Moving to Chile from Mexico
What to Expect
Considering a move from Mexico to Chile? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Mexico to Chile, you would find that Chile is 3.0% cheaper than Mexico overall. A MX$1,310,130 salary in Mexico would need to be roughly CLF1,476 in Chile to maintain the same lifestyle.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Mexico and Chile.
What does your salary buy?
MX$1,310,130 → CLF1,476
To maintain the same standard of living in Chile
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 5.0% less
Groceries
pay 12.1% less
Transportation
pay 10.6% less
Housing
pay 2.2% more
Childcare
pay 17.6% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 10.1% more
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?
What the data shows about people moving from Mexico to Chile.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Chile compared to Mexico.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Chile generally does better on safety, though Mexico leads in feel safe walking at night.
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
Chile generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Mexico leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Mexico generally does better on environment, though Chile leads in air pollution deaths.
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 significantly better than Mexico 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
Mexico 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 performs significantly better than Mexico across all family life metrics.
Data: Servicio de Administración Tributaria, SHCP, 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 | Mexico City | Santiago |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 74°/45°F (23°/7°C) | 84°/55°F (29°/12°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 79°/53°F (26°/12°C) | 66°/44°F (19°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 73°/53°F (23°/12°C) | 63°/41°F (17°/5°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 71°/47°F (22°/8°C) | 79°/51°F (26°/10°C) |
View all months
| Month | Mexico City | Santiago |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 70°/42°F (21.2°/5.8°C) | 86°/56°F (30.1°/13.3°C) |
| Feb | 73°/45°F (22.9°/7.1°C) | 85°/55°F (29.5°/12.8°C) |
| Mar | 78°/49°F (25.7°/9.2°C) | 81°/53°F (27.4°/11.4°C) |
| Apr | 80°/51°F (26.6°/10.8°C) | 74°/47°F (23.1°/8.6°C) |
| May | 80°/53°F (26.5°/11.7°C) | 65°/44°F (18.5°/6.4°C) |
| Jun | 76°/54°F (24.6°/12.2°C) | 60°/41°F (15.7°/5.0°C) |
| Jul | 73°/53°F (23.0°/11.5°C) | 60°/39°F (15.3°/3.9°C) |
| Aug | 74°/53°F (23.3°/11.6°C) | 63°/41°F (17.1°/5.1°C) |
| Sep | 72°/53°F (22.3°/11.5°C) | 67°/44°F (19.4°/6.8°C) |
| Oct | 72°/50°F (22.2°/9.8°C) | 73°/47°F (22.9°/8.6°C) |
| Nov | 71°/46°F (21.8°/7.9°C) | 79°/51°F (26.1°/10.3°C) |
| Dec | 69°/44°F (20.8°/6.6°C) | 84°/54°F (28.8°/12.2°C) |
Data:
Coordinación General del Servicio Meteorológico Nacional,
Dirección Meteorológica de Chile
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Mexico 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.
Mexico passport holder visiting Chile
Visa Free
Chile passport holder visiting Mexico
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 Chile than Mexico?
On average Chile is about 16% less expensive than Mexico, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Chile?
Budget about CLF369 for 3 months in Chile (based on a MX$1,310,130 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Chile?
Connectivity is usually fine (Chile: 22.7 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Chile offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Chile safe for expats?
Chile generally does better on safety, though Mexico leads in feel safe walking at night. The homicide rate in Chile is 6.7 per 100,000 people, compared to 26.1 in Mexico. About 32% of people in Chile feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Chile compared to Mexico?
Chile generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Mexico leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 31.7 doctors per 10,000 people in Chile, compared to 25.6 in Mexico. Chile scores 82 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Mexico: 75).
What's the weather like in Chile compared to Mexico?
The average high temperature in Santiago is 73°F, compared to 74°F in Mexico City. Santiago receives around 13.5 in of rainfall per year, while Mexico City gets 32.1 in.
What language do they speak in Chile?
Both Mexico and Chile share the same official language: Spanish.
