Moving to Thailand from Chile
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Chile to Thailand — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Chile to Thailand, you would find that Thailand is 0.3% more expensive than Chile overall. A CLF1,775 salary in Chile would need to be roughly THB2,782,289 in Thailand to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Thai. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Bangkok averages 91°F vs 73°F in Santiago, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Chile to Thailand.
What does your salary buy?
CLF1,775 → THB2,782,289
To maintain the same standard of living in Thailand
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 46.9% less
Groceries
pay 6.8% more
Transportation
pay 10.0% more
Housing
pay 21.1% less
Childcare
pay 57.9% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 9.7% 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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Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Chile to Thailand.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Thailand generally does better on safety, though Chile leads in road traffic deaths.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Thailand generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Chile leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Chile performs better than Thailand across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Chile performs better than Thailand across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Thailand generally does better on employment & economy, though Chile leads in gdp per capita.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
Chile generally does better on family life, though Thailand leads in infant mortality.
Data: Chilean Tax Administration, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Santiago | Bangkok |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 84°/55°F (29°/12°C) | 91°/74°F (33°/23°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 66°/44°F (19°/7°C) | 93°/78°F (34°/26°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 63°/41°F (17°/5°C) | 90°/77°F (32°/25°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 79°/51°F (26°/10°C) | 89°/73°F (32°/23°C) |
View all months
| Month | Santiago | Bangkok |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 86°/56°F (30.1°/13.3°C) | 90°/70°F (32.0°/21.0°C) |
| Feb | 85°/55°F (29.5°/12.8°C) | 91°/74°F (32.7°/23.3°C) |
| Mar | 81°/53°F (27.4°/11.4°C) | 93°/77°F (33.7°/24.9°C) |
| Apr | 74°/47°F (23.1°/8.6°C) | 95°/79°F (34.9°/26.1°C) |
| May | 65°/44°F (18.5°/6.4°C) | 93°/78°F (34.0°/25.6°C) |
| Jun | 60°/41°F (15.7°/5.0°C) | 92°/78°F (33.1°/25.4°C) |
| Jul | 60°/39°F (15.3°/3.9°C) | 91°/77°F (32.7°/25.0°C) |
| Aug | 63°/41°F (17.1°/5.1°C) | 90°/77°F (32.5°/24.9°C) |
| Sep | 67°/44°F (19.4°/6.8°C) | 90°/76°F (32.3°/24.6°C) |
| Oct | 73°/47°F (22.9°/8.6°C) | 90°/76°F (32.0°/24.3°C) |
| Nov | 79°/51°F (26.1°/10.3°C) | 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.1°C) |
| Dec | 84°/54°F (28.8°/12.2°C) | 88°/69°F (31.3°/20.8°C) |
Data:
Dirección Meteorológica de Chile,
Thai Meteorological Department
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Chile and Thailand. To live, work, or study long-term in Thailand, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Thailand's immigration authority.
Chile passport holder visiting Thailand
Visa Free
Thailand passport holder visiting Chile
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Thailand than Chile?
No — Thailand is on average about 10% more expensive than Chile. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to Thailand?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly THB695,572 in Thailand on a CLF1,775 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Thailand?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Thailand has 17.5 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 Thailand safe for expats?
Thailand generally does better on safety, though Chile leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Thailand is 4.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 6.7 in Chile. About 67% of people in Thailand feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Thailand compared to Chile?
Thailand generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Chile leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 9.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Thailand, compared to 31.7 in Chile. Thailand scores 82 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Chile: 82).
What's the weather like in Thailand compared to Chile?
The average high temperature in Bangkok is 91°F, compared to 73°F in Santiago. Bangkok receives around 59.0 in of rainfall per year, while Santiago gets 13.5 in.
What language do they speak in Thailand?
The official language in Thailand is Thai. In Chile, the official language is Spanish.
