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Housing guide

Santiago housing guide for exchange students.

Real rent · 9 students

€410

/ mo median

under €4507
€450–6002
€600–7500
over €7500

What students actually paid, from their reviews.

First picture: what housing in Santiago feels like.

Most exchange students in Santiago end up in one of three situations:

  • A big “casa” / coliving (10–20 students, often in Providencia/Barrio Italia)
  • A student residence like LivinnX Santiago near La Moneda
  • An apartment or long-term Airbnb shared with a small group of friends

Across all options, you’ll hear the same themes:

  • Social life is amazing when you live with other exchange students.
  • Commutes can be long: 45–90 minutes for some universities in Las Condes / the Andes.
  • Houses are often old and poorly insulated – winter inside the house can be rough.
  • The city is generally safe if you stay alert, but pickpocketing and phone theft are common, especially in some central areas and at night.

Keep that image in mind: big city, long but doable commutes, very social housing, and a lifestyle that quickly becomes addictive.

Santiago is a great place to live as a student: affordable daily life, excellent transport, a pleasant climate, and a relaxed lifestyle.
— Victoire, UDD

Understanding Santiago: where students live (and why).

The main neighborhoods for exchange students

Providencia (incl. Barrio Italia & Bellavista side)

  • Vibe: cafés, brunch places, bars, leafy streets, a lot of internationals.
  • Why students love it: safe enough, walkable, lots of nightlife nearby, easy access to metro lines 1 & 5.
  • Many casas and colivings are around Barrio Italia, often mentioned as the sweet spot between safety and fun.

Ñuñoa

  • Vibe: residential but lively, lots of bars around Plaza Ñuñoa, many young Chileans.
  • Good for: a bit calmer than Bellavista, still social, slightly cheaper than Providencia in many cases.

Bellavista

  • Vibe: graffiti, nightlife, bars/clubs, next to Cerro San Cristóbal.
  • Good for: going out.
  • Not ideal for living: multiple students say it’s noisy and more sketchy at night. Stay alert and use Uber to get home.

Las Condes & Vitacura

  • Vibe: modern, wealthy, high-rises, malls, business district.
  • Pros: very safe, clean; close to UDD and UANDES campuses.
  • Cons: more family / business than student; further from typical nightlife; can feel “too quiet” and is generally more expensive.

Students are split here:

Centro / La Moneda / Barrio Brasil

  • Vibe: historical center, busy, a bit chaotic.
  • Pros: very central; cheap eats; close to some campuses and to LivinnX. ([LivinnX Santiago][4])
  • Cons: more pickpockets, more homelessness; several students say they wouldn’t live in Estación Central or the western side of the center at all.

Rough rule:

  • If you want social + safe + central → aim for Providencia / Barrio Italia / Ñuñoa.
  • If you want super safe + close to UDD / UANDES → consider Las Condes / Vitacura.
  • If you want cheaper + city center feel → some parts of Barrio Brasil / Centro can work, but choose carefully and talk to students who lived there.
Don’t go to Estación Central, it’s dangerous. Safest places to live are Las Condes, Providencia, Barrio Italia.
— Coline, UANDES

How much does housing cost?

  • Coliving / casas: ~€250€450 per month (often 10–20 people in older houses)
  • Shared apartment / Airbnb: often €350€500 per month per person, depending on area and number of roommates
  • Room in shared flat: roughly CLP 234,000375,000 (~€210–340).
  • Student residence: roughly CLP 300,000500,000 (~€270–450) depending on amenities.
  • Rentoften similar or slightly cheaper than a big French city.
  • Groceriesmany students say “same price as France, sometimes more for imported goods.”
  • Eating/drinking outoften cheaper than Europe.

Prices in the student feedback and online platforms are surprisingly consistent. From students: Online platforms for Santiago show similar ranges: Compared to France or other Western European countries:

Housing types: what you’re really choosing between.

4.1. Big coliving “casas”

These are the classic Santiago exchange experience: big houses with 10–20 students, sometimes a pool or garden, often in Providencia / Barrio Italia / Las Condes.

Students mention:

  • Casas via Santiago Exchange
  • Casas via Rumi / Rumistudent Housing
  • Independent casas found on Instagram (e.g. PortalExchange.cl, Casa Froebel, etc.)

Pros

  • Super social: instant friend group, easy to travel and go out together.
  • Often the cheapest option per month.
  • Locations usually excellent (Providencia, Barrio Italia, Las Condes).

Cons

  • Houses are often old, poorly insulated, and can have issues: water infiltration, heating problems, bathrooms that suffer with 15 people using them.
  • Some agencies/owners impose very strict rules and cameras.

