Living in Santiago, Chile

What is moving to and living in Santiago, Chile, like?

I interviewed Rebecca, one of the expats in Santiago, about her experiences.

This interview is part of the Ask an Expat series. In this series I interview people living all over the world but outside of their home country. I try to help paint an honest picture of the ups and downs of life abroad, share tips about moving to the city, town or country the expat lives in, and information about what to see and do here.

Name: Rebecca Collins
Age: 41
Hometown: Perth, Australia

Her Story:

“I’ve done a few jobs over my life – I started with engineering and then moved into finance jobs in mining. I currently work as a finance manager for a consultancy firm, part-time as well as doing a diploma in cultural studies at a local university.

I also have two kids and a very busy husband.

In Australia, we lived in Perth, which is a beautiful city, but it’s very remote. While my stepdaughters were younger we needed to live close to their mum, but as they became independent we took the opportunity to move overseas.

Our first time living abroad was in San Juan, Argentina, which was really eye-opening. The Argentinian people are great, but the challenges of living in rural Argentina in a struggling local economy were not small!”

Why Did You Move to Santiago?

“We moved to Santiago when my husband started up a new branch of his company here in Chile.

I still work part-time (remotely for the main part) for our company in Australia.”

Also Read: How to Work Remotely From Anywhere

What Do You Like About Living in Santiago?

“Santiago has a vibrant street art scene and there is always something to do on the weekend.

In addition to the local cultural scene, there are some nice parks to hang out with the family, some great hiking trails at the edge of the city and a great selection of weekend trips that are only 1-2 hours out of the city.

We are just one hour from the Andes mountain range (with great hiking, and skiing in winter), one hour from awesome wineries in Casablanca, and 1.5 hours from the funky port-side city of Valparaiso.”

What Do You Dislike About Living in Santiago?

“The pollution in winter is very hard to deal with, as the valley traps in a lot of pollution between July-September.

The traffic can also be a drag and some days you can be better off walking than trying to drive!

The slow government processes are a drag for a lot of expats in Chile. But having lived in South America before it’s actually relatively good here compared to other countries in the region.”

Also Read: Things to Consider Before Moving to Another Country

Is Santiago Safe as a Place to Live?

“Yes, Santiago is generally a safe city to live in.

Use common sense though; don’t show off expensive jewelry and take care of your belongings.

Pickpocketing and bag snatching do happen in crowded places, so take care of your belongings when you’re out and about.”

Is Santiago an Expensive City to Live in?

A popular expat neighborhood in Santiago showing modern highrise buildings — Providencia, a popular expat neighborhood in Santiago

“Santiago is generally considered one of the more expensive places to live in Chile, particularly when it comes to housing in popular neighborhoods like Providencia, Las Condes, and Vitacura.

However, compared to many major cities in North America and Western Europe, the cost of living here is much lower, especially for dining out, public transportation, and healthcare.

If you’re earning a local Chilean salary, the city can feel quite expensive. On the other hand, many expats working for international companies or earning a foreign salary find Santiago offers an excellent quality of life for the money.

For retirees or remote workers with an overseas income, the city is considerably more affordable than places like New York, London, Toronto, or Sydney.

For reference, the median monthly salary in Chile is less than US$700, which means many locals experience the city’s cost of living very differently from expats earning an international salary.”

Tip: Although not every figure is 100% accurate, Numbeo.com gives a good general overview of the cost of living (housing, food, transport, etc.) in Santiago.

What Is Your Favorite Thing to Do in Santiago?

“I love to check out the different local markets (ferias). There is a different one each week and you can see and buy some amazing handicrafts.”

What Is Your Favorite Place to Hang Out in Santiago?

“Oh, this is a tricky one!

Black Mamba in Providencia has a pretty awesome coffee, I love Uncle Fletch for a casual burger lunch, and Original Green Roasters does a brilliant brunch.”

What Is the Expat / International Community Like in Santiago?

“Very strong. There are lots of English-speaking activities organized and some active Facebook groups for expats, which are always having meetups.

There are lots of awesome expats living in Santiago and I’ve made some friendships here that I’ll have for the rest of my life.”

Any Tips for Moving to / Living in Santiago?

“Get every document you can imagine apostilled and translated! For example, I never would have thought that I’d need a translated and apostilled copy of my high school records to get a local driver’s license!

Also, bring lots of patience and try a lot of different activities. It can take a while to find your groove, but there are some great options.”

Also Read: Why Moving Abroad is Such a Valuable Experience

Any Resources You Found Useful During the Process of Moving to And Building a New Life in Santiago?

“Discover Chile is a great Facebook group to ask for local, up-to-date information on living in Santiago and in Chile in general.

There is another great blog by an expat in Santiago, Nina, called TheExpater.com which is super helpful, particularly with tips about things like the best schools in Santiago.

The main website for finding property rentals is Portalinmobiliario.com. However, it’s a bit deceptive as most rentals here want you to have your national ID, 3 payslips, a bank account, and a signed work contract. And they often ask employers to guarantee rental contracts too.

So a lot of the ‘available’ properties may not actually work for new expats in Chile. A lot of people use a relocation agent as a result, who can weed through those listings to find some that might accept you.”

Is There Something You Just Have to See or Do When You Are in Santiago?

I think the Pablo Neruda museums in both Santiago and Valparaiso are must-sees.

The Bella Artes/Santa Lucia barrio is a great area for a wander around.

You should also try and see the San Francisco Museo, and try to go to the La Vega market to hang out with the locals.

Bella Vista is a lively area by night and has a lot of restaurants.

If you want a more cultural experience, stop by the PreColumbian Museo and do a walking tour of the center of the city.

In summer a swim in the pool on the Cerro San Cristobal, Piscina Tupahue, overlooking the city, is not to be missed.”

About Santiago, Chile

Santiago, also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile. It is a cosmopolitan city and the cultural, political, and financial center of Chile.

Santiago is a lively city with a lot of museums, events, theaters, restaurants, bars and other entertainment.

Located in Chile’s Central Valley and surrounded by mountains, Santiago can experience significant air pollution, particularly during the winter months when weather conditions trap smog over the city.

Santiago’s cityscape is shaped by several stand-alone hills and the Mapocho River, lined by parks. On clear days the Andes Mountains can be seen from most points in the city.

The wine regions surrounding Santiago begin just outside the city, while both the Andes Mountains and the Pacific coast can typically be reached in around 1–2 hours, making it easy to enjoy skiing, hiking, beaches and wine tasting on day trips.

Its central location makes Santiago a convenient base point to further explore Chile and its Mediterranean climate means it has mild winters and very warm and dry summers.

As Chile’s economic hub, Santiago is home to the regional offices of many multinational companies and international organizations, making it one of South America’s main destinations for expats and international professionals.

Popular neighborhoods among expats are Las Condes, Vitacura, Providencia and Ñuñoa, thanks to their good public transport, international restaurants, green spaces and relatively high levels of safety.

If you’re considering a move to Santiago, spending time in different neighborhoods before deciding where to live is well worth it. Each area has its own atmosphere, amenities, and price range, and experiencing them firsthand is often the best way to discover which part of the city suits you best.

Also Read:

Like this article about living in Santiago, Chile? Pin it!

Living in Santiago, Chile – Interview With an Expat