Guides · South America
Moving to South America: the best places to live
Arcadia scores 313 places across 12 countries in South America, from Barquisimeto at about $650 a month to José Ignacio at about $1,900. 162 are by the sea and 184 in the mountains. Typical ratings across the region: safety 3/5, healthcare 3/5, internet 3/5.
What the lists get wrong about South America
The lists say Medellín and Buenos Aires and stop. Yet across a whole continent the range is only $650 to $1,900: money is not what separates these places. Altitude and safety are, and both change from one valley to the next.
The standouts
Within the 313 places Arcadia scores here, not the whole region.
Every country in South America
How many places we score in each, and what a month costs there.
What to weigh before moving to South America
Natural risks recur here: earthquakes, flooding. It does not mean every place has them, it means you should check the specific one you pick.
Questions, answered
How much does it cost to live in South America?
The median across the 313 places we score is about $1,050 a month for one person, from $650 to $1,900. These are estimates for everyday living, rent included.
Where is the cheapest place to live in South America?
Barquisimeto, at about $650 a month. It is the cheapest of the 313 places Arcadia scores here, which is not the same as the cheapest in the region.
Is South America safe to live in?
The typical safety rating across these 313 places is 3 out of 5, and the highest is Córdoba (AR). These are broad country-level estimates for comparing places, not local advice.
Which of these fits you?
A guide can only rank places for an average reader. Answer a few honest questions and we rank these 313, and 3,500+ others, against your life.
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