Santiago, Chile

Situated near the Andes Mountains and along the Mapocho River, Santiago is the capital of Chile. The city was originally founded in 1541 as Santiago del Nuevo Extremo, or "Santiago of the New Frontier" by Spanish Conquistador Pedro de Valdivia. Spanish colonial rule took place between the late 1500s and early 1800s, as Santiago began expanding its boundaries. The city was deemed Chile's capital following the War of Independence between 1810 and 1818, and it became the country's wealthiest city thereafter. Santiago's history is showcased at both the Metropolitan Cathedral and the Mint. Its modern architecture includes 20th-century art at the Fine Arts Palace and more modern residences in the outskirts of town.

With the city's suburban expansion came great economic growth. Santiago became a major trading port, and common exports included textiles and clothing. Santiago also has a great railroad system, due to its location near the Pacific Ocean and close proximity to the cities of San Antonio and Valparaiso. Chile's official language is Spanish, and its currency is the Chilean Peso; one Chilean Peso (CL$) equals $0.0012 USD.

Location

Job Opportunities

Santiago is best known for its agriculture, mining, and service industries. In agriculture, major jobs include logging and forestry work. Despite the large agricultural industry, challenges arise due to Chile's north-to-south distance of 2,653 miles, experiencing seven different climates, and mountainous regions throughout the nation. Agriculture practices range from irrigation in northern Chile to animal farming in the south. In the mining industry, Chile is known as the world's capital of copper mining; Chile alone produces one-third of the world's copper. The service industry is plentiful, with increases in education quality for Chile's working population. Within the service industry, opportunities range from working in retail and tourism to construction, engineering, and informatics. From outdoor agricultural work to service industry opportunities, Santiago is only continuing to expand economically.

Cost of Living

Chile's currency is the Chilean Peso which, when exchanged with the US Dollar, is equivalent to $0.0012 USD. A one-bedroom apartment in the city center may cost 343,200 CL$ ($419 USD), while a three-bedroom city center apartment comes in around 595,000 CL$ ($725 USD). Surprisingly, there may be larger apartments outside the city more expensive than ones inner-city. For example, a three-bedroom apartment outside the city may average 611,600 CL$ ($750 USD).

Miscellaneous expenses will include utility bills and transportation. For electricity, heating, and other utilities, monthly rates average 130,000 CL$ ($160 USD). If purchasing a car is important, the lower end of the price spectrum will be around 13,145,000 CL$ ($16,000 USD); gasoline will average 3,295 CL$ ($4.03 USD) per gallon.

Transportation

The Metro in Santiago is the most convenient and affordable network of transportation. Referred to as the Red Metropolitana de Movilidad, or Metropolitan Mobility Network, the Metro consists of buses and train lines throughout the city. Fares are typically 700 to 800 CL$ ($1 USD), which is good for a single-ride ticket. For more mainstays, the Bip Card costs 1,550 CL$ ($2 USD) to purchase. This card is easily rechargeable.

Taxis are also an affordable method of transit in Santiago. They are standouts in town with their black exteriors and yellow roofs, and fares are around 170 CL$ ($0.20 USD) for two-tenths of a kilometer. These taxis are also accessible to reach the airport; fares range from 12,000 to 30,000 CL$ ($15.50 to $38.50 USD). Taxis travel directly from downtown to the Santiago Airport.

Recreation

From dynamic soccer teams to quiet nature parks, Santiago is full of activity. Enjoy a day of futbol (soccer) in the Estadio Nacional, a stadium that seats over 48,000 people. For vibrant city life during both day and night, check out the Plaza de Armas. Located in the city center, this plaza offers great restaurants, performances, and cultural museums and activities close by. On any given day, expect street entertainers and large crowds surrounding the plaza.

For those more interested in the outdoors, Santiago offers a great variety of parks and recreation. Outdoor areas include Santa Lucia Hill and San Cristobal Hill, with zoos, camping, and many outdoor adventures. For Summer enthusiasts, enjoy the beautiful nature parks including Parque Forestal along the River Mopacho and Parque Metropolitano, which offers spectacular city views. During Winter, Santiago offers skiing within an hour drive of downtown; two places include El Colorado and La Parva. Santiago offers great entertainment and recreation for all interests.

Climate

While Santiago is somewhat warm year-round, there is consistently poor air circulation and pollution occurring. Highs in the warmer season, between December and March, are in the 80s (27 to 30 degrees Celsius), with lows reaching the low to mid 50s (11 to 13 degrees Celsius). The coolest months in Santiago are from May to September, as high temperatures are in the mid 50s to mid 60s (19 to 23 degrees Celsius), bottoming out in June and July. Lows in these months average in the low 40s (6 to 8 degrees Celsius). The most precipitous months are also during the cooler season, with precipitation ranging from 2 to 3 inches per month between May and August. However, between September and April, there is little to no precipitation; the monthly precipitation totals are between 0 and one-half inch.