Living in Chile is very expensive. Just ask anyone living in Vina del Mar...........

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We just spent the better part of a year in Chile as retirees. We found the cost of living to be about 50% to 75% higher than in Panama, depending on the category and the location in Chile.
We also found that expat retirees are scattered, so no easy socialization with birds of the same flock, and the language is difficult to master.

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I live in Viña del Mar. Chile may be the most expensive country in South America to live in. I pay $750/month for a small apartment with a tiny kitchen. However...

I do save money because almost all homes in the area don't have heating. Yes, you save money but there is no escape from the cold. Single pane windows (the norm in Chile) doesn't stop the noise either. Chileans love to enjoy their evenings which means you may have a noisy neighbors until about 4am in the morning.

Food at the grocery store is not any cheaper than the U.S. But the produce at the local markets is very inexpensive, fresh and tasty.

Chilean Spanish is very difficult to learn. There is lots of slang and they speak EXTREMELY fast. They also drop S's and D's off the end of words.

Once you get to know a Chilean you will discover they have their good points too.

If you choose to live farther south where it rains more you will find homes that are heated. You will also find as a rule they are a bit more friendly.

And don't forget that Chile is a country of many natural disasters. Last year we experienced 30 earthquakes in the local area, a tsunami and a large fire that destroyed 3,000 homes in Valparaiso. This year there have already been 2 major volcanic eruptions.

But when disaster strikes the Chilean people band together and are very generous in supported those affected by the disaster.

The beauty of Chile is the country and people, but it isn't a bargain compared to other South American countries.

If you accept these limitations along with the benefits, you just may fall in love with the country.

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I greatly appreciate your comments. Ads and articles stating low cost of living retirement recommendations in Valparaiso/La Serena/Iquique were far from the truth. What I read was $300/month 1 BR apartment/$60 electric/$30 water, and $50 grocer/wk, maybe correct figures for 20 years ago?

While in Chile, are there any recommendations on things to see or do for vacation?

Is Argentina, Uruguay, or Paraguay any cheaper for retirement? Upper South America seems much more drug production/crime

Panama maybe cheaper, however the last I heard crime was very high.

Thanks,
Emmanuel.

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There is a lot to do and see in Chile. Starting at the south end of the country you have Torres del Paine National Park. It's a must see if you are down there. The trails are very well marked and traveled so a guide isn't necessary. If you don't hike at least see the 'Towers'.

Northern Patagonia is well worth a trip to see. Cerro Castillo is stunningly beautiful. It is also where the Marble Cavern is located.

Moving north you come to the Lakes District. Osorno, the Mt. Fuji of South America is located in the region. Lakes and volcanoes. It is fantastic! Of course there is world class fishing in this area too.

Moving north stop at Siete Tazas. It is a series of 7 waterfalls and quite lovely. A stop at any of Pablo Neruda's homes is worth it. Whether it is on the coast, in Valpo or Santiago.

Valpo (Valparaiso) has fantastic street art and may be the most Bohemian city in South America. Next door you have the beaches in Viña del Mar. There are lots of vineyards in this area. While difficult to reach, Zapallar is a very nice place to spend a day at the beach.

La Serena is a fun town with Chile's northernmost vineyards. It's where the Chilean pisco is distilled.

If you like desert, the Atacama is a must see. The driest place on earth yields the clearest skies you will ever see. The stars are amazing. San Pedro de Atacama is a great place to start your desert tours.

Don't miss Tatio Geysers. It is the third largest geyser field in the world. However if you suffer from altitude sickness beware. The elevation is over 14,000 feet.

Chile is a beautiful country with much to see.

Of the countries you mentioned, I would first consider Uruguay. It was #2 on my list of countries to move to. Stable government, safe banks and low crime. Paraguay is very poor with a high crime rate. Argentina is cheap right now and may get cheaper after the elections. There is talk of another currency devaluation there.

I chose Chile for a number of reasons but saving money was a ways down the list. Chile is a great country IF you have a decent retirement income or are willing to work to supplement your income.

