Skip to main content
CL flag

Chile

South America's most stable country - Patagonia to Atacama, world-class wine

75/100
FutureLife Score
#53
FutureLife Index 2026
Save to board
Travel Here
Compare
$1,600
Comfortable/mo
8.5/10
Safety
7.8/10
Healthcare
#53
Happiness rank

Key Scores

75/100
Higher = better
Future Life Score
8.5/10
Safety Index
7.8/10
Healthcare
#53
Lower = happier
Happiness Rank

Why people move to Chile

+South America's safest and most developed country
+Santiago: modern cosmopolitan capital with Andean backdrop
+Atacama Desert: world's driest place - otherworldly landscapes
+Patagonia: world's best trekking and wilderness
+World-class Malbec and Carménère wine regions
StabilityRetireesWine country
Culture & context

Long thin nation between Andes and Pacific - Spanish heritage, more reserved than other Latin American cultures, wine country.

People, religion & languages

Population
~19.5M
88% urban
Languages
Spanish (with distinctive Chilean slang)
Also: Mapudungun (indigenous Mapuche), English (business)
Day-to-day English

Moderate in Santiago business; lower elsewhere.

Religion

Catholic majority, secularising rapidly.

Catholic
55%
Evangelical
18%
No affiliation
25%
Other
2%

Culture & etiquette

What locals value and what to watch for

FamilyReserve (compared to other Latin Americans)PolitenessPisco vs Peru rivalryFootball
Do
  • Greet with single cheek kiss (women) or handshake
  • Try real pisco sour (Chilean version)
Avoid
  • Discussing the Pinochet era casually
  • Comparing pisco to Peruvian (loaded)
Pace of life

Santiago European-fast; coast and south slower.

Expat-friendliness

Welcoming; growing expat scene in Santiago.

Holidays & food culture

Seafood (long coastline), empanadas, asado, wine. Less meat-obsessive than Argentina.

EmpanadaCazuelaPastel de chocloCurantoPisco sour
Mealtimes

Lunch 13:00–14:30, dinner 21:00–23:00. Once (afternoon tea) 17:00–19:00.

Dietary norms

Veg options strong in Santiago.

Major holidays
September 18
Independence Day (Fiestas Patrias)
Major national celebration
September 19
Glories of the Army
April 27
Carabineros Day
December 25
Christmas

Work culture & business norms

Working weekMonday–Friday
Hours09:00–18:30.
HierarchyHierarchical.
PunctualityOn time in business.
Meeting stylePolite, reserved, relationship-led.
Business attireSmart business.

Hidden Gems

Off the beaten path

→

Chiloé Island - a mythological archipelago of stilt houses, baroque wooden churches, and sea lions; only 20km from the mainland but a world apart

→

Marble Caves (Cuevas de Mármol) at Lago General Carrera - turquoise swirling marble sculptures lapped by glacier-blue water

→

Valle de la Luna (near San Pedro de Atacama) - a valley of salt formations and dunes that looks genuinely like the lunar surface at sunset

Monthly cost snapshot
Comfortable lifestyle$1,600/mo
Semi-Luxury lifestyle$3,000/mo
Luxury lifestyle$5,800/mo

Single person, before income tax

AI affordability check
At $4,000/month remote income you'd have $2,400 surplus after budget-tier costs - saving 60% of your income.
Get personalised match →

Quick facts

LanguageSpanish
CurrencyCLP
Internet70 Mbps avg
EnglishLow
Future Life Score75/100
Future Life Rank#53
PR pathEasy · 2 yrs
Citizenship5 yrs
Passport rank#16
Visa-free175 countries
Income tax40% top rate
VAT19%
CapitalSantiago
Best airportsSCL (Santiago), PMC (Puerto Montt), PUQ (Punta Arenas)
Length4,300km north to south - the world's longest country by proportion
Avg temp (Santiago)15–32°C / 59–90°F in summer; mild winters
Easter Island5-hour flight from Santiago; limited accommodation - book months ahead

Visa options

Remote Work Visa (Nómade Digital)Easy
Pensionado VisaEasy
Temporary Residence (Rentista)Moderate
Before you move in
See it for yourself
Things to do, hidden gems, food & real daily costs
Pack Your Bags
Compare Chile with another →
Planning your move to Chile?
Trusted partners · Affiliate links
Skyscanner
Compare flights
→
Wise
Send money, no fees
→
SafetyWing
Expat health from $45
→
Airbnb
Short-stay apartments
→