Several students are very critical of Santiago Exchange:

Our take as Studcasa:

  • If you like freedom and house parties → avoid casas with heavy surveillance and fines.
  • Ask current/previous tenants (via Studcasa Feedback tab or Instagram) about the rules, not just the location.

Who it’s for

  • You want the full social experience and don’t mind sharing bathrooms, some chaos, and chilly winter nights.
  • You want to spend your money on travel rather than rent.
I don’t recommend Santiago Exchange: cameras in the kitchen, fines when you leave a glass, lots of rules, house not isolated, problems with water and heating.
— multiple students in Providencia / Barrio Italia casas

4.2. Student residences (LivinnX & others)

The name that comes up constantly: LivinnX Santiago, a modern student residence near La Moneda. It has:

  • Rooftop with pool and BBQ
  • Gym, study spaces, lounge areas
  • Mix of international and Latin American students

Pros

  • Modern, safe, 24/7 reception.
  • Easy to meet people; lots of other exchange students.
  • Super central + close to metro lines.

Cons

  • More expensive than casas or shared flats.
  • Area around La Moneda is central but not the cutest and can be more chaotic at night.

Who it’s for

  • You want a residence vibe with amenities.
  • You prefer predictable comfort and security over “old house charm”.
  • Your budget is a bit higher OR you share a flat within the residence.
LivinnX is incredible. Not the best area, but pool, gym, BBQ, reductions for student parties… just take it in colocation to make it cheaper.
— several FEN/UNAB students

4.3. Apartments & long-term Airbnbs

Some students book:

  • Classic apartments via agencies (e.g. Rumi Student Housing, Flatmaters).
  • Airbnbs for the full semester.

Pros

  • You choose exactly who you live with.
  • You can go for something more modern / better insulated.
  • Good if you value privacy and a calmer home base.

Cons

  • Typically more expensive per person if you’re 2–3 and want a nice area.
  • Less “built-in” community; you need to be social elsewhere.
  • Some landlords / Airbnbs can be slow to help when things break.

Who it’s for

  • You’re arriving with a ready-made group of friends.
  • You want your own kitchen/living room vibe, less chaos.
  • You’re okay spending a bit more for comfort.
Airbnb isn’t ideal in terms of price and it’s harder to meet people if you don’t already have a group.
— several students

4.4. Homestays / living with a Chilean owner

A few students stayed in a house with a Chilean “host mom” style owner:

Pros

  • Cultural immersion, language practice.
  • Often more stable and calmer.
  • Very supportive if you get along with the owner.

Cons

  • More rules, less freedom for late nights and parties.
  • House may feel “old school” in terms of comfort.

Who it’s for

  • You really want to work on your Spanish and integrate more locally.
  • You prefer a calmer, family-style home.
I lived with other exchange students and the owner who was like our grandma. We shared dinners and could practice Chilean Spanish with her.
— Emma, UANDES

Where to live for your university.

UDD (Universidad del Desarrollo)

  • Campus area: Las Condes (east)
  • Commute from Providencia / Barrio Italia: 1–1.5h door-to-door
  • Notes: Amazing, modern campus but far. Many students still choose Providencia for social life.

UANDES (Universidad de los Andes)

  • Campus area: San Carlos de Apoquindo / Las Condes
  • Commute from Providencia / Barrio Italia: ~1–1.5h
  • Notes: Campus in the Andes, beautiful but remote. Uber from Providencia ~25–35 min without traffic.

UC / PUC (San Joaquín)

  • Campus area: South-east
  • Commute from Providencia / Barrio Italia: ~20–30 min by metro + short walk
  • Notes: Huge, green campus. Good combo with Providencia / Ñuñoa.

FEN (Universidad de Chile – Economics)

  • Campus area: Near Ñuñoa / central
  • Commute from Providencia / Barrio Italia: 10–25 min
  • Notes: Very popular with exchange students; closer to center.

UNAB / UDP / Mayor / UAI (city campuses)

  • Campus area: Multiple campuses
  • Commute from Providencia / Barrio Italia: 10–40 min depending on exact campus
  • Notes: Many have central campuses accessible by metro.

How students actually decide

Most students clearly prioritize lifestyle over commute.

So the pattern is:

  • Live in Providencia / Barrio Italia / Ñuñoa for social life.
  • Accept a long commute once or twice a week by clustering classes on 2–3 days.
  • Use Uber or buses when metro is too crowded.

If you hate long commutes and you’re at UDD / UANDES, consider:

  • Las Condes / Vitacura: closer, quieter, very safe.
  • But plan to Uber to nightlife areas (Bellavista, Barrio Italia, MiercolesPo…).
Campus is so cool but far from the center (around 1 hour).
— Marine, UDD

Getting around: metro, buses, Uber, safety.

