CLP 920.4K

-20.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$629 CLP 557.8K

$708 CLP 628.1K

-11.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,592 CLP 2.3M

$2,236 CLP 2.0M

15.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,689 CLP 1.5M

$1,462 CLP 1.3M

15.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,139 CLP 1.0M

$773 CLP 686.1K

47.37%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for La Serena: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $449 in Vina del Mar versus $366 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 47% higher in Vina del Mar, 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 $55.0 in Vina del Mar versus $51.0 in La Serena. Groceries tell a different story – $215 in Vina del Mar vs $244 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 – Vina del Mar is pricier by about 1%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,594 per month in Vina del Mar and $1,573 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 $1,063 in Vina del Mar and $1,048 in La Serena. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 3% 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 $1,048, than in Vina del Mar at $1,063. In La Serena it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vina del Mar 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, Vina del Mar makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.