What's the Best Currency to Take to Chile in 2024?
Byron Mühlberg
Guide
Monito's Managing Editor, Byron has spent several years writing extensively about financial- and migration-related topics.
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Read moreAre you travelling to Chile and wondering which currency you should take there? Chile uses the Chilean peso, meaning that, except in tourist establishments, airports, or hotels, you normally won't be able to use major currencies like the US dollar or British pound to pay your way.
To pay while you're in Chile, you'll either need to buy Chilean peso banknotes before or during your trip, use your credit card, or use a low-cost multi-currency debit card like Revolut's or Wise's travel cards.
In a rush? Here are our recommendations for how to pay in Chile if you're...
- from the UK: Revolut's debit Mastercard
- from the USA: Chime's VISA debit card
- from Canada: KOHO's debit Mastercard
- from the EU, Australia, or Singapore: Revolut
- wanting local banknotes: ChangeGroup
In this short guide, we'll discuss what's the best currency to take to Chile, how you should pay when you're there, and what your cheapest options are to avoid paying hefty exchange rate charges.
Key Facts About Currency in Chile
💹 Currency in Chile | Chilean peso |
---|---|
💲Currency Symbol | $ |
🔠 Currency ISO-3 Code | CLP |
💵 Banknote Denominations | $1,000, $2,000, $5,000, $10,000, $20,000 |
🪙 Minor Unit | Centavo |
💳 Ways to Pay in Chile | Cash, Debit/Credit Card, Google Pay |
💷 Best Travel Card From the UK | |
💶 Best Travel Card From the EU | |
💵 Best Travel Card From the USA | |
💵 Best Travel Card From Canada | |
💴 Best Travel Card From Australia | |
⚕️ Best Travel Insurer | |
✈ Best Flight Aggregator | |
🛂 Best Visa Application Service |
Best Currency to Take to Chile
Overview of Currency in Chile
As we saw earlier, the currency in Chile is the Chilean peso.
As the official legal tender in Chile, it's the sole currency recognized by the Chilean government, and you can use it to settle all financial obligations in the country, from paying for your hotel stay, to the entrance fee at the Torres del Paine National Park, to a bite to eat in the Lastarria neighborhood.
Best Currency to Take to Chile
Because it's the local currency and because you won't have any trouble buying goods with it, the best country to have on hand and spend while visiting Chile is, unsurprisingly, the Chilean peso.
However, if you're taking another currency along with you, the US dollar is a safe bet, as it's highly exchangeable at banks and currency exchange offices in Chile, even if it's neither official nor used ubiquitously across the country.
You can check out the prevalence of a few of the most popular tourist currencies in Chile below:
US dollars in Chile
US dollars aren't accepted in Chile, but you can sometimes pay with dollars at the airport, hotels, or shops and restaurants at major tourist establishments. If you're from the USA, we recommend using Chime's debit card, which charges no foreign exchange fees, to make low-cost card payments while travelling in Chile. However, out-of-network ATM withdrawal fees and over-the-counter advance fees may apply.
British pounds in Chile
You cannot use British pounds to pay while visiting Chile. However, you can withdraw pesos from Chilean ATMs or exchange your pounds for pesos at a local bank or currency exchange office. If you're from the UK, we recommend using Revolut's travel debit card, which has market-low currency exchange charges.
Euros in Chile
You cannot use euros to pay while visiting Chile. However, you can withdraw pesos from Chilean ATMs or exchange your euros for pesos at a local bank or currency exchange office. If you're from the European Union or EEA, we recommend using Revolut's debit card, which charges no foreign exchange fees, to make low-cost card payments while travelling in Chile.
Although Chilean peso is the best currency to use and the US dollar can be helpful at times too, exchanging currencies in the form of cash almost invariably leads to poor exchange rates for tourists (we've seen as high as 20% commissions, although the average is between 5% and 15% of the amount exchanged).
For this reason, it's generally a better idea to use your credit or debit card to pay at local points of sale wherever possible or (if cash is urgently needed) to withdraw some money from a local ATM. This will let your card provider handle the conversion, which is usually, although not always, a better deal than bringing foreign currency into Chile and exchanging it there. However, as we'll see below, a conversion-friendly debit card is the best choice of all!
ChangeGroup
ChangeGroup is a viable option If you need physical Chilean peso in cash in hand before your flight abroad to Chile. When it comes to popular currency pairs like GBP to EUR, ChangeGroup maintains a low FX markup of approximately 2.2%.
For less common currency pairs like GBP to Turkish lira, however, their rates may be comparable to those offered by traditional services, hovering around 15%. This is why we tend to recommend Revolut and Wise for less common currencies.
