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:

• Events for Expats in Cities All Over Chile
• Chile Expat Forums

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.