Where is Vitacura in Santiago?

Vitacura is a very posh area of Santiago, located on the north of Las Condes, and very popular amongst wealthy Chilean families (like in El Golf, having a postal address here is a status symbol).

There is no metro in Vitacura. Therefore, you need a car to live there, or you have to work really close. The buses that connect Vitacura with the metro can take up to 30-45 minutes during peak hours.

Below a small map so that you get an idea:

Map Vitacura — Location of Vitacura in Santiago

There are limited problems of insecurity. Please note though that the concentration of wealth attracts thieves. Therefore, most houses are protected by electrical fences and monitored by patrol cars from both the city AND from private security companies.

The neighborhoods of Vitacura

Alonso de Córdova / Plaza Turquía

This is the showcase of Vitacura. Avenida Alonso de Córdova concentrates the luxury retail of Santiago: designer boutiques, art galleries and some of the best restaurants of the city, with Plaza Turquía as a reference point. For Vitacura, this is as walkable as it gets: living in the surrounding streets, you can go out for dinner on foot, which is rare in this commune. The accommodation nearby is mostly good-quality apartments, plus houses on the quieter streets behind the commercial strip. If you want Vitacura without feeling isolated, start your search here.

Jardín del Este

Jardín del Este is the residential area around the park of the same name, between the polo club and the French sports club. Plots are large, around 800 sqm, streets are calm, and the area attracts many French families because the French college (the only one following the French education program) is located in Vitacura. It is also the most expensive sector of the commune for houses: if a property here fits your budget, expect competition for the good ones.

Sport Francés

The Sport Francés area is the residential zone around the French sports club. It is quieter than the Alonso de Córdova sector, with a mix of houses and apartment buildings. Families like it for the obvious reason: kids can do their sport activities at the club without anyone driving across town. You stay close to the commercial part of Vitacura while living on a residential street.

The north-east of the commune, up the hillside and away from the parks, the colleges and the commercial strip, is less interesting for expats: it is entirely car-dependent, with little nearby commerce, and we rarely search there for our clients.

What type of accommodation can you find in Vitacura?

Quite recent apartments, with good construction quality, mostly 2 bedrooms and above. And a lot of houses, with a very wide price range depending on the quality of construction, the current state (some are not renovated at all) and the location: the closer they are to an international college or school, the more expensive they are.

Average cost of accommodation in Vitacura

1-bedroom apartment: $600,000 to $1,100,000
2-bedroom apartment: $780,000 to $1,700,000
3-bedroom apartment: $1,000,000 to $2,200,000
House: $2,000,000 to $3,500,000

The location will really impact the price. Houses near colleges, or flats with a nice view of the polo club, for example, will be way more expensive than others located 2 blocks away.

You can manage to hear about cheaper houses, but they usually don't show up on the market. Chileans rent to friends and family. Furthermore, the cheapest ones are usually not or poorly renovated. They are far from the quality an expat would expect.

Expat families with or without kids, especially if kids go to the French college or to the Bradford School

Examples of houses and apartments for rent in Vitacura

The following selection of photos is for reference only. This is not our current portfolio of available properties. If you are looking for a property for rent in Vitacura, please contact us and send us all the details of what you are looking for (budget, size, number of bedrooms, furnished or not...). The more details you provide us with, the better.

Modern mediterranean house in Vitacura — Modern mediterranean-style house in Vitacura. High-end range

Older house with lovely garden in Vitacura — Older house (around 1990) with lovely garden in Vitacura

Typical residential street of Vitacura with trees

House for rent in Vitacura with private pool

Modern kitchen in newly built apartament of Vitacura, Chile — Modern kitchen in new apartament of Vitacura

Older kitchen of an apartment in Vitacura (typic of buildings built around 2000-2005)

Huge outdoor pool in a private condominio of Santa Maria de Manquehue, Vitacura

Modern apartment for rent in Vitacura, with furniture

Frequently asked questions about living in Vitacura

Living in Vitacura

Is Vitacura, Santiago safe?

Yes, insecurity problems are limited. Keep in mind though that the concentration of wealth attracts thieves, which is why most houses are protected by electric fences and monitored by patrol cars from both the municipality and private security companies. For residents, day-to-day life feels very safe.

What is it like to live in Vitacura?

Quiet, green and family-oriented. Vitacura is one of the most exclusive communes of Santiago, popular with wealthy Chilean families and expats, especially those with kids at the French college or the Bradford School. The trade-off: there is no metro, so you need a car, or you have to work very close by.

What is the most expensive sector of Vitacura?

Jardín del Este, the residential area around the park of the same name, between the polo club and the French sports club. Houses near the international colleges and properties with a view of the polo club also command a premium over otherwise similar properties a couple of blocks away.