Moving to Chile from Illinois
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Illinois to Chile — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Illinois to Chile, you would find that Chile is 43.5% cheaper than Illinois. A $75,000 salary in Illinois would need to be roughly CLF1,026 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 63°F in Springfield, 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 Illinois to Chile.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → CLF1,026
To maintain the same standard of living in Chile
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 41.0% less
Groceries
pay 33.2% less
Transportation
pay 17.5% less
Housing
pay 61.4% less
Childcare
pay 77.9% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 42.8% 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.
Get free moving quotes to Chile
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Illinois 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 Illinois to Chile.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Chile performs significantly better than Illinois across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Chile performs significantly better than Illinois 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
Illinois 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 Illinois 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 | Springfield | Santiago |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 42°/25°F (6°/-4°C) | 84°/55°F (29°/12°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 74°/52°F (23°/11°C) | 66°/44°F (19°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 83°/61°F (29°/16°C) | 63°/41°F (17°/5°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 52°/33°F (11°/1°C) | 79°/51°F (26°/10°C) |
View all months
| Month | Springfield | Santiago |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35°/19°F (1.6°/-7.4°C) | 86°/56°F (30.1°/13.3°C) |
| Feb | 40°/23°F (4.4°/-5.2°C) | 85°/55°F (29.5°/12.8°C) |
| Mar | 52°/32°F (11.2°/0.1°C) | 81°/53°F (27.4°/11.4°C) |
| Apr | 65°/42°F (18.1°/5.8°C) | 74°/47°F (23.1°/8.6°C) |
| May | 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.4°C) | 65°/44°F (18.5°/6.4°C) |
| Jun | 83°/62°F (28.4°/16.6°C) | 60°/41°F (15.7°/5.0°C) |
| Jul | 86°/65°F (30.1°/18.6°C) | 60°/39°F (15.3°/3.9°C) |
| Aug | 85°/64°F (29.4°/17.6°C) | 63°/41°F (17.1°/5.1°C) |
| Sep | 79°/55°F (26.1°/12.6°C) | 67°/44°F (19.4°/6.8°C) |
| Oct | 66°/44°F (19.1°/6.6°C) | 73°/47°F (22.9°/8.6°C) |
| Nov | 52°/34°F (11.3°/1.1°C) | 79°/51°F (26.1°/10.3°C) |
| Dec | 38°/22°F (3.5°/-5.3°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 Illinois?
Yes — Chile is on average about 42% cheaper than Illinois. 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 CLF256 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 Illinois?
Chile performs significantly better than Illinois across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Chile compared to Illinois?
The average high temperature in Santiago is 73°F, compared to 63°F in Springfield. Santiago receives around 13.5 in of rainfall per year, while Springfield gets 37.4 in.
What language do they speak in Chile?
The official language in Chile is Spanish. In Illinois, the official language is English.
