04/07/2019, updated 15/06/2023

A 260-page practical handbook to plan your move to Chile?

Moving to Chile soon? Read this...

Since 2016, expat.cl has been maintaining this free online guide about Chile for foreigners, which takes a lot of time. Unfortunately, search engines now use this content to provide AI-generated answers. Therefore, our most up-to-date content is now only available in the Chile Handbook for Foreigners. Articles on this guide will still be updated, but less frequently.

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Pros

Safety

Chile is the safest country and the country with the lowest crime rate in Latin America. Yet, there are some rules to follow. First, keep an eye on your belongings because thefts are frequent, especially in public transport. If you have a car, we advise you not to drive with your windows completely down, because pickpockets are able to steal your bag on the passenger seat in a few seconds for example. In the most upmarket neighborhoods, where many foreigners and expatriates live, we advise you to equip your home with an alarm, if it has not already been done.

Weather

Given the country's geography, the climate varies a lot between regions. However, the metropolitan region has a Mediterranean climate, which is very pleasant to live. Summers are hot but nights are cool, winters are mild and it rains only a few days a month. The rest of the time, the air is dry.

Real estate prices

Chile's real estate prices are still quite low compared to Western cities, so you can buy or rent a nice apartment or house at affordable prices.

Santiago, a growing city

Chile's capital is a very pleasant place to live, because of its parks, historical monuments, restaurants and so on. If you want to know more about the life in Santiago, see this article.

Landscapes

Chile is known around the world for its wonderful landscapes, from the glaciers in Patagonia to the Atacama Desert, the driest desert in the world. Moreover, Chile is full of opportunities for tourism, especially for nature-lovers (treks, hiking, stargazing, national parks, swimming in lakes or the Pacific Ocean ...). The holidays are unforgettable every time!

The health system

Chile has the best health system in Latin America. According to the World Health Organization, the Chilean health system is ranked 33rd out of 190, which is five places ahead of the United States. If you have a health problem, you will receive good care in public and private hospitals. Yet, the caveat is that the waiting time for an operation can be long in the public system, and the private system may be very expensive if you do not have a good health insurance.

Wine

Chile is the fourth largest exporter of wine in the world and Chilean wine is renowned throughout the world. Thus, the country attracts wine producers from around the world. It has a great variety of wines at very affordable prices (you can find good wines for 8-9 dollars a bottle). You can find many known grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or Chardonnay, but also a rare variety hard to find outside Chile, Carménère, which is a red wine a little lighter than Cabernet Sauvignon. If you are a wine lover, Chile is the right country for you!

The history of the country

If you dig into it, the history of Chile is fascinating. The Spanish conquest, the Moai statues of Easter Island, the military dictatorship of Pinochet… Chile has an impressive history. Furthermore, Chile has six UNESCO World Heritage sites (Rapa Nui National Park, the churches of Chiloé, Valparaíso historic district ...), enough to keep you busy on weekends and holidays!

Cons

The language

Although Chile is a Spanish-speaking country, the language is very different from the Spanish we are used to in Europe. You may need to review some of your expressions and learn new vocabulary words. Especially since English is rarely spoken by Chileans from the middle class.

The pollution in Santiago

The air pollution in Santiago is quite unpleasant in winter (from June to September), so that an alternate traffic circulation according to license plate numbers has been implemented.

Currency

Some countries have currencies that are easy to convert. Unfortunately, Chile is not one of those countries. Indeed, the price of the dollar fluctuates between 650 and 850 pesos, so that it is difficult to calculate your expenses on the moment, especially at the supermarket.

Slowness

If you come from a big Western city, you will surely feel that the rhythm of life is slower, be it in the personal or professional life. This feeling is only a question of habit, but it can be disturbing at the beginning.

Do you want to go more in detail?

I wrote the Chile Handbook for Foreigners for anyone and everyone looking to move permanently and enjoy life in Chile. It's a 265-page book that goes over all aspects of relocating to Chile. Here is what you get:
✅ Practical tips based on 7-year relocation experience
✅ To-do lists to help you start
✅ Last updated in 2024