Moving to Chile from Ireland

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Ireland to Chile, you would find that Chile is 45.1% cheaper than Ireland overall. A €65,577 salary in Ireland would need to be roughly CLF832 in Chile to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Santiago averages 73°F vs 56°F in Dublin, 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 Ireland to Chile.

What does your salary buy?

€65,577 CLF832

To maintain the same standard of living in Chile

Calculate with your salary →

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

Restaurants

pay 43.8% less

Groceries

pay 27.3% less

Transportation

pay 51.7% less

Housing

pay 62.7% less

Childcare

pay 46.6% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 49.6% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 0.0271 CLF (July 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.

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 Ireland to Chile, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
11 ↓ 8% vs 2022

people moved from Ireland to Chile · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Chile?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

IE
0.9
CL
6.7
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

IE
75%
CL
32%

Ireland performs better than Chile across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

IE
$8,772
CL
$3,612
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

IE
40.6
CL
31.7

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

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

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

IE
6.0t
CL
3.9t

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

IE
32.1
CL
22.7
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

IE
22.2%
CL
9.0%

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

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

IE
4.3%
CL
9.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

IE
$115,600
CL
$29,500

Ireland generally does better on employment & economy, though Chile leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

IE
81.7 yrs
CL
79.8 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

IE
3.5
CL
6.5

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

Data: The Office of the Revenue Commissioners, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

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

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

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Ireland 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.

Ireland passport

Ireland passport holder visiting Chile

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

Chile passport holder visiting Ireland

Visa Free
Chile passport holders can enter Ireland 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 Chile than Ireland?

Yes — Chile is on average about 53% cheaper than Ireland. 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 CLF208 in Chile on a €65,577 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Chile?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Chile has 22.7 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 Chile safe for expats?

Ireland performs better than Chile across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Chile is 6.7 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.9 in Ireland. About 32% of people in Chile feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Chile compared to Ireland?

Ireland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Chile leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 31.7 doctors per 10,000 people in Chile, compared to 40.6 in Ireland. Chile scores 82 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Ireland: 83).

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

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

What language do they speak in Chile?

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

Share this

At a Glance

IE CL
Population 5,275,004 18,430,408
Currency Euro (€) Chilean Unit of Account (UF) (CLF)
Languages English, Irish Spanish
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +353 +56
Time zones 1 2
Emergency number 112 131