- FX Margin: 2.2% - 28.7%, varies by currency pair
- Home Delivery: For a fee
- Cash Pick Up: Free
- Guaranteed Buyback: For a fee
- Availability: UK, USA, Australia, Germany, France, Austria, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, Finland
How to Pay in Chile
When it comes to paying your way in Chile, you'll have the following three options broadly speaking:
Method 1: Cash
As we mentioned earlier, cash is an important medium of exchange in Chile. Pretty much all shops, restaurants, and commercial establishments around the country will accept Chilean peso banknotes, and we recommend having some on hand when you travel. Foreign cash can be purchased before your trip from your bank in your home country, or during your trip at a local Chilean bank or currency exchange office or (most affordably) from an ATM.
Note that in Chile, currency exchange offices normally go by the name casas de cambio, so if you want to exchange your home currency for Chilean peso, be on the lookout for signage with this name.
- Cash prevalence in Chile: Very prevalent
- Cost to exchange: 5% - 15% on average
Method 2: Credit Card
Although cash is king in Chile, credit and debit cards issued by major global providers like VISA and Mastercard are commonly accepted too. If your card is issued by American Express, Diner's Club, or another card company, there's a good chance they'll also be accepted in Chile, but we recommend checking with your bank or card provider directly to make sure that Chilean peso currency conversion is indeed supported, and that card machines and ATMs in Chile commonly support cards of this type.
- Card prevalence in Chile: Very prevalent
- Cost to exchange: 2% - 5% on average
Method 3: Travel Debit Card
Just like credit cards, prepaid debit cards (which are also normally issued by VISA or Mastercard) provide an excellent way to pay while visiting Chile, the main difference being that you normally pay lower fees and exchange rates. Depending on where you live, you'll probably have options from your bank or a third-party provider to use a commission-free debit card or a multi-currency card which can help you dodge high Chilean peso conversion costs, including DCCs.
According to our analysis of dozens of providers, the top two options for travelling to Chile, in general, are the following:
Revolut
Revolut is an excellent option for paying in Chile. Its all-in-one mobile finance app and debit card offer competitive exchange rates to the Chilean peso and low fees. What's more, you can easily manage everything through your money through Revolut's user-friendly app.
- Monthly fee: $0
- Card type: Mastercard debit
- Card payment cost in Chilean peso: 0.5% - 1.5%
- Cash withdrawal fee: 0% - 2%
- Chilean peso balance: No
- Chilean peso bank details: No
Wise Account
The Wise Account is another great option for paying in Chilean peso. It gives you the lowest possible currency exchange rates with complete transparency and no hidden fees. It also allows you to hold and manage over 50 currencies in one account and provides fast and secure cross-border money transfers at a fraction of the cost of traditional banks.
- Monthly fee: $0
- Card type: VISA debit
- Card payment cost in Chilean peso: 0.5% - 1.5%
- Cash withdrawal fee: 0% - 2%
- Chilean peso balance: Yes
- Chilean peso bank details: No
Wise and Revolut are excellent options that are available in many countries around the world. However, depending on where you live, you might have access to better deals still. We go over a few of them below:
United Kingdom
United States
- Chime®: Best all around; no fees for non-USD transactions.
- Revolut: Best all-around spending app.
- Wise: Best for foreign currency spending and holidays.
Canada
- KOHO: No foreign transactions fees on Extra or Everything plan.
- Wise: Best for foreign currency spending and holidays.
European Union
FAQ About Currency in Chile
What's the best currency to take to Chile?
The best currency to take to Chile is the local currency, the Chilean peso. US dollars are also highly exchangeable at local banks and currency exchange offices. However, instead of converting physical banknotes, the cheapest way to pay in Chile is to use a multi-currency travel debit card like Revolut or Wise.
Should I exchange my currency before traveling to Chile?
Generally, we don't recommend exchanging currency before travelling to Chile. Although having some Chilean peso cash on hand can be helpful, we recommend drawing some from an ATM once you've arrived in Chile using a prepaid multi-currency card like Revolut to avoid the hidden currency exchange fees.
Is it better to use credit cards or cash when traveling abroad?
It depends on the country you're visiting and the expenses you will have. Credit cards are widely accepted in many countries, including Chile, and can offer benefits such as rewards points and fraud protection. However, some places may only accept cash, especially in more rural areas. It's a good idea to have both cash and credit cards on hand and to research the best way to access your money while travelling.
How do I avoid exchange fees when traveling to Chile?
The best way to avoid currency exchange fees when travelling to Chile is to pay using a multi-currency travel debit card like Revolut or Wise. This way, you can make low-cost conversions to the Chilean peso every time you tap your card or withdraw cash. Other excellent debit cards that don't charge conversion fees include Revolut in the UK and Chime in the US.
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