Chile is a long, narrow country stretching more than 4,000 km from the Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on earth, to the glaciers of Patagonia. It has one of the highest incomes per person in Latin America, solid institutions and good infrastructure. Santiago is a modern capital with a reliable metro and the Andes visible on clear days.

Visa and residence options

Chile's 2021 migration law (Law 21.325) changed the system: most temporary residence visas must now be requested online before you travel, and you can no longer simply switch from a tourist stay to residence inside Chile. Applications go through the Servicio Nacional de Migraciones. The main categories include:

  • Temporary residence for work: for people with a job offer or employment contract in Chile.
  • Temporary residence for retirees and rentistas: for people with a stable pension or passive income from abroad.
  • Temporary residence for highly qualified professionals: for postgraduates and specialists.
  • Family reunification: for spouses, civil partners and children of Chilean citizens and residents.

After about two years of temporary residence, you can usually apply for definitive (permanent) residence. Many nationalities can visit visa-free for up to 90 days.

How much does it cost to live in Chile?

Chile is more expensive than most of Latin America but cheaper than Western Europe. Our Chile data puts a one-bedroom at around $550 a month and a three-bedroom at around $950. Santiago neighbourhoods such as Providencia, Las Condes and Ñuñoa are popular with expats and cost more. Valparaíso, Viña del Mar, La Serena and Concepción are alternatives.

Groceries cost about $250 a month. Imported electronics and cars are pricey, but wine, fruit and seafood are excellent value. Santiago's metro is one of the best in Latin America.

How Chilean tax works

Chile taxes residents on worldwide income, although new residents are generally taxed only on Chilean-source income for their first three years, according to the Servicio de Impuestos Internos (SII). Employment income is taxed monthly on a progressive scale from 0% to 40%, based on inflation-indexed units (UTM), with the first bracket, roughly the first $11,700 a year, exempt.

Employees contribute about 18% of their salary to a private pension fund (AFP), health insurance and unemployment insurance. VAT (IVA) is 19%. Our tax calculator gives an estimate.

Healthcare

All workers pay 7% of their salary toward health cover and choose between the public system, FONASA, and private insurers known as ISAPREs. Private clinics in Santiago, such as Clínica Alemana and Clínica Las Condes, are among the best in Latin America.

Daily life

Chileans are family-oriented, polite and somewhat formal. Chilean Spanish is fast and full of local slang ("cachai?" means "you know?"), so even fluent speakers need time to adjust. English is limited outside business circles.

Earthquakes are a fact of life, and Chilean buildings are designed to withstand them. Santiago's air quality worsens in winter. Social unrest flared in 2019, and concerns about crime have grown, though Chile remains safer than many of its neighbours. On the plus side, you can ski in the Andes and reach the Pacific coast in under two hours, and wine valleys surround the capital.

Is Chile a good place to move?

Chile suits professionals, retirees with steady income and outdoor lovers who value stability and want to learn Spanish. It is pricier than Peru, Colombia or Argentina but offers better infrastructure. Compare it with others in our country comparison tool.