Moving to Chile from California
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from California to Chile — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from California to Chile, you would find that Chile is 50.9% cheaper than California. A $75,000 salary in California would need to be roughly CLF802 in Chile to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from California to Chile.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → CLF802
To maintain the same standard of living in Chile
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 50.0% less
Groceries
pay 45.3% less
Transportation
pay 30.3% less
Housing
pay 70.1% less
Childcare
pay 81.1% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 51.3% less
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 California to Chile, based on official data.
people moved from United States to Chile · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from California to Chile.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Chile performs significantly better than California across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
California performs better than Chile across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
California generally does better on employment & economy, though Chile leads in poverty rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Chile performs significantly better than California 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.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Sacramento | Santiago |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 60°/41°F (15°/5°C) | 84°/55°F (29°/12°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 79°/51°F (26°/11°C) | 66°/44°F (19°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 90°/57°F (32°/14°C) | 63°/41°F (17°/5°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 65°/44°F (18°/7°C) | 79°/51°F (26°/10°C) |
View all months
| Month | Sacramento | Santiago |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 54°/39°F (12.1°/3.8°C) | 86°/56°F (30.1°/13.3°C) |
| Feb | 60°/41°F (15.7°/5.2°C) | 85°/55°F (29.5°/12.8°C) |
| Mar | 65°/44°F (18.4°/6.7°C) | 81°/53°F (27.4°/11.4°C) |
| Apr | 71°/46°F (21.7°/7.9°C) | 74°/47°F (23.1°/8.6°C) |
| May | 80°/51°F (26.6°/10.6°C) | 65°/44°F (18.5°/6.4°C) |
| Jun | 87°/56°F (30.6°/13.2°C) | 60°/41°F (15.7°/5.0°C) |
| Jul | 92°/58°F (33.4°/14.7°C) | 60°/39°F (15.3°/3.9°C) |
| Aug | 91°/58°F (32.9°/14.4°C) | 63°/41°F (17.1°/5.1°C) |
| Sep | 87°/56°F (30.7°/13.2°C) | 67°/44°F (19.4°/6.8°C) |
| Oct | 78°/50°F (25.3°/10.1°C) | 73°/47°F (22.9°/8.6°C) |
| Nov | 64°/43°F (17.7°/6.0°C) | 79°/51°F (26.1°/10.3°C) |
| Dec | 54°/38°F (12.2°/3.6°C) | 84°/54°F (28.8°/12.2°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
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 holder visiting Chile
Visa Free
Chile passport holder visiting United States
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: 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 California?
Yes — Chile is on average about 54% cheaper than California. 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 CLF200 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 California?
Chile performs significantly better than California across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Chile compared to California?
The average high temperature in Santiago is 73°F, compared to 74°F in Sacramento. Santiago receives around 13.5 in of rainfall per year, while Sacramento gets 18.5 in.
What language do they speak in Chile?
The official language in Chile is Spanish. In California, the official language is English.
