Moving to Bolivia from Chile

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Chile to Bolivia, you would find that Bolivia is 46.4% cheaper than Chile overall. A CLF1,900 salary in Chile would need to be roughly BOB476,000 in Bolivia to maintain the same lifestyle.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

CLF1,900 → BOB476,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Bolivia

Calculate with your salary →

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

Restaurants

pay 60.4% less

Groceries

pay 45.6% less

Transportation

pay 39.0% less

Housing

pay 46.8% less

Childcare

pay 64.1% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 46.2% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 CLF = 467.77 BOB (October 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 Chile to Bolivia, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
5,268 ↑ 11% vs 2015

people born in Chile live in Bolivia · UN DESA

Who's moving to Bolivia?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

CL
6.3
BO
4.4
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

CL
32%
BO
59%

Bolivia generally does better on safety, though Chile leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

CL
$3,612
BO
$756
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2023

affects wait times and access to care

CL
33.3
BO
12.8

Bolivia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Chile leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

CL
18.0
BO
54.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

CL
3.9t
BO
2.3t

Chile generally does better on environment, though Bolivia leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

CL
23.7
BO
12.1
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

CL
9.0%
BO
0.2%

Chile generally does better on infrastructure, though Bolivia leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

CL
9.0%
BO
3.0%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

CL
$17,995
BO
$5,148

Chile generally does better on employment & economy, though Bolivia leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

CL
81.4 yrs
BO
68.7 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CL
5.8
BO
14.2

Chile generally does better on family life, though Bolivia leads in education spending.

Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), Chilean Tax Administration (2016), Autoridad de Impugnación Tributaria (AIT), Bolivia (2016), The World Factbook (2021). How we calculate this

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Chile passport

Chile passport holder visiting Bolivia

Visa Free
Chile passport holders can enter Bolivia without a visa.
Bolivia passport

Bolivia passport holder visiting Chile

Visa Free
Bolivia passport holders can enter Chile without a visa.

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 Bolivia than Chile?

Yes — Bolivia is on average about 46% cheaper than Chile. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Bolivia?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly BOB119,000 in Bolivia on a CLF1,900 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Bolivia?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Bolivia has 12.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Bolivia safe for expats?

Bolivia generally does better on safety, though Chile leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Bolivia is 4.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 6.3 in Chile. About 59% of people in Bolivia feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Bolivia compared to Chile?

Bolivia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Chile leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 12.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Bolivia, compared to 33.3 in Chile. Bolivia scores 65 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Chile: 82).

What language do they speak in Bolivia?

The official languages in Bolivia are Aymara, Guaraní, Quechua and Spanish. In Chile, the official language is Spanish.

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At a Glance

CL BO
Population 19,859,921 12,581,843
Currency Chilean Unit of Account (UF) (CLF) Bolivian Boliviano (BOB)
Languages Spanish Aymara, Guaraní, Quechua, Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +56 +591
Time zones 2 1
Emergency number 131 110