Santiago Digital Nomad Guide - Tips & Local Information
ESSENTIALS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏙️ City |
Santiago, Metropolitan Region, Chile |
| 👥 Population |
Approximately 6.9 million |
| 💻 Internet Speed |
Average 200 Mbps (Chile has world-leading fiber optics) |
| 💸 Currency & Banking |
Chilean Peso (CLP). 1 USD ≈ 970 CLP, 1 EUR ≈ 1,050 CLP |
| 🚰 Tap Water |
Safe but high mineral content; many prefer bottled or filtered water |
| 🔌 Power |
220V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C and Type L (three-pronged) sockets |
| 📶 SIM Card |
Entel (best coverage) or WOM (best value). Prepaid 20GB ~ $10,000 CLP |
| 💳 Banking for Expats |
Banco Santander, Banco de Chile, and digital wallet MACH for expats with RUT |
| 🛌 Accommodation |
Airbnb, Booking.com, and local sites like PortalInmobiliario |
| 💳 Cashless Friendly |
Yes, cards (Transbank) are accepted nearly everywhere, even at small kiosks |
| 🏠 Short Term Rentals |
Airbnb and Houm are popular for furnished apartments |
| 🛏️ Budget Accommodation |
Hostel Castilla (Centrito) or Rado Hostel (Bellavista) starting at $15,000 CLP/night |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Tourists |
Lastarria and Bellas Artes for history, museums, and architecture |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads |
Providencia (Los Leones area) for safety, connectivity, and local vibe |
WORKING AND NETWORKING
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏢 Best Coworking Space |
WeWork (Galeria Vivo or Apoquindo) and Edge Cowork (Providencia). Day pass ~$20,000 CLP |
| ☕ Best Cafe for Work |
Haria Café (Providencia) or Daniel's Bakery (Ñuñoa). Good Wi-Fi and power outlets |
| 💼 Networking Events |
Meetups organized by 'Start-Up Chile' and local tech groups at Hub Providencia |
| 🥂 Social Events for Expats |
InterNations Santiago and 'Santiago Expats' Facebook group meetups |
TRANSPORTATION
| Topic |
Details |
| 🚕 Best Taxi/Ride App |
Uber (standard), Cabify (premium/safe), Didi (budget) |
| 🚲 Bike/Scooter Rental |
Bike Santiago (BiciLasCondes) and Tembici for public bike sharing |
| 🏖️ Best Beach Nearby |
Viña del Mar and Valparaíso, approximately 90 minutes by bus |
| ✈️ Top Regional Airline |
Sky Airline and JetSmart (Low-cost carriers) |
| ✈️ Top International Airline |
LATAM Airlines (Primary South American carrier) |
| 🛣️ Highway Access |
Ruta 5 (Pan-American) and Ruta 68 (to the coast) |
| 🚉 Main Train/Transit Hub |
Estación Central (Trains) and Terminal Pajaritos (Buses to coast/airport) |
| 🚍 Public Transport Passes |
Bip! Card is mandatory for Metro and Micro (bus) system. ~$750-$800 CLP per ride |
| ✈️ Regional Travel |
Turbus and Pullman Bus serve all major cities from Terminal Alameda |
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏥 Best Hospital |
Clínica Alemana (Vitacura) or Clínica Las Condes - top tier private facilities |
| 🧘 Yoga & Wellness Centers |
Yoga Yoga (Providencia) and Yoga Crecer (Lastarria) |
| 🏋️ Gyms & Fitness Centers |
Pacific Fitness (budget) and SmartFit (central locations); ~$30,000 CLP/month |
| 🧺 Laundry Services |
Lavanderíasautoservicio.cl and local 'Lava Ya' shops; ~$5,000 CLP per 5kg load |
BUSINESS
| Topic |
Details |
| 💵 Dividend Withholding Tax |
35% (with tax credits available based on corporate tax paid) |
| 🏦 Tax System |
Worldwide income basis for residents after 3 years |
| 📈 Highest Income Tax Bracket |
40% |
| 🧾 VAT |
19% (Impuesto al Valor Agregado) |
| 🌐 Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules |
Yes, passive income rules apply |
| 🏠 Property Tax |
Yes, 'Contribuciones' based on fiscal assessment twice yearly |
| 🏠 Property Transaction Tax |
No VAT on used sales; notary and registration fees approx. 1-1.5% |
| 💻 Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads |
Foreigners exempt from tax on foreign source income for first 3 years |
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (City Center) |
Approx. $2,400 USD per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $96,000 USD) |
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (Outside City) |
Approx. $1,800 USD per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $72,000 USD) |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) |
