Moving to Ireland from Chile

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Chile to Ireland, you would find that Ireland is 2.2 times more expensive than Chile overall. A CLF1,900 salary in Chile would need to be roughly €149,000 in Ireland to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Irish. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Dublin averages 56°F vs 73°F in Santiago, making it significantly cooler.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

CLF1,900 → €149,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Ireland

Calculate with your salary →

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

Restaurants

pay 2.1 times more

Groceries

pay 48.2% more

Transportation

pay 2.1 times more

Housing

pay 3.2 times more

Childcare

pay 70.4% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 86.1% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 CLF = 36.07 EUR (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.

Cost of living by city

Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).

On average, cities in Ireland cost about 106% more than cities in Chile.

Chile

Ireland

Cork 69%
Carlow 66%
Athlone 65%
Drogheda 64%

Compare cities head-to-head

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Living there in 2020
160 ↑ 13% vs 2015

people born in Chile live in Ireland · UN DESA

Who's moving to Ireland?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

CL
6.3
IE
0.7
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

CL
32%
IE
75%

Ireland performs significantly better than Chile across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

CL
$3,612
IE
$8,772
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2023

affects wait times and access to care

CL
33.3
IE
38.8

Ireland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Chile leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

CL
18.0
IE
13.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

CL
3.9t
IE
6.0t

Chile generally does better on environment, though Ireland leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

CL
23.7
IE
32.3
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

CL
9.0%
IE
8.1%

Ireland performs significantly better than Chile across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

CL
9.0%
IE
4.6%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

CL
$17,995
IE
$131,592

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

CL
81.4 yrs
IE
83.0 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CL
5.8
IE
3.4

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

Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), Chilean Tax Administration (2016), The Office of the Revenue Commissioners (2016). How we calculate this

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Dublin Rain: 29.8 in/yr (758 mm)
56° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Santiago Dublin
Jan–Mar 84°/55°F (29°/12°C) 49°/37°F (10°/3°C)
Apr–Jun 66°/44°F (19°/7°C) 59°/44°F (15°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 63°/41°F (17°/5°C) 66°/52°F (19°/11°C)
Oct–Dec 79°/51°F (26°/10°C) 51°/41°F (11°/5°C)
View all months
Month Santiago Dublin
Jan 86°/56°F (30.1°/13.3°C) 47°/36°F (8.1°/2.4°C)
Feb 85°/55°F (29.5°/12.8°C) 47°/36°F (8.3°/2.3°C)
Mar 81°/53°F (27.4°/11.4°C) 54°/38°F (12.1°/3.4°C)
Apr 74°/47°F (23.1°/8.6°C) 54°/40°F (12.1°/4.6°C)
May 65°/44°F (18.5°/6.4°C) 59°/44°F (14.8°/6.9°C)
Jun 60°/41°F (15.7°/5.0°C) 64°/49°F (17.6°/9.6°C)
Jul 60°/39°F (15.3°/3.9°C) 67°/53°F (19.5°/11.7°C)
Aug 63°/41°F (17.1°/5.1°C) 67°/53°F (19.2°/11.5°C)
Sep 67°/44°F (19.4°/6.8°C) 63°/50°F (17.0°/9.8°C)
Oct 73°/47°F (22.9°/8.6°C) 56°/45°F (13.6°/7.3°C)
Nov 79°/51°F (26.1°/10.3°C) 51°/40°F (10.3°/4.5°C)
Dec 84°/54°F (28.8°/12.2°C) 47°/37°F (8.3°/2.8°C)

Data: Dirección Meteorológica de Chile Dirección Meteorológica de Chile, Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Chile passport

Chile passport holder visiting Ireland

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

Ireland passport holder visiting Chile

Visa Free
Ireland 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 Ireland than Chile?

No — Ireland is on average about 117% more expensive than Chile. City-level variation matters.

How much money do I need to move to Ireland?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €37,250 in Ireland on a CLF1,900 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Ireland?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Ireland has 32.3 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 Ireland safe for expats?

Ireland performs significantly better than Chile across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Ireland is 0.7 per 100,000 people, compared to 6.3 in Chile. About 75% of people in Ireland feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Ireland compared to Chile?

Ireland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Chile leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 38.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Ireland, compared to 33.3 in Chile. Ireland scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Chile: 82).

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

The average high temperature in Dublin is 56°F, compared to 73°F in Santiago. Dublin receives around 29.8 in of rainfall per year, while Santiago gets 13.5 in.

What language do they speak in Ireland?

The official languages in Ireland are English and Irish. In Chile, the official language is Spanish.

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At a Glance

CL IE
Population 19,859,921 5,484,367
Currency Chilean Unit of Account (UF) (CLF) Euro (€)
Languages Spanish English, Irish
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +56 +353
Time zones 2 1
Emergency number 131 112