Essentials
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
Food and Drink
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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)
Business
- 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)
- 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