Chile Forum

I am interested in opinions about Chile VS Argentina VS Uruguay-as an Expat Destination
Like culture, cost of living, people, quality of life, stability, taxation, ease of immigration, beauty of the country side, weather, things to do (ie like things to do for fun to avoid bordom), pace of life, hecticness, level of burocracy etc
Thanks!

Check the CIA reports on these countries. They will give you a clear social, political, economical, historical facts.

Type -CIA. The world factbook- on your search line.

This topic has been covered several times on the forum. You will want to use the search function on the two other countries.

The basics however is that Argentina will rob you blind. If you go Argentina, good chance sooner or later you will eventually end-up back in Chile just a lot lighter in the wallet. Argentina has serious corruption problems.

Uruguay although close or on the same stability and security level of Chile, I believe fundamentally lacks the resources that Chile has. One of the most important that I hear from a lot of our clients that have checked it out say (many own land in both countries) is that Uruguay is kind of plain and ugly. Chile has a lot of natural eye-candy and environmental diversity that Uruguay lacks.

My second choice in Latin America would be Paraguay. Chile is slightly less expensive, and Chile has 5000 km of coastline, which makes it a better choice (for me). Mark Knopfler was partial to Paraguay, however....

Paraguay? Military run, extreme poverty, extreme heat and humidity in the summer? Tanks in the streets, tent cities in the town square ? That Paraguay? Land is cheap, though.

Chile has, hands down, the very best scenery. That's country wide. Anything you want from beautiful mountains, beautiful desert, beautiful beaches, to beautiful rugged coastal cliffs. Take your choice: heat, snow, dry, wet, any weather you fancy.

Chile and Uruguay both are welcoming to immigration and have an easy process to obtain a resident visa. Uruguay has a very slight edge for ease, and possibly requires less income. I don't know about resident visas for Argentina, but a lot of people move there, so it can't be too hard.

The government in Argentina is simply nutzo. Always has been, probably always will be. Taxes change hourly, nationalization is always a possibility. Currently the government of Argentina seems dead set on driving all farmers out of business and out of the country. The economy blows up on a regular basis.

Uruguay has super beaches and lots of excellent beef. The entire country is flat and agricultural. Uruguay is very European. Uruguay does not (as of yet) tax income earned out of the country. Uruguay has regulations and labor laws that make it complicated to start a new business; but it does have a tax free zone.

Seriously, you can't choose a country to move to from a couple of paragraphs on a forum. Although if you read through all the old notes on this forum, you will get a very good idea of what Chile is about.

One thing to consider: No matter where you go, there you are. It is a platitude precisely because it is true. If you make friends easily, you will make friends anywhere. If you are paranoid in NYC, you will still be paranoid if you move to a new country. If you are ridgid and can't adapt, you will be miserabble. If you are flexible and enjoy changes, you will enjoy any of the three countries you are asking about.

Uruguay has a lot more street crime and burglaries than Chile. My friend (and forum member) Adrian from the UK got mugged by five guys in Montevideo. Also, if you think Chile has a touch too much socialism and lack of choices, (broadband, etc etc.) you'll not like Uruguay.

brandwach wrote:I am interested in opinions about Chile VS Argentina VS Uruguay-as an Expat Destination
Like culture, cost of living, people, quality of life, stability, taxation, ease of immigration, beauty of the country side, weather, things to do (ie like things to do for fun to avoid bordom), pace of life, hecticness, level of burocracy etc
Thanks!

I haven't been to any of these countries but I have done extensive reading of tour guides, internet blogs, and forums. Most importantly I've discussed privately with expats who live in the various countries what they've experienced. Just wanted to clarify that because some feel unless you've been there you can't give an accurate assessment, yet I've found while an expat may know his adopted homeland very well, he may be going on rumors and prejudice about neighboring countries.