Metro

fast, modern, with several lines covering most of the city.

Buses (Red)

fill the gaps where metro doesn’t go.

Santiago’s public transport is one of the best in South America:

  • Metro: fast, modern, with several lines covering most of the city.
  • Buses (Red): fill the gaps where metro doesn’t go.
  • Bip! card: rechargeable card used across metro + buses; one ride costs roughly CLP 770–870, depending on the time of day.
  • If you combine bus + metro within 2 hours, the system gives you integrated fares.

Students’ version of this:

Safety basics

Reality check:

  • Eastern comunas (Providencia, Ñuñoa, Las Condes, Vitacura) are considered safer.
  • Downtown & Bellavista are fine by day but several guides and students recommend Uber at night and extra caution with phones.
  • Areas like Estación Central, Franklin, Cumming and some western/southern comunas are often mentioned as “avoid, especially at night” by both locals and students.

General rule we share with students:

  • Don’t wave your phone around near streets or bus doors.
  • Use a small cross-body bag you keep in front of you.
  • At night, Uber/Cabify/Didi > walking, even for 5–10 minutes, especially in central areas.
Don’t go alone in Bellavista at night and especially don’t stay around Estación Central more than the bus station. It’s super dangerous even for Chileans.
— Gabriel, UDD

Climate & what it means for your room.

Santiago has Mediterranean climate: hot, dry summers and mild but chilly winters, with very little rain.

But the key thing students say is:

  • Houses are often poorly insulated and don’t have central heating.
  • Winter (July–August) can feel much colder inside than outside.

Practical tips

  • Pack a good hoodie / fleece / warm pyjamas.
  • A sleeping bag liner or extra blanket can be gold in casas.
  • Ask ahead: Is there any heating? Are electricity costs shared?
Even in winter it’s super sunny but in the mornings it went down to 2°C. The houses stay cold.
— several students

How to actually find a place (and avoid the traps).

8.1. Start with other students (using Studcasa)

Before you type “room Santiago” into Google for the 100th time, do this:

  • Go to the Feedback tab on Studcasa for Santiago / your university.
  • Read a handful of reviews of students whose experience resembles what you want (same uni, same semester, similar budget).
  • Use the “Talk to” / message feature to DM 2–3 of them.

Ask them:

  • Where did you live and would you choose it again?
  • How was the agency / landlord?
  • Would you recommend your neighborhood?

Very often, you can:

  • Take over someone’s room or contract
  • Get added to WhatsApp groups for casas and residences
  • Avoid agencies everyone now knows are a headache

At the same time, be active in your Studcasa group:

  • Ask who’s still looking for flatmates.
  • Share listings you’re considering and ask what others think.
  • Offer to build a group for a casa / apartment.

Most “legendary casas” in Santiago start because 1–2 people in groups say: “We’re 3, looking for 3 more for a house in Providencia, who’s in?”

8.2. Popular platforms & agencies students mention

Use these as starting points (always combine with student opinions):

Student residences / coliving

  • LivinnX Santiago – big student residence near La Moneda with pool, gym, study rooms.
  • Santiago Exchange – manages several big casas. Many students love the locations but complain about rules, cameras, fines and old houses. Read recent opinions carefully.
  • Instagram accounts like PortalExchange, Rumi Student Housing, Santiago Exchange, Casa Froebel, Casona Tarapaca, La Casa de Beatriz are often used to recruit students for casas.

Rooms / apartments

  • Rumi / Rumistudent (IG and websites) – several positive mentions for casas and flatshares.
  • Flat-sharing agencies like Flatmaters (some mixed feedback but generally okay).
  • Platforms such as Homeurbano or Erasmus-style sites show typical rents and options.
  • Homestay.com – for rooms in families or with local hosts.

Short-term / flexible

  • Airbnb – many students use it for the first 2–4 weeks to search calmly on the spot.
  • Once you’re there, join Facebook groups like “Français au Chili / Santiago”, “Expats in Santiago”, etc., where many local casas and rooms are posted.

8.3. Red flags and how to avoid scams

Things to be careful about:

  • Huge deposits requested before you’ve even seen the place (especially if they push Western Union or bank transfers with no contract).
  • No contract at all and no proof that the person owns or rents the property.
  • Very strict rules that would ruin your exchange: cameras in common spaces, fines for leaving dishes for 20 minutes, no guests after 10 p.m., etc. Ask current tenants!
  • “Too cheap for Providencia” listings: if a room is half the normal price, ask why.

