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Last updated on 19/06/2026
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Deciding where to live in Chile is really two decisions: Santiago or not Santiago, and if not, which of a handful of livable regional cities fits your work, budget, and tolerance for distance. This guide compares the realistic options for foreigners.
Headed to the capital like most expats? Skip straight to our complete living in Santiago hub, which covers neighborhoods, rentals, schools, transport, and safety. For a ranked comparison across the whole country, see our best places to live in Chile.
A very concentrated country
Chile's 19+ million inhabitants are remarkably concentrated: about 40% live in the metropolitan region around Santiago, with Valparaíso and Concepción adding roughly 6-7% each. Outside these hubs, cities shrink quickly, and so do job markets, international schools, and English-speaking services.
| Name | Region | Inhabitants |
|---|---|---|
| Gran Santiago | Metropolitana de Santiago | 6.158.080 |
| Gran Concepción | Biobío | 1.083.043 |
| Gran Valparaíso | Valparaíso | 1.066.893 |
| Gran La Serena | Coquimbo | 413.716 |
| Gran Temuco | Araucanía | 410.520 |
| Antofagasta | Antofagasta | 380.685 |
| Gran Iquique | Tarapacá | 279.408 |
| Gran Rancagua | O'Higgins | 277.090 |
| Gran Puerto Montt | Los Lagos | 266.200 |
| Talca | Maule | 253.743 |
Where do most American expats live in Chile?
Overwhelmingly in Santiago, especially the eastern communes of Providencia, Las Condes, Vitacura, and Lo Barnechea, where the jobs, international schools, and expat networks are. The second choice is the Valparaíso / Viña del Mar coast, popular with remote workers and retirees who want the ocean within 90 minutes of the capital. A smaller but growing community of Americans and Europeans settles in the Lake District around Puerto Varas.
The best places to live in Chile outside Santiago
Each guide below covers cost, climate, jobs, and who the city actually suits:
Central coast: close to Santiago
- Valparaíso / Viña del Mar: the classic coastal alternative: culture, ocean views, and a lower cost of living than the capital
- La Serena / Coquimbo: sunny beach city 5 hours north, popular with retirees and Chilean vacationers
The green south
- Puerto Varas / Puerto Montt: lakes, volcanoes, and the strongest expat scene in the south
- Valdivia: a green university city with rivers, rain, and a relaxed pace
- Punta Arenas / Puerto Natales: Patagonia living: for the adventurous, not the cold-averse
The mining north
- Antofagasta / Calama: high salaries in mining, desert lifestyle
- Iquique: beach city and free-trade zone in the far north
How to choose where to live in Chile
Three questions settle it for most people:
- Where is your income? Office jobs concentrate in Santiago, mining pays well in the north, and tourism and remote work open up the south and the coast.
- Do you need international schools or specialized healthcare? Both thin out fast outside Santiago and Viña del Mar.
- What climate do you want? Desert north, Mediterranean center, rainy green south. Chile spans them all, 4,300 km apart.
Whatever you choose, rent before you buy. Spend a few months in a city, ideally including winter, before committing to property or long leases. Many expats who picked a region from photos ended up relocating within Chile in their first year. The country is easy to move around in, so use that to your advantage. And weigh practical anchors over scenery: flight connections to your home country, distance to a real hospital, and the size of the local community you can plug into.
If you have specific criteria and want help narrowing it down to the right city, or the right street, book a call with us. We have been matching expats to Chilean cities and neighborhoods since 2016.