Good luck on your choice.

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I live in Panama now and crime is under control. I haven't been affected, but there are always some people who are. Sometimes I talk with them and read their stories at the police station, and most of these crimes against them could be avoided. Maybe it's the idea of packing up all your Hawaiian shirts, sunglasses and suntan lotion, and thinking you are going to the big resort near the equator to live. Don't check your brains at the border. This is a land of haves and have nots. We spent time in Uruguay which in my opinion is more expensive than Chile, Argentina where you can get more than 15 Pesos for your nice clean new American $100 dollar bills, the blue dollar....it is amazingly cheap there. Bought a litre of my favorite Red/Dark Beer for 69 cents. Chile and Peru were relatively expensive, wine was cheap in Chile, in Peru I could get a massage for $6. There are always deals going on. Ecuador and Colombia were two of my favorite spots as Ecuador uses the US dollar and Colombian Pesos have reached 3000 to a dollar and will probably go to 4000 pesos, so Colombia is cheap. Colombians seem to want to leave that country, while Gringos want to move there......There is a TV series called Narcos that is a great depiction of Colombia and Medellin in particular..............Sage1193 stated many of the reasons why we would not want to retire in Chile, and jbondoux rounded out the list, why we crossed Chile of our retirement list, however we loved our time there and would go back for a vacation. Vina del Mar was a big highlight of our South American tour.

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I don't know what makes you think that just because you get a million or thousands of pesos or whatever the name of the currecy may be for your dollar you might be able to buy food or live pretty cheap in that particular country. Because in those countries where the their currency devalues on a daily basis, or suffers drastic devaluations against the US dollar, shops and business owners jack prices up the same or next day. And you end up with your pockets full of local money but you can buy nothing. From experience I can tell you that Argentina is pretty expensive too. When I was looking for an apartment in Buenos Aires, the real estate lady wanted a commission equivalente to two months rent, on top of the one month security deposit. And the first month rent for an small apartment. The rent was about US$600 a month. Thus, the rate of exchange is not the way you can tell whether or not the cost of living in a country is low or high. When I was in the service I was stationed in several south and central american countries. Cost of living in Chile is sone of the highest in the americas.

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Im also looking,and askinf for somebody who lives in Iquique how mich a 1 bdrm apt in a decent area not too far from the beach costs?? How many months' deposit and do I need a guarantor.Can short-term rentals be had without lotsa rigamarole?

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Here is a link for you:
http://inmuebles.mercadolibre.cl/casas/arriendo/iquique

The best sites to check rental are not the ones gringos look at. Mercado Libre is a Latin America online marketplace. Happy house hunting.

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We have lived in Ecuador for the last 3+ years, and yes, it is a good country to live in. We live up in the Sierra in Cuenca...so we weren't affected by the large quake a few weeks ago. Nor do we have the crime issues that the other large cities have. That being said, we plan to move to Chile next year for a couple reasons...one being that there are more opportunities for my 30s daughter (lives with us here) to meet others her age group. etc...and we also are ready for another 'adventure'. We are from Calif originally, and Chile has a lot of areas that are very similar looking and sounding to the areas we lived in Calif. While Chile may not be as inexpensive as Ecuador, it DOES appear to have far more product availability, etc. and that attracts us as well.

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@sage1193
many thanks for your nice post
are there areas with less earthquakes
what is the cost of utilities
is it easy to purchase property
are banks difficult to deal with

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Emmanuel01
most South American countries have high sales taxes
then handling foreign currencies and transferring funds is a pain except for Uruguay
in Panama city the traffic is unbearable
high property taxes and maintenance fees
rental prices are extremely high
is very hot and there is crime everywhere
the beaches are ugly lots of mosquito
the climate in the mountains is nice
cars, electronics, food,, clothes utilities and public transportation are cheap
the education system sucks

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Hi Triffic - Earthquakes are a risk wherever you live in Chile. However there are places where the risk is lower. The Bio Bio region is probably the 'least' prone to an earthquake because the had an 8.8 in 2010. Any quakes there for the next 20 years or so will probably only be in the 6.0 range which is only a 'tremor' by Chilean standards. (A tremor becomes an earthquake at 7.0!) The building codes for apartment buildings was changed this year. Any tall structure must now withstand a 9.0 quake.

