Places · Chile

Living in La Serena

Chile · desert

🌍

La Serena is a mid-sized city of roughly 220,000 people right by the sea in Chile. The climate is desert. It has a lively, popular feel and is considered very safe. A typical month of living costs around $1,350. Healthcare is strong, and the internet is fast enough for full-time remote work. People come here for swimming, surfing, quiet days.

Anyone born here is a citizen, whatever the nationality of the parents.

La Serena at a glance: cost, climate, safety

👥
People
~220,000
💵
Cost / mo
~$1,400
🌡️
Climate
desert
🛡️
Safety
4/5
🏥
Healthcare
4/5
📶
Internet
4/5
🚶
Walkable
3/5
🍽️
Food
3/5
🌫️
Air
2/5Poor
🚰
Water
4/5Tap water drinkable

Who tends to love living in La Serena

All parameters

🛡️ Safety4/5
🏥 Healthcare4/5
🏛️ Public healthcare4/5
💳 Private healthcare3/5
📶 Internet4/5
🚶 Walkable3/5
🚌 Transit3/5
🍽️ Food3/5
📚 LibrarySeveral within 6 km
🥗 Veg options4/5
🌫️ Air2/5 · 25 µg/m³
🚰 Water4/5 · Tap water drinkable
📈 PopularityGrowing
🏠 Rent, 5 yrs+41%
👶 For kids4/5
🛂 Immigration3/5
🏛️ Stability5/5
💸 Tax friendly3/5
🧑‍💻 Business3/5
🕵️ Privacy4/5
🏦 State digital currencyIn development
🗣️ Free expressionReasonable
₿ Bitcoin3/5
🌈 LGBTQ+4/5
🦂 Dangerous animals1/5
🌱 Fertile soil3/5
🔌 Living off-grid4/5
📸 Tourism4/5
👥 Crowding3/5
✈️ Airport5/5
🛰️ StarlinkYes
⚕️ AbortionRestricted

💉 Childhood vaccines: Compulsory by law

Childhood vaccination is required by national law here. We have the rule and the penalty, not the official count of how many vaccines the law covers.

If you skip them: A fine, and in a few countries a criminal charge behind it.

Exemptions: Medical only.

Source: Georgetown AMP EID, survey of national legislation, 2024

📈 Popularity & prices: Growing

Accommodation prices have moved about +41% in the last 5 years.

Estimates, for orientation only.

🔭 Where this place is heading

Today’s data. Tap a year to see where it is heading.

What to know before moving to La Serena

⚠️ The downsides of living in La Serena

Health, air (WHO PM2.5), water & crime figures are rough country-level estimates, verify for your case.

Where is La Serena?

₿ Spend Bitcoin around La Serena

Open the Bitcoin merchant maps for this area, cafés, shops and ATMs that accept Bitcoin.

₿ …

Merchants: BTC Map, from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Events and meetups: Club Orange.

Questions, answered

How much does it cost to live in La Serena, Chile?

A typical month in La Serena costs around $1,350, covering rent and everyday expenses for one person. It is an estimate meant for comparing places, not for budgeting exactly.

Is La Serena, Chile safe?

Arcadia rates personal safety in La Serena at 4 out of 5, which is good. Natural risks worth checking: earthquakes.

What is the internet like in La Serena?

Internet in La Serena is rated 4 out of 5 for remote work, which is good. Starlink is available in this country.

What is the weather like in La Serena?

La Serena has a desert climate. It is on the coast.

Is healthcare good in La Serena?

Healthcare in La Serena is rated 4 out of 5 overall, which is good. Public healthcare is 4/5 and private healthcare 3/5.

How easy is it to move to Chile?

Arcadia rates the ease of getting residency in Chile at 3 out of 5, which is reasonable. The place page lists the visa routes that apply and which depend on your passport.

Is La Serena actually right for you?

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