Have you considered retiring to a different country where it would be safe, the people are friendly, and the cost of living is much lower? Have you considered Chile? In this post, we’ll go through some of the pros and cons of retiring to Chile.
Here are the Pros and Cons of retiring to Chile:
Pros:
- Friendly & Happy People
- Vibrant Lifestyle & Culture
- Beautiful Coast
- Cheap Accommodation
- Very Safe And Secure
- GreatTransport
- Good Private Health Care
- Extensive Food Culture
Cons:
- Air Pollution
- Expensive Groceries
- Flight Times
So now you know the must-know Pros and Cons let me dig into these more for you so you know exactly why..
Introduction To Chile
Chile is known as one of the safest countries in Latin America. With a huge beautiful coastline from the tropics all the way to the cooler southern coastline Chile is not short of beaches. There are both country and rural places to live with access to everything you will need to make you feel at home at a much cheaper price than in the USA.
Chile is unique as it runs as a long country down the west coast of south america bordered by mountains on its eastern side. Its ocean to mountain geography means you have ski resorts and great beaches both within a short drive from the capital of Santiago. You can also travel to the Atacama Desert in the north of the country which is the world’s driest location, for yet another environmental extreme!
What are the Pros of Living in Chile?
Friendly & Happy People
Chileans may be among the happiest and nicest people on the planet. There is a rising mix of cultures and peoples from all over the globe, primarily from South America, making this nation incredibly diverse. You will never feel out of place in this country and it is really the perfect place if you are looking for that warm sense of community that Chile has to offer.
Even in major towns like Santiago, people like stepping out of their houses and going for nighttime walks in the parks. As you wander about, you will observe a diverse group of individuals, including many parents and children. People might be found playing soccer or enjoying picnics with their pals at any park. It is not uncommon for individuals to go on day trips because of the low cost of buses.
Vibrant Lifestyle And Culture
In Chile, you will never run out of things to do with a big event taking place on most weekends in cities such as Santiago. You can learn to ski at some local resort or just spend all day on a beautiful beach. The shopping centres are much like the rest of the world but if you want a bargain the markets are where you should go. The fresh food markets are the first thing I check out when visiting a new country to see the freshness and variety of local produce for cooking.
Soccer, like the rest of Latin America, is a popular sport in Chile, with a number of facilities. They’re usually packed, and anybody of any age should go at least once. The city and country lifestyle are big across Chile and with plenty of beaches there it is the perfect destination for you beach lover out there.
Here are a few places you can visit on your day off in Chile:
TIP: Some of these websites are in Spanish. If you open the website in google chrome you can use the built-in translation to change it to English.
Beautiful Coast
It would not come as a surprise that Chile has some of the most beautiful beaches on the planet since the majority of the country is bordering the Pacific Ocean. Chile has an abundance of magnificent beaches with a total coastline of 4,270 kilometers (2,653 miles). This country is ideal for those looking to relax as well as those who enjoy water sports such as sailing, surfing, windsurfing, or kayaking. When you’re done with all the sporty activities, there’s no better place to relax than here on the gleaming white sand. Furthermore, the sea in Chile is often warmer than that in the United States making it a slice of paradise for beach lovers.
Here are a few beaches that you can visit in Chile:
- Playa Las Salinas
- Playa Los Enamorados
- Playa Socos
- Playa El Morro
- Playa Chica – Papudo
- Playa La Lisera
TIP: If you are looking for beaches in Chile, use can type “playa” on google maps since Spanish is the official language of the country.
Cheap Accommodation
In Chile, there are possibilities for all budgets, whether you are buying or renting. You can head to Facebook Marketplace if you are looking for something cheap or to share a room in a share house. Select your preferred city (Santiago for an instance) as your filter, then click on Property Rentals or House Sales. Keep in mind that all prices will be in local pesos. Renting a studio apartment in the capital of Santiago will cost you about 400 USD a month whereas for 3 bedroom apartments in the same city will be about 706 USD a month.
You will be working directly with the owners when looking for places to buy. If you’re buying a home in any country, make sure you seek the necessary legal guidance first to ensure everything is in order.
It is always safer to go via a real estate agent for purchases or long-term leases, and I have included a few for you to consider below. They will inform you of any applicable local laws, fees, and taxes.
Some Real Estates You Could Check If You’d Like To Buy Property In Chile:
Very Safe and Secure
Chile is now ranked 49th safest country on the earth, according to the Global Peace Index (updated every year). Along with Uruguay, it is often regarded as the safest country in South America. The “thin country” can be regarded as a relatively safe destination due to its low crime rates and friendly attitude toward visitors.
Great Transport
Buses are the most frequent mode of transportation in Chile. Buses move regularly along defined routes within cities, providing a quick and economical way to get about. An average bus trip in Chile costs roughly 300 pesos or at around 0.38 USD per trip!
Buses are the most prevalent mode of transportation for long-distance travel. There are services to and from almost every major city in Chile, as well as other South American nations. Comfortable reclining seats and sleeper buses are available because many of these bus trips can take up to 24 hours (Santiago to Punta Arenas takes roughly 40 hours, with one change-over).
For me, though I still like to fly and there are heaps of cheap flights as an alternative to a long bus ride.
Here are some forms of transportations available in Chile:
- Buses
- Taxis
- Metro
- Uber
- Planes
NOTE: Due to the mountainous terrain state rail is not as good as the bus services and the metro or subway is only in certain large cities like Santiago.
Good Private Health Care
Chile’s public and private healthcare systems are fairly similar to those of the United States, with only a tiny difference in their global rankings according to the World Health Care Rankings. It also has one of Latin America’s best healthcare systems. The main difference is that equivalent health care in Chile will cost you a lot less, and you can see those costs on the actual health care providers below.
Here are some of the biggest national Private Health Care Providers:
TIP: If you don’t understand Spanish, it is recommended to use auto-translation in your browser. If you open the website in google chrome you can use the built-in translation to change it to English.
Extensive Food Culture
Chile has a huge variety of cultures and nationalities from all over South and Central America as well as from across the world. In Santiago, you will find every type of food from around the world with a slight Chilean spin.
Here are some of the local foods you should try:
There are many more dishes for you to try but these are some of the common street foods for the Chilean people.
What are the Cons of Living in Chile?
Air Pollution
In the winter, cities in valleys such as Santiago, Chillán, Temuco, and Osorno become “locked” with cold air, trapping pollution inside. Wood stoves are still the primary source of heat outside of Santiago. The government is attempting to reduce pollution through various means, and the future appears to be clean due to massive renewable energy initiatives, but haze remains a concern for the time being. On a side note, power is extremely expensive.
Pollution is not as serious as it is in many other nations, and it is very seasonal, peaking between 5 pm and 8 pm. during the winter from May through September.
Expensive Groceries
From a global point of view, the cost of food in Chile is low, although it is higher than in surrounding Latin American countries like Peru and Argentina. Purchasing local vegetables and fruit from the central markets is a terrific way to save money while also getting a taste of the local cuisine. Prices at supermarkets are slightly higher, and eating out and purchasing imported foods can be expensive.
NOTE: If you want to know about the real pricing in Chile check this article Retire To Chile: Cost of Living.
Flight Times
While the flight times and cost are cheap for other South American countries you are looking at over 10 hours to LAX in the USA or about 14 hours to Madrid. For people using it as a holiday home, this may be an issue for short holidays but for retirees it means a longer flight to visit friends and family at home. This is the same for them to visit you.