I'm a few months ahead of you with the same questions... We are here in Santiago now (staying in Providencia) and our target permanent-move date is Sept. 1st. We are debating Santiago vs. Vina. We have not been to Vina yet, but will spend at least 1 week there starting Feb. 5th.

What we've learned thus far from numerous local sources: Vina has more moderate weather - cooler in summer and warmer in winter as compared to Santiago. Real estate is also cheaper there.

Most Chileans we've met, even here in Santiago, have told us overwhelmingly that Vina is the place to be if you can be there. We're skeptical because we're city-dwellers at heart and like a rich variety of restaurants.

I don't have much more to add (sorry), but I definitely encourage more replies from people with more local knowledge. We have exactly the same question you do - which is the better place to live. Sounds like the short answer is Vina is both cheaper and nicer if you can live without the conveniences of a "big city". We are big city people, so we're on the fence...

Erik y Aleksa

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Thank you XXPat,
Is there a train from Santiago or just a bus?
I will likely stay a couple days in Santiago before going to Vina del Mar.
How are you with the cost of food in Santiago?
Joseph

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Used to be a train but no more. Something about a big train wreck on that route a few years agon and they never re-started service.

Restaurants seem very expensive to us, but we've been living in Mexico last few years where everything is SUPER cheap. Santiago is still cheaper than a major U.S. city, but only by a little.

We haven't been to Vina yet, but we are told everything there is cheaper than here in Santiago.

Also keep in mind you are arriving in S. American autumn and staying thru the winter, based on your 6-month statement. Santiago has a smog problem and fairly cold weather in winter. Vina is much milder.

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We concur with XXPAT observations. We first visited Santiago about 5 years ago when the dollar/peso was 475. We had sticker shock on everything! Now we find food costs maybe a bit less from Los Angeles area. We are in Las Condes which is close to Providencia. Last year was our first winter here' and he smog is BAD. Best to visit winter in Vina.

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