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Your Expat Community in Chile

  • Connect with fellow expats in Chile

  • Join exciting events and groups for expats

  • Get information in our expat guides

  • Exchange tips about expat life in Chile

  • Mathias Döringer

    Before moving to Santiago de Chile I joined the InterNations community and got useful hints regarding housing and business.

Welcome to the InterNations Community of Expats in Chile!

¡Hola! And a very warm welcome to the InterNations expat community in Chile! Here at InterNations, we provide a global community that serves expats moving to Chile and other areas of the world. Whether you're moving to Santiago, Puente Alto, or elsewhere, you can make use of the wealth of resources available through our site. InterNations' experienced Chile expats have answered dozens of questions on moving to the country, which allows you to gain valuable knowledge before you make your move. Once you've arrived, you can join those members in making contributions yourself, which will allow others to benefit from your knowledge in the future. Such queries may include, "How will I adjust to the local cuisine?", "do I need to brush up on my Spanish skills?", and "can I buy my own property?". You may be surprised to learn that lunch is the biggest meal of the day here, enhancing your Spanish skills is a must, and using said Spanish skills will come in handy when you want to buy a property. With the help of our expat communities in Chile, you will soon ease into your new life effortlessly.

With InterNations, you never stand alone. Whether you are moving to another country or going on a business trip somewhere — our communities around the world are there to make you feel at home wherever you are. Feel free to check out our vibrant InterNations Communities in countries like Malaysia or Portugal.

Jump right in:

Living in Chile: Your Questions, Answered

If you’re a new or soon-to-be expat in Chile, you probably aren’t quite sure yet what it will be like. That’s why we gathered the answers to some key questions you may have about life in Chile. If you want to ask more specific questions — or even share your own tips — join InterNations! You’ll be part of a community of new and experienced expats who love to help each other out.

What are the most common nationalities in Chile? As an expat in Chile, you'll meet people from many different cultures (especially if you're an InterNations member!) The top nationalities in the InterNations Communities in Chile currently are:

  • Americans
  • Venezuelans
  • Argentinians
  • Colombians

Which cities are most popular among expats in Chile? Some cities attract more expats than others. These are the cities with the largest expat communities in Chile:

  • Santiago
  • Valparaíso
  • Arica

How much rent do expats pay in Chile? Your personal situation plays a role here. Single expats spend on average 437 USD on their accommodation per month, while expat families spend around 842 USD. And of course, rents can also vary greatly depending on the location and city within Chile.

To give you an idea of what to expect, here are some rent averages for the most popular cities in Chile.

Average rent in Santiago

  • Single expats: 470 USD
  • Expat families: 915 USD

Average rent in Valparaíso

  • Single expats: 379 USD
  • Expat families: 705 USD

Average rent in Arica

  • Single expats: 260 USD
  • Expat families: 580 USD

How safe is Chile? You may be wondering about safety. In general people perceive their personal safety situation in Chile as rather unsafe. People rate the risk of falling victiom to petty crime (such as pickpocketing or minor theft) as high. They consider the chance of being the victim of violent crime (including mugging) high. And, they rate confidence in the police force and related local authorities as mediocre.

How safe is Chile for women? Female expats rated the safety situation in Chile as relatively safe. This is based on the feedback of expat women living in Chile (rather than actual crime statistics). So obviously this can be highly subjective and depends on factors such as where people live.

Join Our Online and In-Person Events in Chile

Attend our many events to get to know like-minded expats, both in Chile and around the world! Our new online events even let you find connection and inspiration without leaving your home.

Mar 20, 2024, 8:30 PM
1 attendee
One-to-One Meetings with the World's Top Business Schools The Access MBA Tour is a series of One-to-One events connecting qualified candidates with admissions directors of top business schools throu
Mar 20, 2024, 11:00 PM
9 attendees
Hallo zusammen, der 34. Stammtisch findet im Restaurant Elkika Ilmenau in Providencia statt. Teilnahmebedingung ist deutsch zu sprechen oder zumindest bei diesem Treffen die Kentnisse aufzufrischen.
Mar 21, 2024, 11:00 PM
3 attendees
Let's practice languages by singing beautiful songs.
Dear friends, we are in the final stage of summer, with the sky as a roof and the fresh breeze as company. I have the pleasure of inviting you to say goodbye to summer on the Furo terrace, an open pl

Want to see all the upcoming events in Chile?

Connect with Like-Minded Expatriates in Chile

  • Community Member
    From Portugal, living in Santiago de Chile
  • Community Member
    From Honduras, living in Santiago de Chile
  • Community Member
    From Germany, living in Santiago de Chile
  • Community Member
    From France, living in Santiago de Chile
  • Community Member
    From Australia, living in Santiago de Chile
  • Community Member
    From Switzerland, living in Viña del Mar
  • Community Member
    From Mexico, living in Santiago de Chile
  • Community Member
    From Austria, living in Viña del Mar
  • Community Member
    From Peru, living in Santiago de Chile
  • Community Member
    From Canada, living in Viña del Mar

Meet other expats like you in Chile

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Share your hobbies and interests with expats in Chile

Learn about Expat Life in Chile

The pace of life in Chile is far more relaxed than in many other places. While Chileans are endlessly friendly and diplomatic, Spanish is the country's first language, which means you'll have to get to grips with it to fit into your new community. Family is an important focus of many Chilean's lives, which makes it an ideal place for expats with young children. For a blend of low-cost living and a family-friendly atmosphere, try Santiago, or the coastal regions near Coquimbo City. If you're willing to live a short distance outside the city center, you'll find that the rents are low, but the need for personal transportation is high. If you're prepared to shop around, you can live a healthy lifestyle with cheap fresh food and an abundance of US goods on tap. Both public and private healthcare systems are available, with private fees coming in much lower than other areas of the world.

InterNations is the largest global network for expatriates, with communities in 420 cities around the world. Meet fellow global minds in your city of residence or get to know local expatriates before you're moving or traveling abroad and never feel like a stranger. InterNations makes it easy for you to stay in touch with your expat friends, both online and offline, so you can grow your network of friends and contacts from all over the world. Whether they live in Peru or China, InterNations allows you to be close to them even if they are miles away.

Your Social Network for Expatriates in Chile

InterNations is a unique social network that features an array of carefully approved members who can offer advice on living as an expatriate in Chile. After becoming a member yourself, you can strengthen our community further by making your own contributions in our forum or writing an article for our Expat Magazine. As expats have experienced life as new arrivals in Chile themselves, they offer invaluable advice on making the experience easier. Whether you want to know more about using the public healthcare system, finding an English-speaking school for your kids, or seeking out private Spanish tuition, our members will point you in the right direction. Once you're settled in, why not pop along to one of our regular events? They act as the perfect opportunity to meet new friends and participate in the expat community.

  • Mathias Döringer

    Before moving to Santiago de Chile I joined the InterNations community and got useful hints regarding housing and business.

  • Emma Willems

    When I first came to Santiago de Chile I didn´t know one anyone. On InterNations I found many expat friends in the same situation.

Our Global Partners

Communities in Chile

Like-Minded Expatriates in Chile

Chile Guide Topics

Upcoming Communities in Chile

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