Chile operates on the Chilean peso, abbreviated CLP. Exchange rates as of 2024 fluctuate between 850 and 950 pesos per US dollar, though travelers should verify current rates before departure. The country accepts payment primarily in cash, with credit cards widely accepted in Santiago, Valparaíso, and major tourism centers but less reliably in rural areas of the Lake District, southern Patagonia, and the Altiplano. ATMs dispense pesos in most towns above 5,000 population, though machines in Punta Arenas, Puerto Natales, and Easter Island occasionally run out of bills during high season from December through February. Banco de Chile, Banco Santander, and BancoEstado operate the most extensive ATM networks. Withdrawal limits typically range from 200,000 to 400,000 pesos per transaction, with fees of 4,500 to 6,500 pesos per withdrawal for foreign cards. United States dollars are accepted at some hotels and tour operators in Torres del Paine and Easter Island, but the exchange rate offered is usually 5 to 8 percent worse than official rates.
Accommodation in Santiago varies from 12,000 pesos for a dormitory bed in hostels near Barrio Bellavista to 35,000 pesos for a private room with shared bathroom in the same area. Mid-range hotels in Providencia or Las Condes charge 55,000 to 85,000 pesos for a double room with breakfast. Budget guesthouses in Valparaíso, concentrated on Cerro Concepción and Cerro Alegre, cost 28,000 to 45,000 pesos per night for a double. Hostels in Puerto Varas and Puerto Montt charge 15,000 to 18,000 pesos for dorm beds and 40,000 to 50,000 pesos for private rooms. Accommodation prices in Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales rise 30 to 40 percent during the December to March summer season. A basic hospedaje in Puerto Natales costs 25,000 pesos in May but 38,000 pesos in January for identical rooms. Hotels near Torres del Paine charge 120,000 to 180,000 pesos per night during peak season, with refugios inside the park costing 65,000 to 75,000 pesos for a bunk and 85,000 to 95,000 pesos including half board. Camping at designated sites within Torres del Paine costs 8,000 to 10,000 pesos per person per night.
Easter Island operates on a different price structure than mainland Chile. Budget residenciales in Hanga Roa start at 45,000 pesos for basic doubles without breakfast, while mid-range hotels charge 95,000 to 140,000 pesos. Camping at established sites costs 10,000 pesos per person, though wild camping is prohibited within Rapa Nui National Park boundaries, which cover approximately 40 percent of the island. Rental cabins sleep four to six people for 120,000 to 180,000 pesos per night.
Food costs depend heavily on eating location and establishment type. A completo from a street stand in Santiago costs 2,500 to 3,200 pesos. Empanadas at bakeries sell for 1,800 to 2,500 pesos each. A set lunch menu at a basic restaurant, called menú del día or colación, costs 4,500 to 6,500 pesos and includes soup, main course, drink, and sometimes dessert. These menus appear Monday through Friday at neighborhood restaurants throughout Chilean cities but rarely on weekends. Evening restaurant meals without alcohol cost 8,000 to 12,000 pesos per person at modest establishments and 18,000 to 28,000 pesos at mid-range restaurants in Santiago's Lastarria or Bellavista neighborhoods. Fresh fish at coastal markets in Valparaíso or Puerto Montt costs 4,500 to 8,500 pesos per kilogram, depending on species and season. Supermarkets such as Unimarc, Líder, and Jumbo sell staples at prices comparable to Western Europe. A kilogram of bread costs 1,200 to 1,600 pesos, a liter of milk 900 to 1,100 pesos, and a dozen eggs 2,200 to 2,800 pesos.
Restaurant prices in Patagonia and Easter Island exceed mainland rates. A basic restaurant meal in Puerto Natales costs 10,000 to 14,000 pesos compared to 6,000 to 9,000 pesos for equivalent food in Temuco. Easter Island restaurants charge 12,000 to 18,000 pesos for simple fish or chicken dishes. A bottle of water costs 1,500 to 2,000 pesos on Easter Island versus 800 to 1,000 pesos in Santiago supermarkets. Groceries on Easter Island cost 60 to 80 percent more than Santiago prices because nearly all food arrives by weekly cargo flight from the mainland, a distance of 3,700 kilometers.
Wine costs substantially less in Chile than in North American or European markets. Acceptable table wines from Central Valley producers sell for 2,500 to 4,000 pesos per bottle in supermarkets. Wines exported internationally and sold for 15 to 20 US dollars abroad cost 5,000 to 8,000 pesos domestically. Pisco, the national spirit distilled from grapes, costs 4,500 to 7,500 pesos for a 750-milliliter bottle of standard brands such as Capel or Mistral. A pisco sour at a Santiago bar costs 3,500 to 5,500 pesos. Beer in supermarkets costs 900 to 1,400 pesos for a 330-milliliter bottle of Cristal or Escudo, the dominant domestic brands. Restaurant beer prices range from 2,200 to 3,800 pesos for the same bottle.
Intercity bus travel forms the primary budget transportation method. Santiago to Valparaíso buses operate hourly and cost 4,500 to 6,000 pesos for the two-hour journey on carriers including Pullman Bus and Turbus. Santiago to La Serena, a distance of 470 kilometers, costs 12,000 to 16,000 pesos and takes six to seven hours. The 1,100-kilometer journey from Santiago to Puerto Montt costs 25,000 to 35,000 pesos on semi-cama seats and 40,000 to 50,000 pesos for fully reclining cama seats, with travel time of approximately 12 hours overnight. Buses from Puerto Montt to Punta Arenas do not exist as a direct service because the Carretera Austral, or Southern Highway, remains unpaved for significant sections and requires two ferry crossings. Travelers must fly this route or spend five to seven days on buses and ferries through Argentina.
Domestic flights become necessary for reaching Easter Island, Punta Arenas, and destinations in northern Chile from Santiago within reasonable timeframes. LATAM Airlines dominates domestic routes, with Sky Airline offering limited competition on Santiago to Calama, Iquique, and Puerto Montt routes. A roundtrip flight from Santiago to Easter Island costs 380,000 to 650,000 pesos depending on booking time and season, with prices lowest during the April to October shoulder season. Santiago to Punta Arenas roundtrips cost 180,000 to 320,000 pesos. Santiago to Calama, the gateway for San Pedro de Atacama, costs 85,000 to 150,000 pesos roundtrip. Booking flights three to four months ahead typically yields prices 30 to 40 percent lower than purchasing one week before travel.