Being a developing country Chile’s high costs surprise many travelers the moment they set foot in the country, not because of its towering Andes, the expanse of glaciers, or the large desert. Chile: South America’s second wealthiest nation in terms of GDP per capita (only behind Uruguay) may feel fairly expensive at the time. Food, transportation, and lodging – at least in hard-to-reach places like Patagonia – are competitive with those in Europe or North America.
Happily, there are many opportunities to engage with the extraordinary visuals and the vivacious culture of Chile and opportunities to do so that don’t necessitate exquisite expenditure. In this article, you will see a few tips that can help you get the most out of your trip without overspending.
Key Takeaways:
- Keep Your Tourist Card: As other savings: do not pay the 19% hotel tax and use your passport to receive reductions.
- Use Budget Transport: Ride with low-charge airlines or acquire an overland transport to conserve on the traveling.
- Eat and Drink Smart: Buy food at local outlets, take set lunches, and purchase inexpensive wines.
- Save on Stays: Spend less on meals; where possible select compensation such as camping grounds or hotels with free meals in the morning.
- Travel Off-Peak: It will cost less to travel to Patagonia during the low seasons stay away from September the prices tend to be high during August when skiing.
- Avoid Extra Fees: Pay with debit cards, avoid expensive wine tasting, and bring groceries to Easter Island.
Basic Guidelines for Saving in Chile
1. Hold onto Your Tourist Card
Tourists who come into the country using a Tourist Visa are given a Tourist Card once they enter the country. Although this document is necessary for exit, it saves you from the 19% hotel charge from domestic tourists. Guarantee that procuring your passport and Tourist Card during check-in and using a foreign credit card will be a bonus for you.
2. Opt for Budget Airlines
LATAM Airlines costs more when airline companies such as JetSmart, and Sky Airlines provide cheaper fares for domestic and regional flights. Be prepared for budget airline policies: check-in rates often permit only a small carry-on bag and an extra charge is charged for check-in luggage.
Patagonia, Chile
3. Indulge in Affordable Wine
Some of its wines are as inexpensive as soda and Chile is renowned for its vine production. Jumbo and Lider supermarkets are the best since it is now possible to buy a quality bottle and share it with other travelers. Just don’t buy bottles labeled dulce if sweet wine is not to your taste.
Atacama Desert, Chile
Pro Tips:
- To understand what you should expect depending on the budget, check out our guide to the cost of a 10-day trip to Chile. This resource gives information regarding costs, available lodgings, and other actions to enable a certain latitude when organizing a trip.
- Visit for Santiago’s Free and Low-Cost Things to Do. Here, you’ll find the top cheap things to do across the country – including beautiful parks and historical sites for free!
- Planning your next escape? TourRadar promo codes make it possible to save on unforgettable Chile tours.
4. Shop at Local Markets (Ferias)
To sample local Chilean cuisine that is both affordable and wholesome, then there is no better place to start than the local markets or the ferias. These markets are crowded centers that sell fruits and vegetables depending on the season, cheese, eggs, and seafood cheaper than supermarkets. Important to know that haggling is not typical in Chilean markets.
Valparaíso, Chile
5. Take Advantage of Set Lunches
For many Chileans, lunch is the most important meal of the day, as people have it at midday. Most of the restaurants and cafes provide set lunches for 6,000 to 8,000 CLP which includes start, lunch, and dinner. It is another inexpensive method of trying out the company’s specialties that are particular to the Chilean culture.
Torres del Paine National Park, Chile
6. Look for Tourist Discounts
Maybe that is the reason why shopping malls, for example in Santiago, Costanera Center, offer up to 20% discount for foreigners. Get a Savings Card to obtain these savings at the information desk with your passport; it’s useful if you’re planning to purchase travel items or equipment.
7. Camp to Save on Accommodation
It’s affordable because Chile has a remarkable tradition of spending time outdoors, particularly camping, which can be done inexpensively. Its Andes and coastline regions are occupied with campgrounds. Only ensure that you know that the nights can still be cold whether it is summer, autumn, winter, or spring.
Camping in Chile
8. Use Transbank Machines Wisely
Other Transbank credit card machines, engage international cardholders to pay extra fees ranging from 300 CLP for transactions. To this end, you should use a debit card or check with machines in chain stores that do not charge such fees.
9. Enjoy Free Hotel Breakfasts
A very significant number of hotels in Chile offer breakfast in price, and a large number offer grand buffet breakfast. A large breakfast that is taken in the morning may let you forgo a mid-morning meal, so hotels may be cheaper than self-catering in some instances.
10. For long distances always go for the overnight buses
The overnight buses in Chile are very comfortable to travel and travelers have the choice to select a semi-cama or salón cama for extra facility. Such buses have amenities like Internet, TV, and refreshments among others. Turbus and Pullman Bus have branch lines and this is cost-effective and can take one for long distances.
Advice related to certain seasons and places
11. Time Your Ski Trip for August
August is best for snow in the Andes and off-season at ski resorts because the season is established in between school term break in Chile in July and Independence Day in September.
Andes Ski
12. Tour the Patagonia during the Shoulder seasons
There is nothing as crowded as Christmas and New Year, avoid this period and go to Patagonia in December, March, or April. Prices for hotels decrease, path-free walking is less noisy and the views are marvelous.
13. Today delivered groceries to Rapa Nui (Easter Island)
You’ll also find that your eating-out options cost a pretty penny on Easter Island. Take your checked-in luggage quota and bring wine and other non-perishable provisions from the mainland as this will help you save money.
14. Skip Pricey Wine Tours
Skip the pricey winery tours; arrange to eat at restaurants or order at the bar and thus taste wines by the glass. So, you will eat healthier while at the same time being able to savor a much larger assortment of tastes.
15. Use the Santiago Metro
If you care for a ride that will be relatively cheap, quick, and effective in transporting you around the city, Santiago’s metro is available for less than one dollar. For practicality, you can buy a rechargeable Tarjeta bip! card.
Budget Breakdown
- Hostel for two: 25,000 CLP
- Basic room for two: 50,000 CLP
- Self-catering apartment (Airbnb): 50,000 CLP
- Public transport ticket (Santiago): 700 CLP
- Coffee: 2,500 CLP
- Glass of Chilean wine: 4,000 CLP
- Sandwich: 6,000 CLP
- Empanada: 2,000 CLP
Total daily budget (per person): 27,000 to 50,000 CLP
With this, aquí you will find tips where you can enjoy the stunning beauty and vibrant culture of Chile and at the same time save your money. Fancy enjoying a glass of cheap wine or sleeping in a tent in the middle of the night under the stars, well Chile has something for lovers of cheap thrills.