Moving to Chile from Virginia
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Virginia to Chile — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from Virginia to Chile, you would find that Chile is 46.1% cheaper than Virginia. A $75,000 salary in Virginia would need to be roughly CLF859 in Chile to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
How your spending power changes when you relocate from Virginia to Chile.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → CLF859
To maintain the same standard of living in Chile
Calculate with your salary →The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 47.2% less
Groceries
pay 44.0% less
Transportation
pay 14.7% less
Housing
pay 63.5% less
Childcare
pay 81.1% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 44.1% 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.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
Real numbers on people moving from Virginia to Chile, and how the trend has changed.
people moved from United States to Chile · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
How Virginia and Chile stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Chile performs significantly better than Virginia across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Virginia 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
share of people below the poverty line
Virginia performs better than Chile across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Chile performs significantly better than Virginia 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 | Richmond | Santiago |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 53°/32°F (12°/0°C) | 84°/55°F (29°/12°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 78°/55°F (26°/13°C) | 66°/44°F (19°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 86°/65°F (30°/19°C) | 63°/41°F (17°/5°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 61°/39°F (16°/4°C) | 79°/51°F (26°/10°C) |
View all months
| Month | Richmond | Santiago |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°/28°F (8.6°/-2.1°C) | 86°/56°F (30.1°/13.3°C) |
| Feb | 51°/31°F (10.7°/-0.8°C) | 85°/55°F (29.5°/12.8°C) |
| Mar | 60°/37°F (15.6°/2.8°C) | 81°/53°F (27.4°/11.4°C) |
| Apr | 70°/46°F (21.3°/7.8°C) | 74°/47°F (23.1°/8.6°C) |
| May | 78°/55°F (25.5°/12.8°C) | 65°/44°F (18.5°/6.4°C) |
| Jun | 86°/65°F (30.1°/18.1°C) | 60°/41°F (15.7°/5.0°C) |
| Jul | 90°/69°F (32.1°/20.5°C) | 60°/39°F (15.3°/3.9°C) |
| Aug | 88°/67°F (30.9°/19.7°C) | 63°/41°F (17.1°/5.1°C) |
| Sep | 81°/60°F (27.3°/15.6°C) | 67°/44°F (19.4°/6.8°C) |
| Oct | 71°/48°F (21.7°/9.1°C) | 73°/47°F (22.9°/8.6°C) |
| Nov | 61°/39°F (16.3°/4.1°C) | 79°/51°F (26.1°/10.3°C) |
| Dec | 51°/31°F (10.4°/-0.3°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 Virginia?
Generally yes: Chile runs about 50% cheaper than Virginia 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 CLF215 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 Virginia and Chile.
How is healthcare in Chile compared to Virginia?
Chile performs significantly better than Virginia across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Chile compared to Virginia?
The average high temperature in Santiago is 73°F, compared to 70°F in Richmond. Santiago receives around 13.5 in of rainfall per year, while Richmond gets 43.6 in.
What language do they speak in Chile?
The official language in Chile is Spanish. In Virginia, the official language is English.