What I've found about Argentina is if you avoid the biggest cities, especially Buenos Aires, you can greatly reduce your chances of being victimized by crime and corruption. That said Buenos Aires is the biggest expat draw in Argentina and many enjoy living there. Argentina is the 8th largest country in land area and this results in unique regions. Outside of Buenos Aires I'd say the best areas expat wise are Cordoba and the Central Sierras, Mendoza and it's province, and the Lakes District. Salta and the Northwest too if you are looking for an area similar to the American Southwest. Argentina is big enough to have a climate somewhere that you'd like. A South African expat I know greatly enjoys Villa Carlos Paz, a resort area that's close to Cordoba.

Uruguay has great beaches but also a serious property crime issue. Some at the UruguayLiving forum have told me almost everyone on the forum has experienced a break-in. One British couple decided on their first day to take a break from unpacking and went out to eat. They came home 3 hrs later to find all their possessions gone!

Good Luck!

I would say you got go in person ultimatly if you are going to live there. Ideally spend a little time. Rent something for a month or whatever and get a real feel.

I have lived in a lot of places in my life that looked really good on paper, even grabbed me in person in the first few days or weeks, but ultimately turned out to be completely unmanageable in the long-term. Test things out.

Remember you can talk to all the expats and locals you want that live in a place you are thinking about with great reviews, but it still might not be what YOU are looking for.

I lived in Uruguay 2 years, got robbed bad once. The country was decent in 2006 crime-wise but has gotten terrible. Recently my mother-in-law was walking down a street escorting an even older women to the hair salon in the middle of the day, got stopped by a guy on a moped, thrown to the ground and had her purse stolen. This all in a "good" neighborhood. Not with expats and money, just lower middle class, never many problems, everyone knows everyone sort of area. You can count on getting robbed, eventually. If not on the street then when you're away from the house. The latter is very popular and just about constant.

The city is now filthier than ever, major intersections are covered with 10-30 year old males with dirty water in a soda boddle and a filthy squeege, who will botgher you and ge tin your face until you let them "wash" your windshield or give them money, or cigarettes. They are filthy and rude and stink of wine.

There is an apartment building that has been under construction about 16 years. I think on or last visit they had finished the super structure!This is common in building construction, things take FOREVER. Building a house, you ahve to be careful, same thing applies, not to mention they skimp out on the quality goods, even if you ask for them, etc...

There is no choice. Gov't runs water, electric, internet, and all of them are horrible services that cut out constantly, are substandard and poorly managed. AND more expensive than Chile.

Food is more expensive than chile. Anything made int he USA is x2 in cost. A TV there costs x2-x3 the cost in the USA or chile. Cars cost x2-x2.5, literally, of sticker price in the states. Chile prices are more or less the same it seems. Gas is expensive. Insurance is decent.

Healthcare has gone down the tubes. the Socialist party in power made it so even private centers had to accept people that have the benefit through the state, via work, not sure exactly, btu now every decent medical provider is forced to take on WAY more patients than they can provide care for. Hospitals are dirty, doctors are paid next to nothing, and you get a number and have to wait hours for an appointment. It costs about the same for a mid-level plan there as a pretty good one in Chile, at least in our experience.

Those are the bad things

The good things are the beaches, the people (that dont rob you) the wood-coal asados, cheap to eat out compared to the US, etc.


By the way, Punta Del Este is its own world, not like most of Uruguay. But they have tons of robberies there, too. It has seriously become an epidemic. And now they've elected a murdering soliciast gureilla with no education president so, I doubt things are going to get better. I'm pretty sure they are going to get MUCH worse.

All of these are reasons we came to Chile and we were just speaking last night how it was probably the best decision we've made in our lives together.

gregf wrote:I lived in Uruguay 2 years, got robbed bad once. The country was decent in 2006 crime-wise but has gotten terrible.........All of these are reasons we came to Chile and we were just speaking last night how it was probably the best decision we've made in our lives together.

Wow, Thanks Greg. I never seriously considered Uruguay, but your post was quite illuminating. I'll be passing it along to some friends who still aren't convinced Chile is the best bet in S/C America.

I'll make it short: Chile.