Basic checklist before sending money:

  • Video tour (live if possible), including bathrooms, kitchen and street outside.
  • Ask: How many people live here? How many bathrooms? Who cleans and how often?
  • Ask for a simple contract with: * Monthly rent + what’s included * Deposit amount and refund conditions * Notice period to leave

Whenever possible, send money only to an official agency account or via Airbnb / trusted platform, not to a random personal account.

Should you book from home or wait to arrive?

Option A – Book long-term from home

Good if:

  • You need security before you fly.
  • You got a strong recommendation from 2–3 previous students about the exact place / residence.
  • You’re okay paying slightly more to avoid “first weeks housing stress”.

Risks:

  • Harder to judge the real state of the house and roommates.
  • If you hate it, moving later can be complicated with contracts.

Option B – Book 2–3 weeks on Airbnb and search on the ground

Good if:

  • You’re flexible and don’t mind a bit of uncertainty.
  • You want to visit several casas / flats and choose your vibe.
  • You’re active in the Studcasa / WhatsApp groups.

This is exactly what some students did:

Hybrid strategy we recommend often:

  • Use Studcasa + previous students to shortlist 2–3 serious options before you arrive.
  • Book a temporary place for 2–3 weeks.
  • Visit your shortlist, talk to people, then commit.
I arrived without housing, stayed with friends in an Airbnb the first weeks, then we moved Airbnb to Airbnb until we found a ‘final’ one for the exchange.
— Chloé, UNAB

Daily life from your house: what to expect.

10.1. Groceries & food

Students widely agree:

  • Supermarkets: Jumbo = big, lots of choice, similar or higher prices than France. Lider / Express de Lider often cheaper.
  • Markets: La Vega Central is a huge fresh market where fruits/veggies are much cheaper (around CLP 1,000/kg for many products).
  • Street food: cheap and filling (completos, empanadas, big plates of chicken & fries).

You’ll hear a lot of:

Food isn’t amazing but you get used to it; good restaurants are reasonably priced. Don’t expect Mexican tacos; you’ll get completos instead.
— several students

10.2. Social life from where you live

Certain addresses almost guarantee you a social life:

  • Casas in Barrio Italia / Providencia / Ñuñoa
  • Residences like LivinnX
  • Big shared houses (15–20 people) from agencies like Rumi or Santiago Exchange (if you accept the rules)

Students constantly mention:

  • MiercolesPo – the legendary Wednesday exchange party.
  • Barrio Italia – bars, brunch spots.
  • Bellavista – clubs and bars (take Uber back).
  • Rooftop events like Sunday Funday or festivals like Lollapalooza Chile.

From a housing perspective: being close to Providencia / Barrio Italia / Bellavista / Ñuñoa makes spontaneous nights out (and late-night food runs) easy.

Quick housing strategy by profile.

“I want maximum social life”

  • Look for a casa of 10–20 people in Providencia / Barrio Italia / Ñuñoa.
  • Accept that: * The house may be old. * Bathrooms might be chaotic. * Winter will feel cold inside.
  • Check rules carefully (we’d be cautious with very strict Santiago Exchange houses).

“I want comfort + community”

  • Consider LivinnX or other student residences.
  • Or a smaller shared apartment (4–6 people) via Rumi / Flatmaters / Homeurbano in Providencia / Ñuñoa.

“I hate commuting”

  • If you’re at UDD / UANDES / far-east campuses, look at: * Las Condes / Vitacura for shorter commutes and high safety.
  • Accept that you’ll Uber more to parties.

“I’m on a tight budget”

  • Aim for a big casa in Providencia / Barrio Italia with rent around €250–350.
  • Share a room if needed, but think about your sleep and sanity.

“I want Spanish immersion”

  • Look for a homestay (Homestay.com, local Facebook groups or university housing suggestions).
  • Or a smaller shared flat with Chilean students instead of only Europeans.

Housing checklists.

Before you book (online or by video)

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When you arrive in Santiago

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A last word from the Studcasa team.

  • Providencia / Barrio Italia / Ñuñoa are usually the best mix of safety, fun and access.
  • Most students put classes on 2–3 days and accept a long commute in exchange for a better lifestyle.
  • Casas = social & cheap but old and sometimes strict; residences = modern & easy but more expensive.
  • Don’t search alone: use the Feedback tab, message previous students, and be talkative in your Studcasa group.
  • Trust your gut when something feels off with an agency or landlord.

If you remember only a few things from this guide, make them these: You’re not just choosing a bed. You’re choosing the backdrop for some of the most intense months of your life. If you want, you can send us a couple of options you’re hesitating between (screenshots or links), and we’ll help you compare them with what other students experienced. Made with ❤️ by the Studcasa Team

Still deciding where to live?

Ask the students already in Santiago. They know which streets are worth it.

Join the Santiago group