The cost of utilities is fairly expensive in Chile. We typically pay $50 - $100 monthly. Keep in mind that Chile's growing economy has created an electricity demand Chile is struggling to meet. One way to limit use is with high costs.

The Chilean banking system is stable and strong. During the 2008 meltdown Chile's banking system hardly blinked because of their regulations they have in place. A U.S. citizen can still get a standard bank account if you can prove an income of approximately $500,000 CLP.

And there's good news about purchasing property. Chile's laws protect land ownership better than most countries in S.A. A gringo's money is just as good as a Chileno's money. All the better if you pay cash. But as in any major financial transaction you should have a lawyer in your corner.

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@sage1193
many thanks for all the details
so all areas in chile are seismic active
I would like to live off the grid and do some home gardening or even have a tiny farm - near a city but not in any city
currently I'm looking into panama, ecuador and chile
which are your favorite areas in chile
what is the best time to visit

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Hi Triffic,

If you would like a small farm you need to consider water availability for now and in the future. Climate change will impact this and Chile is vulnerable to drought unless you are in the Lakes District.

For a small farm, Uruguay may be a better choice. (Uruguay was number two on my list of places to relocate.)

Uruguay also has strong property protections and are very open to foreign investment. As an added benefit to those considering farming - all land is rated for suitability for farming.

Plus Uruguay doesn't have a seismic risk and water is not a problem as it has one of the largest aquifers in the world.

Uruguay also has a very stable government and banks. If you are a wealthy Argentine or Brazilian, chances are you have a Uruguayan bank account. One might consider Uruguay and the "Swiss banking capitol" of S,A,

Uruguay is also one of the more socially liberal countries in S.A. where gay marriage and marijuana is legal.

As with Chile, living in Uruguay isn't as cheap as other countries in S.A. However as you probably well know, you get what you pay for.

Also, I'm not a big believer of visiting a place one time of year because there are more than one season to a year. To get the full measure of a place, culture, weather, and cost of living - spend a year there before pulling the trigger on property.

For myself, I am considering moving from Viña to Quilpue or Limache which is further up the Metro (train) line. Even though it's only a few miles inland, the weather changes much like it does from San Diego to El Cajon. More sunlight, less marine layer and a little cheaper. Yet I can still ride the Metro to my teaching job in Valparaiso.

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@sage1193
I have lived in La Jolla and liked the climate.
I have been to Uruguay and thought it was quite boring. Lots of smog in Montevideo and poverty all over the country. Gadgets are very expensive
After doing some extensive research I found that Uruguay has forced vaccinations.

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triffic,
You might want to consider Ecuador for property outside of a city. If you want to farm, you can't do better than the northern part of Ecuador in the Intag valley near the cities of Ibarra and Otavalo. There are a number of organic farms owned by gringos in the Intag, as well as those owned by Ecuadorians. Very, very fertile soil, plenty of very clean water and very clean air. Cost of living is low. Climate is so even and comfortable no one needs heat or air conditioning. Electricity is cheap. Gasoline is still at $1.50 a gallon or less. New vehicles are expensive, and good used vehicles maintain their value.

Ecuador uses the US dollar and you can bring all your electrical appliances as the electricity is the same. You can bring all your household goods with no import duties and even import a vehicle as long as you follow the rules and the time frame allowed. Crime rate is very low, and mostly in bigger cities. And the Ecuadorians in this area seem to genuinely really like North Americans. They are very friendly, very helpful, and very hospitable. There are a number of small cities, towns, and villages north of Quito that would be ideal to rent for awhile before you start to think of buying property. Hope this is helpful! Buuena Suerte!

