Top 14 Places to Live in the Southern Cone
Big cities, low taxes, beautiful beaches, and Patagonia...
Like most, my introduction to the Southern Cone was in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The European vibes. The architecture. The steak. The late dinners. The nightlife.
But Buenos Aires was just the tip of the iceberg for me. Once you push past BA, the region opens up fast.
Thinking about the Southern Cone, youāve gotā¦
Santiago for the infrastructure. AsunciĆ³n for the taxes. Punta del Este for the beach. Patagonia for the hiking.
The Southern Cone has every flavor. The choice is yours.
Below, Iāll detail what I believe to be the absolute best spots to base up throughout the region (3-6 month bases + full-time spots). From mega-cities to beach towns. Ski runs to tax-friendly bases. Budget options to balling.
Big City Vibes
Thereās four cities in the Southern Cone that Iād classify as ābigā ā aka being over 3.5M people in the metro area or more.
A few of these youāve definitely heard of, as theyāre LatAm classics. A few youāve maybe not heard of or considered checking out.
Letās dig inā¦
Buenos Aires, Argentina š¦š·
Population: 15.6M metro
Weather: Humid subtropical, four seasons
Cost of living: $$ (pricier post-cepo lift, still cheap vs US/EU)
Safety: Solid by LatAm standards, watch pockets in tourist zones, avoid ConstituciĆ³n at night
Best for: Everyone ā singles, couples, families
Best neighborhood: Palermo (Soho/Hollywood)
Best time to go: Sep to Apr
Weāve done a full Buenos Aires breakdown in the past.
But for those curious about the Southern Cone region, this is the spot to start as a newbie.
Buenos Aires offers European vibes, a unique culture, stunning + walkable neighborhoods, impressive architecture, great steaks, and so much more.
Itās one of the few cities that works for everybody.
Single broski looking to party and go on a few dates? Ideal. Traveling as a couple? Tons of fun stuff to do in BA with your girl. Bringing the family? Same thing, endless amount of things to do and good schools, hospital, and safety.
Not many places are ideal for all types of travelers. Which is why BA stays the default first stop for anyone curious about the region. Start in Buenos Aires, then branch out.
Santiago, Chile šØš±
Population: 7M metro
Weather: Mediterranean, four seasons
Cost of living: $$$ (most expensive capital in the cone)
Safety: Solid, but petty crime rising. Use city sense in Centro and west side
Best for: Families, Couples
Best neighborhood: Las Condes / Vitacura
Best time to go: Sep to Apr
For those who want infrastructure, mountains, and a city that just works, Santiago is the play.
Santiago has the best public transit in the region. Modern hospitals. Real private schools. Walkable upscale barrios with the Andes staring back at you. Ski runs 90 minutes east. The Pacific 90 minutes west. Wine country at the doorstep.
Itās the most āfirst worldā city in the Southern Cone.
Single broski looking to party? Not the play. Nightlife exists in Bellavista and Lastarria, but the vibe doesnāt hit like BA.
Traveling as a couple? Now weāre talking. The restaurant scene is serious. BoragĆ³ cracks the Worldās 50 Best lists. Wine country day trips. Ski weekends in winter. Pacific drops in summer.
Bringing the family? Best schools in the region. Hospitals that actually work. Safe upscale barrios with parks. Infrastructure that doesnāt make you pull your hair out.
Few cities in LatAm run this smoothly. Thatās Santiagoās trick. Order over chaos? Santiago, sin duda.