Approx. $2,600 USD per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $156,000 USD) |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) |
Approx. $1,900 USD per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $114,000 USD) |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) |
Approx. $2,800 USD per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $224,000 USD) |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) |
Approx. $2,100 USD per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $168,000 USD) |
| 💼 Corporate Tax |
27% for most companies (General Regime) |
FOOD AND DRINK
| Topic |
Details |
| 📱 Best Food Delivery App |
UberEats and Rappi |
| 🍽️ Best Local Dish to Try |
Pastel de Choclo (corn pie) or Completo Italiano (hot dog with avocado) |
| 🍱 Vegan/Vegetarian Options |
Vegan Bunker (Barrio Italia) and Quinoa (Vitacura) |
| 🍫 Best Dessert Spots |
Emporio La Rosa (Ice cream) and Dulcería Las Palmas |
| 🛒 Affordable Shopping Spots |
La Vega Central for produce and Mercado Central for seafood |
| 🛒 E-commerce/Online Store |
Mercado Libre Chile and Falabella.com |
| 🛒 Grocery Delivery |
Cornershop (by Uber) or Jumbomarket.cl |
| 🍸 Bar/Nightlife Area |
Patios Bellavista for tourists; Manuel Montt for locals/nomads |
| 🍻 Local Brewery |
Krossbar ( 여러 locations) or Kuntsmann Kneipe (Bellavista) |
| 🍷 Wine Bars |
Bocanáriz (Lastarria) - offers over 300 Chilean labels |
| 🍲 Street Food Stalls |
Mote con Huesillo stalls found in parks like Cerro San Cristóbal |
| 🍕 Popular International Cuisine |
Pizzería Tiramisú (Italian/Las Condes) and Hocha (Taiwanese/Providencia) |
CULTURE AND ATTRACTIONS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🎟️ Must-See Landmarks |
Sky Costanera (tallest building in South America/entrance ~$15k CLP) |
| 🏛️ Museums & Art Venues |
Museum of Memory and Human Rights and Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino |
| 🏰 Historical Sites |
Plaza de Armas and La Moneda Palace (Presidential Seat) |
| 🕍 Religious Sites |
Metropolitan Cathedral and Templo Bahá’í de Sudamérica |
| 🎉 Annual Events |
Fiestas Patrias (September 18th) and Lollapalooza Chile (March) |
| 🎨 Cultural Districts |
Barrio Italia for design, furniture, and boutique cafes |
| 🎭 Theater Venues |
Teatro Municipal de Santiago (Opera/Ballet) and GAM (Centro Gabriela Mistral) |
| 🛍️ Local Markets |
Persa Biobío (Massive flea market on weekends in Franklin) |
| 🎼 Music Scene |
La Peña del Nano Parra (Folk) and Club Blondie (Indie/Alternative) |
| 🎨 Street Art |
Museo a Cielo Abierto in San Miguel or the streets of Barrio Yungay |
| 🧑🍳 Cooking Classes |
Uncorked Chile (Cooking & Wine workshops) |
| 👩🎨 Art Galleries |
Galería Patricia Ready (Vitacura) and MAC (Contemporary Art) |
| 🕰️ Historic Buildings |
Edificio Ariztía and the various 'Castillos' in Barrio Concha y Toro |
| 🏴 Local Heritage |
The 'Huaso' culture and Cueca dance heritage |
NATURE AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
| Topic |
Details |
| 🌅 Nearby Nature Escapes |
Cajón del Maipo for hiking and hot springs (2 hours away) |
| 🏞️ National Parks Nearby |
Parque Nacional Río Clarillo and Yerba Loca Nature Sanctuary |
| 🚲 Cycling/Walking Paths |
Parque Metropolitano (Cerro San Cristóbal) and Ciclorecreovía (Sundays) |
| 🌄 Scenic Viewpoints |
Cerro Santa Lucía and the summit of San Cristóbal |
| 🦉 Birdwatching Locations |
Wetlands of Batuco or the high Andes segments of Farellones |
| 🔥 Bonfire-Friendly Spots |
Limited due to wildfire risk; designated campgrounds in El Arrayán |
OTHER SERVICES AND AMENITIES
| Topic |
Details |
| 📦 Parcel Delivery Service |
ChilePost (CorreosChile), Starken, and BlueExpress |
| 🛠️ Tech Repair Services |
Drugstore Providencia or various shops in Barrio Lastarria/Centro |
| 🏓 Table Tennis Spots |
Club de Tenis de Mesa Santiago (Estación Central) |
| 🧑🏫 Language Classes |
Violeta Parra School or Tandem Santiago (Providencia) |
| 📚 Libraries & Study Spots |
Biblioteca Nacional (Center) and Biblioteca de Santiago (Quinta Normal) |
| 🏘️ Community Centers |
Centro Cultural Palacio de La Moneda |
| 🕹️ Gaming Lounges |
Movistar GameClub in Mall Plaza Vespucio |
| 🎰 Casino & Gaming Halls |
Enjoy Casino in Rinconada (approx. 45 mins from Santiago) |
🧭 CONTINUE EXPLORING SANTIAGO