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@LovetheBeach
many thanks for your suggestions
Ibarra and Otavalo are rather high above sea level
1500m (5000ft) would be ideal
Ecuador has lots of natural disasters and poverty

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If you want a cheap place to live and don't bore easily I would recommend several hours outside and major city in Colombia. Small town around 20K population. I did it for a little over a year and averaged about $1000 USD a month. But that's only because there is nothing to do and other than buying necessities of life and one or 2 little restaurants. You don't have any other places to spend money. The tranquil life there is great for about 6 months to a year. Colombia is relatively safe now as long as you don't do stupid stuff. In Bogota there are good areas and bad areas like any big city. I walked a lot in Bogota and never had a problem. If I was out after dark I would take a taxi home. Bogota you can at least double and for some triple the budget of a small town. The movie Narcos is a good representation of Colombia 25 to 30 years ago. In fact much of what was in series Narcos is completely true. But again, that was 30 years ago. Now I do have a bit of an advantage, because my wife is a Colombiana. She knows the areas to stay away from. But that being said, if you use common sense like you would in any big city in South America you should be OK. Don't ware flashy jewelry, walk around talking on your smart phone and don't pull wads of pesos out of your pocket on the street you most likely wouldn't have an issue. I don't carry a wallet in Colombia. Just a money clip in my front pocket. Try to blend in.
I hear Manizales Colombia is nice and hope to visit there next year. Its much cheaper than Bogota.

I spent a little time in Peru and liked it there. I didn't find it terribly expensive but have yet to look for a long term furnished apartment. But if you didn't live in the high tourist spots I think it would be reasonable. I stayed in a little township south of Lima called Barranco and while it and Miraflores are normally thought of as higher cost areas, if you get off the beaten trail it isn't even too bad. Next year we plan to spend about 6 months in Peru in several areas checking it out.

In any country you go to, the bigger cities will be more expensive. You have to find the right mix of, big enough to have things to do but not so big its expensive.

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Anyone who tells you it is cheap to live in Chile is a lair! Chile is more expensive than the USA or Europe!

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Thanks so much about the Ecuador tips!!

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We are heavily planning on retiring in Chile. I grew up in Argentina, have traveled every country in Latin America except for Praguay. I hear enough to know I am missing nothing. Argentina may be a bit better now but is still a divided country pretty much like the US has become and will probably get worse fast. The governemnt is not stable, crime is high but the food is great. Uruguay was quite attractive but lately it has been overriden by argentinians and properties are not cheap anymore. Cuenca has a great climate but is a bit too .... I don't know. Looked at several places in Colombia, Venezuela, Honduras, maybe a bit too hot. Finally decided on Cile. I have been several times and always seemed to gravitate to Pucon. we are buying a home there with a fantastic view but have to winterize it first. will try to take our 1924 model t if it is not too expensive to transport. I am fluent in spanish and love the chilean culture and patriotism and they are extremely friendly. Crime there is very ow and is mostly petty theft. People don't carry guns. Another thing that I dislike about the US.
My GF is worried about learning spanish. I am fluent but she has stumbled when taking lessons. She hopes to find some expats there. She looks forward to gardening, raising chickens, stocking the pool with fish, walking and fishing. whatever it is, it beats office work hands down.

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I was reading that when you import a car into chile
you pay duty and taxes as if the vehicle was brand new

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I also found this interesting article:
Opening a bank account - Impossible for expats?

As a foreigner, opening a bank account in Chile is extremely difficult, sometimes almost impossible. The main requirement is to have a Chilean residency card (ID card) since your passport will not give you access to a Chilean bank.

Banks do not open accounts for expatriates with less than two years of residency. Chilean ID cards has a number, the RUT (Rol Único Tributario) and it will also function as your tax identification number.

In order to receive your RUT number, you should fill in the tax administration (SII) form F4415 – but there is no guarantee of success and the process is long. And, as we mentioned before, most banks ask for 2 years residency even with the RUT number, as well as proof of Chilean income and a minimum deposit.

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I was led to believe that snce it is a 1924 model T it is an antique and antiques do not pay IVA.

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Yes, is more expensive if you live in Santiago and live were the rich people live, most people in chile lives well with $800.00 a month salary.

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