Moving to Chile from Minnesota

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Minnesota to Chile — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Minnesota to Chile, you would find that Chile is 41.9% cheaper than Minnesota. A $75,000 salary in Minnesota 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 56°F in Saint Paul, making it significantly warmer.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

How your spending power changes when you relocate from Minnesota to Chile.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 CLF1,026

To maintain the same standard of living in Chile

Calculate with your salary →

The biggest cost differences at a glance

Restaurants

pay 44.2% less

Groceries

pay 36.0% less

Transportation

pay 13.2% less

Housing

pay 58.2% less

Childcare

pay 75.1% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 44.2% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 0.0236 CLF (August 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.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from Minnesota to Chile, and how the trend has changed.

Moved in 2023
468 ↓ 67% vs 2022

people moved from United States 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

How Minnesota and Chile stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

MN
33.9%
CL
28.0%

Chile performs significantly better than Minnesota across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

MN
91.0%
CL
90.0%

Minnesota performs better than Chile across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

MN
4.3%
CL
9.0%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

MN
$68,478
CL
$29,500

Minnesota performs better than Chile across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

MN
79.1 yrs
CL
79.8 yrs

Chile performs significantly better than Minnesota 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.

Saint Paul Rain: 28.5 in/yr (724 mm)
56° / 38°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Saint Paul Santiago
Jan–Mar 32°/16°F (0°/-9°C) 84°/55°F (29°/12°C)
Apr–Jun 69°/50°F (21°/10°C) 66°/44°F (19°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 79°/60°F (26°/16°C) 63°/41°F (17°/5°C)
Oct–Dec 43°/27°F (6°/-3°C) 79°/51°F (26°/10°C)
View all months
Month Saint Paul Santiago
Jan 25°/9°F (-4.1°/-12.6°C) 86°/56°F (30.1°/13.3°C)
Feb 30°/14°F (-1.3°/-9.9°C) 85°/55°F (29.5°/12.8°C)
Mar 42°/26°F (5.5°/-3.6°C) 81°/53°F (27.4°/11.4°C)
Apr 58°/39°F (14.7°/3.9°C) 74°/47°F (23.1°/8.6°C)
May 70°/50°F (21.2°/10.0°C) 65°/44°F (18.5°/6.4°C)
Jun 79°/60°F (26.0°/15.4°C) 60°/41°F (15.7°/5.0°C)
Jul 83°/65°F (28.5°/18.1°C) 60°/39°F (15.3°/3.9°C)
Aug 81°/62°F (27.1°/16.8°C) 63°/41°F (17.1°/5.1°C)
Sep 72°/53°F (22.2°/11.7°C) 67°/44°F (19.4°/6.8°C)
Oct 59°/40°F (14.8°/4.7°C) 73°/47°F (22.9°/8.6°C)
Nov 42°/28°F (5.6°/-2.4°C) 79°/51°F (26.1°/10.3°C)
Dec 28°/14°F (-2.5°/-10.1°C) 84°/54°F (28.8°/12.2°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Dirección Meteorológica de Chile 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

United States passport holder visiting Chile

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter Chile without a visa.
Chile passport

Chile passport holder visiting United States

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Chile passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter United States.

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 Minnesota?

Generally yes: Chile runs about 42% cheaper than Minnesota on average, though it depends heavily on the city.

How much money do I need to move to Chile?

A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a $75,000 comparable salary, that's around CLF256 in Chile for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Chile?

Working remotely from Chile's major cities is generally feasible. The legal layer matters more — visa category, employer policy on overseas employees, and tax residency in Minnesota and Chile.

How is healthcare in Chile compared to Minnesota?

Chile performs significantly better than Minnesota across all health & wellbeing metrics.

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

The average high temperature in Santiago is 73°F, compared to 56°F in Saint Paul. Santiago receives around 13.5 in of rainfall per year, while Saint Paul gets 28.5 in.

What language do they speak in Chile?

The official language in Chile is Spanish. In Minnesota, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

CL
Population 5,303,925 18,430,408
Currency United States Dollar ($) Chilean Unit of Account (UF) (CLF)
Languages English Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +56
Time zones 11 2
Emergency number 911 131