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 $1,077 per month in Vina del Mar vs $1,044 in La Serena, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,703 per month in Vina del Mar vs $1,757 in La Serena, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,329 per month in Vina del Mar vs $2,469 in La Serena, rent included.

Vina del Mar costs about 3% 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 19% lower, La Serena 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.05 CLP 6,563

$8.00 CLP 7,448

-11.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.5 CLP 49.8K

$50.7 CLP 47.2K

5.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.71 CLP 7,178

$8.87 CLP 8,256

-13.08%

Cappuccino

$2.78 CLP 2,584

$3.09 CLP 2,879

-10.03%

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

$1.14 CLP 1,066

$1.10 CLP 1,027

3.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.90 CLP 834

$0.72 CLP 670

25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.11 CLP 1,967

$2.14 CLP 1,990

-1.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 CLP 3,178

$3.95 CLP 3,680

-13.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 CLP 1,136

$1.30 CLP 1,214

-6.15%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 CLP 1,236

$2.57 CLP 2,396

-48.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 CLP 1,566

$1.54 CLP 1,437

9.09%

Eggs

$2.99 CLP 2,780

$3.95 CLP 3,678

-24.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.58 CLP 8,925

$12.84 CLP 12.0K

-25.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.10 CLP 4,752

$6.05 CLP 5,638

-15.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 CLP 10.1K

$13.54 CLP 12.6K

-19.79%

Apples (1kg)

$1.89 CLP 1,756

$1.98 CLP 1,839

-4.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 CLP 1,337

$1.78 CLP 1,661

-19.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.36 CLP 1,265

$1.39 CLP 1,296

-2.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 CLP 1,359

$1.55 CLP 1,441

-5.81%

Potato (1kg)

$1.29 CLP 1,199

$1.18 CLP 1,103

9.32%

Onion (1kg)

$1.44 CLP 1,344

$1.31 CLP 1,216

9.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 CLP 940

$1.07 CLP 999

-5.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 CLP 985

$0.96 CLP 891

10.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.14 CLP 4,783

$5.46 CLP 5,085

-5.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.45 CLP 6,939

$5.46 CLP 5,082

36.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 CLP 1,482

$1.04 CLP 968

52.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 CLP 2,237

$2.23 CLP 2,072

7.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.61 CLP 567

$1.05 CLP 981

-41.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.10 CLP 35.5K

$37.37 CLP 34.8K

1.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 CLP 446

$0.72 CLP 670

-33.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.40 CLP 1,305

$2.12 CLP 1,978

-33.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.35 CLP 10.6K

$12.70 CLP 11.8K

-10.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 CLP 1,277

$1.44 CLP 1,344

-4.86%

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

$19.6K CLP 18.2M

$20.9K CLP 19.5M

-6.55%

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

$18.7K CLP 17.4M

$12.8K CLP 11.9M

46.33%

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

$130 CLP 121.2K

$91.6 CLP 85.3K

42.13%

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

$13.74 CLP 12.8K

$11.51 CLP 10.7K

19.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.34 CLP 18.0K

$22.61 CLP 21.1K

-14.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.2 CLP 49.5K

$35.97 CLP 33.5K

47.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.32 CLP 19.9K

$21.67 CLP 20.2K

-1.62%

Cinema Ticket

$5.30 CLP 4,932

$8.74 CLP 8,137

-39.36%

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

$435 CLP 405.0K

$428 CLP 398.9K

1.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,310 CLP 4.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.74 CLP 44.5K

$45.25 CLP 42.1K

5.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.78 CLP 30.5K

$30.18 CLP 28.1K

8.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.2 CLP 57.9K

$97.0 CLP 90.3K

-35.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.4 CLP 77.6K

$110 CLP 102.4K

-24.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$462 CLP 430.2K

$363 CLP 338.1K

27.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$337 CLP 314.1K

$285 CLP 265.0K

18.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$829 CLP 771.6K

$1,067 CLP 993.7K

-22.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$635 CLP 591.4K

$709 CLP 660.0K

-10.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,443 CLP 2.3M

$2,151 CLP 2.0M

13.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,603 CLP 1.5M

$1,373 CLP 1.3M

16.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,130 CLP 1.1M

$736 CLP 685.1K

53.54%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for La Serena: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $462 in Vina del Mar versus $363 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 54% 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 $54.0 in Vina del Mar versus $51.0 in La Serena. Groceries tell a different story – $213 in Vina del Mar vs $247 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 3%, 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 $1,615 per month in Vina del Mar and $1,567 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 $1,077 in Vina del Mar and $1,044 in La Serena. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 2% 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 $1,044, than in Vina del Mar at $1,077. 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.