Cost of living comparison

compared to

La Serena vs. Manila Cost of Living Summary

La Serena is 49.6% more expensive than Manila.

Restaurants: pay 43.3% more in La Serena
Groceries: pay 6.7% less in La Serena
Transportation: pay 2.7 times more in La Serena
Housing: pay 10.0% less in La Serena
Entertainment and Sports: pay 46.4% more in La Serena
Clothing: pay 57.4% more in La Serena

The cost of transportation, clothing, entertainment and sports, and restaurants in La Serena are more expensive than in Manila. Expenses including housing and groceries are lower in La Serena. Notably, transportation is significantly more expensive in La Serena.

La Serena vs. Manila Cost Breakdown

If you lived in La Serena instead of Manila, you would:

Display currency: USD

pay 43.3% more for restaurants

	Manila	La Serena
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant	$6.02 ₱355.03	$7.82 CLF0.1800	+29.8%
Fast food combo meal McDonalds, or similar	$4.30 ₱253.60	$8.44 CLF0.2000	+96.3%
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz)	$0.97 ₱57.27	$1.09 CLF0.0300	+12.7%
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz)	$0.50 ₱29.69	$0.68 CLF0.0200	+34.5%
Average			+43.3%

Manila vs. La Serena - Cost of restaurants

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pay 6.7% less for groceries

	Manila	La Serena
Bread 1 loaf	$1.33 ₱78.64	$2.42 CLF0.0600	+81.7%
Local cheese (8 oz)	$4.28 ₱252.12	$6.29 CLF0.1500	+47.0%
Milk (1 gallon)	$7.32 ₱431.63	$4.64 CLF0.1100	-36.6%
Eggs 1 dozen	$2.21 ₱130.51	$3.86 CLF0.0900	+74.2%
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb)	$2.28 ₱134.63	$2.69 CLF0.0600	+18.0%
Apples (1 lb)	$1.52 ₱89.37	$0.85 CLF0.0200	-44.0%
Bananas (1 lb)	$0.82 ₱48.49	$0.80 CLF0.0200	-2.5%
Oranges (1 lb)	$1.64 ₱96.51	$0.60 CLF0.0100	-63.4%
Tomatoes (1 lb)	$1.02 ₱60.36	$0.66 CLF0.0200	-35.5%
Potatoes (1 lb)	$1.17 ₱68.98	$0.54 CLF0.0100	-54.2%
Onions (1 lb)	$1.37 ₱81.04	$0.57 CLF0.0100	-58.7%
Average			-6.7%

Manila vs. La Serena - Cost of groceries

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pay 2.7 times more for transportation

	Manila	La Serena
Gasoline (1 gallon)	$4.18 ₱246.46	$5.33 CLF0.1300	+27.5%
Monthly public transit pass	$13.76 ₱811.51	$36.47 CLF0.8600	+165.0%
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition)	$25,288.58 ₱1,491,141.28	$20,205.70 CLF474.5700	-20.1%
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles)	$2.92 ₱172.44	$17.40 CLF0.4100	+495.1%
Average			+166.9%

Manila vs. La Serena - Cost of transportation

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pay 10.0% less for housing

	Manila	La Serena
Internet connection 50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl	$27.10 ₱1,598.07	$21.50 CLF0.5100	-20.7%
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area	$512.96 ₱30,246.98	$434.20 CLF10.2000	-15.4%
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center	$251.74 ₱14,843.72	$323.04 CLF7.5900	+28.3%
Utilities for two (700 sq ft apartment) including electric, gas, water, heating	$100.49 ₱5,925.44	$68.04 CLF1.6000	-32.3%
Average			-10.0%

Manila vs. La Serena - Cost of housing

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pay (unknown) more for childcare

	Manila	La Serena
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly	$138.58 ₱8,171.41	??
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters	$17,035.39 ₱1,004,491.60	??

Manila vs. La Serena - Cost of childcare

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pay 46.4% more for entertainment and sports

	Manila	La Serena
Domestic/local beer (1 pint)	$1.46 ₱86.22	$2.08 CLF0.0500	+42.5%
Cappuccino in mid-range area	$2.59 ₱152.56	$2.92 CLF0.0700	+12.8%
Pack of cigarettes Marlboro or similar	$3.27 ₱192.73	$5.21 CLF0.1200	+59.4%
Monthly membership at local gym	$42.13 ₱2,484.39	$86.84 CLF2.0400	+106.1%
Movie ticket to theater/cinema	$7.48 ₱441.26	$8.34 CLF0.2000	+11.4%
Average			+46.4%

Manila vs. La Serena - Cost of entertainment and sports

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pay 57.4% more for clothing

	Manila	La Serena
Regular jeans Levi's brand	$49.23 ₱2,902.69	$44.29 CLF1.0400	-10.0%
Regular dress from H&M or similar store	$29.70 ₱1,751.10	$62.52 CLF1.4700	+110.5%
Running shoes Nike or Adidas	$80.85 ₱4,767.52	$93.79 CLF2.2000	+16.0%
Men's business shoes (leather)	$49.70 ₱2,930.32	$105.94 CLF2.4900	+113.2%
Average			+57.4%

Manila vs. La Serena - Cost of clothing

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: December 2025

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