Moving to Chile from Arizona

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Arizona to Chile — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Arizona to Chile, you would find that Chile is 41.0% cheaper than Arizona. A $75,000 salary in Arizona would need to be roughly CLF986 in Chile to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Santiago averages 73°F vs 87°F in Phoenix, making it significantly cooler.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Arizona to Chile.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 CLF986

To maintain the same standard of living in Chile

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 46.7% less

Groceries

pay 32.8% less

Transportation

pay 12.6% less

Housing

pay 67.8% less

Childcare

pay 66.8% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 37.3% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 0.0236 CLF (August 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Arizona to Chile, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
468 ↓ 67% vs 2022

people moved from United States to Chile · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Chile?

Top countries of origin for Chile's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Arizona to Chile.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

AZ
33.6%
CL
28.0%

Chile performs significantly better than Arizona across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

AZ
90.5%
CL
90.0%

Arizona performs better than Chile across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

AZ
4.0%
CL
9.0%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

AZ
$58,628
CL
$29,500

Arizona generally does better on employment & economy, though Chile leads in poverty rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

AZ
76.3 yrs
CL
79.8 yrs

Chile performs significantly better than Arizona across all family life metrics.

Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Phoenix Rain: 8.2 in/yr (208 mm)
87° / 63°F

Avg. annual high / low

Santiago Rain: 13.5 in/yr (342 mm)
73° / 48°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Phoenix Santiago
Jan–Mar 73°/49°F (23°/10°C) 84°/55°F (29°/12°C)
Apr–Jun 95°/69°F (35°/20°C) 66°/44°F (19°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 103°/80°F (40°/27°C) 63°/41°F (17°/5°C)
Oct–Dec 77°/54°F (25°/12°C) 79°/51°F (26°/10°C)
View all months
Month Phoenix Santiago
Jan 69°/46°F (20.3°/7.6°C) 86°/56°F (30.1°/13.3°C)
Feb 72°/49°F (22.1°/9.3°C) 85°/55°F (29.5°/12.8°C)
Mar 78°/53°F (25.7°/11.9°C) 81°/53°F (27.4°/11.4°C)
Apr 86°/60°F (29.9°/15.7°C) 74°/47°F (23.1°/8.6°C)
May 95°/69°F (34.8°/20.6°C) 65°/44°F (18.5°/6.4°C)
Jun 104°/77°F (39.9°/25.1°C) 60°/41°F (15.7°/5.0°C)
Jul 106°/83°F (41.0°/28.1°C) 60°/39°F (15.3°/3.9°C)
Aug 104°/82°F (40.1°/27.8°C) 63°/41°F (17.1°/5.1°C)
Sep 100°/75°F (37.8°/24.1°C) 67°/44°F (19.4°/6.8°C)
Oct 89°/64°F (31.8°/18.0°C) 73°/47°F (22.9°/8.6°C)
Nov 76°/52°F (24.7°/11.1°C) 79°/51°F (26.1°/10.3°C)
Dec 67°/45°F (19.6°/7.1°C) 84°/54°F (28.8°/12.2°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Dirección Meteorológica de Chile Dirección Meteorológica de Chile

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Chile. To live, work, or study long-term in Chile, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Chile's immigration authority.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Chile

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter Chile without a visa.
Chile passport

Chile passport holder visiting United States

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Chile passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter United States.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Chile than Arizona?

Yes — Chile is on average about 44% cheaper than Arizona. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Chile?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly CLF246 in Chile on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Chile?

Usually fine from major cities in Chile. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

How is healthcare in Chile compared to Arizona?

Chile performs significantly better than Arizona across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in Chile compared to Arizona?

The average high temperature in Santiago is 73°F, compared to 87°F in Phoenix. Santiago receives around 13.5 in of rainfall per year, while Phoenix gets 8.2 in.

What language do they speak in Chile?

The official language in Chile is Spanish. In Arizona, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

CL
Population 6,392,017 18,430,408
Currency United States Dollar ($) Chilean Unit of Account (UF) (CLF)
Languages English Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +56
Time zones 11 2
Emergency number 911 131