Moving to Chile from New Zealand
What to Expect
Considering a move from New Zealand to Chile? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from New Zealand to Chile, you would find that Chile is 36.6% cheaper than New Zealand overall. A NZ$130,152 salary in New Zealand would need to be roughly CLF1,098 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 62°F in Wellington, making it significantly warmer.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between New Zealand and Chile.
What does your salary buy?
NZ$130,152 → CLF1,098
To maintain the same standard of living in Chile
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 35.0% less
Groceries
pay 25.0% less
Transportation
pay 32.4% less
Housing
pay 43.6% less
Childcare
pay 54.2% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 34.6% 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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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from New Zealand to Chile.
people moved from New Zealand to Chile · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Chile compared to New Zealand.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
New Zealand performs better than Chile across all safety metrics.
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 New Zealand 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
New Zealand generally does better on environment, though Chile leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
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
New Zealand performs better than Chile 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
New Zealand performs better than Chile across all employment & economy metrics.
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
New Zealand performs better than Chile across all family life metrics.
Data: New Zealand Inland Revenue Department, 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 | Wellington | Santiago |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 69°/58°F (21°/14°C) | 84°/55°F (29°/12°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 59°/49°F (15°/10°C) | 66°/44°F (19°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 56°/46°F (13°/8°C) | 63°/41°F (17°/5°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 64°/53°F (18°/12°C) | 79°/51°F (26°/10°C) |
View all months
| Month | Wellington | Santiago |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 70°/58°F (21.2°/14.7°C) | 86°/56°F (30.1°/13.3°C) |
| Feb | 70°/59°F (21.3°/14.8°C) | 85°/55°F (29.5°/12.8°C) |
| Mar | 68°/56°F (19.8°/13.5°C) | 81°/53°F (27.4°/11.4°C) |
| Apr | 63°/53°F (17.4°/11.5°C) | 74°/47°F (23.1°/8.6°C) |
| May | 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.7°C) | 65°/44°F (18.5°/6.4°C) |
| Jun | 56°/46°F (13.1°/7.9°C) | 60°/41°F (15.7°/5.0°C) |
| Jul | 54°/44°F (12.3°/6.9°C) | 60°/39°F (15.3°/3.9°C) |
| Aug | 55°/45°F (12.9°/7.4°C) | 63°/41°F (17.1°/5.1°C) |
| Sep | 58°/48°F (14.5°/8.8°C) | 67°/44°F (19.4°/6.8°C) |
| Oct | 60°/50°F (15.8°/10.0°C) | 73°/47°F (22.9°/8.6°C) |
| Nov | 64°/53°F (17.5°/11.4°C) | 79°/51°F (26.1°/10.3°C) |
| Dec | 67°/56°F (19.6°/13.5°C) | 84°/54°F (28.8°/12.2°C) |
Data:
New Zealand National Meteorological Service,
Dirección Meteorológica de Chile
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between New Zealand 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.
New Zealand passport holder visiting Chile
Visa Free
Chile passport holder visiting New Zealand
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 New Zealand?
On average Chile is about 38% less expensive than New Zealand, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Chile?
Budget about CLF274 for 3 months in Chile (based on a NZ$130,152 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?
New Zealand performs better than Chile across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Chile is 6.7 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in New Zealand.
How is healthcare in Chile compared to New Zealand?
Chile generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 31.7 doctors per 10,000 people in Chile, compared to 35.7 in New Zealand. Chile scores 82 on the WHO universal health coverage index (New Zealand: 85).
What's the weather like in Chile compared to New Zealand?
The average high temperature in Santiago is 73°F, compared to 62°F in Wellington. Santiago receives around 13.5 in of rainfall per year, while Wellington gets 37.7 in.
What language do they speak in Chile?
The official language in Chile is Spanish. In New Zealand, the official languages are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.
