Summary
Buying in Chile costs about 0.4% to 1% on top of the price if you pay cash, and about 1.1% to 2% with an 80% mortgage, because Chile has no property transfer tax.
On a 4,000 UF apartment (CLP 165 million, about USD 169,000), that means roughly CLP 0.6 to 1.7 million in cash-purchase costs, or CLP 1.8 to 3.2 million with a loan.
The biggest single item with a mortgage is the stamp tax: 0.8% of the loan amount, which works out to 0.64% of the price on an 80% loan.
New builds from a developer carry 19% IVA inside the price. Under Law 21.850, published on October 17, 2026, developers can sell already-finished new homes IVA-free between December 1, 2026 and November 30, 2027.
The notary costs CLP 140,000 to 600,000 depending on the office, and the Santiago registry charges 0.2% of the price, capped at CLP 264,200.
A broker, if you pay one, is usually 2% plus 19% IVA, so 2.38% of the price. That alone can push your total to about 3.5% (cash) or 4.3% (mortgage).
The costs that catch people out are unpaid gastos comunes or contribuciones left by the seller, bank fees, and transfer fees on money sent from abroad, so ask for debt certificates before you sign.
Agent fees and lawyer fees are where you can negotiate; with about 30 months of new-build stock to clear in Greater Santiago (CChC, Q2 2026), developers also have room to give.
As an owner of an apartment, plan on roughly CLP 1.1 to 3.3 million a year for gastos comunes and contribuciones, before insurance and utilities.
Contribuciones are zero if the SII fiscal value is at or below CLP 61,711,570; above that you pay 0.893% on the part over the threshold, so about CLP 342,000 a year on a CLP 100 million fiscal value.
From 2027, owners aged 65 or older will pay no contribuciones on their main home, and a new optional 5% tax on gross rent applies to some DFL2 rentals.
A non-resident landlord faces Chile's 35% Additional Tax on rental profit (with a credit for First Category tax), unless a DFL2 exemption applies.
Selling usually costs about 2.4% to 3% of the price before tax. The 8,000 UF tax-free gain only works for Chilean residents, not for non-residents.
Bottom line: budget 1% on top of the price for a cash resale, 2% with a mortgage, and add 2.4% only if you sign up to pay a broker.
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Taxes and fees on top of the price, before you sign.
Message a proOverall, how much extra should I budget on top of the purchase price in Chile?
How much are total buyer closing costs?
In October 2026, total buyer closing costs in Chile run about 0.4% to 1% of the price for a cash resale purchase and about 1.1% to 2% with an 80% mortgage, before any broker fee.
On a 4,000 UF apartment (CLP 165 million, about USD 169,000), a cash buyer pays roughly CLP 624,000 to 1.7 million (about USD 640 to 1,760): notary, registry, certificates and a lawyer for the title study.
With an 80% mortgage on the same apartment, the bill rises to roughly CLP 1.8 to 3.2 million (about USD 1,870 to 3,250), mostly because of the stamp tax on the loan (about CLP 1.05 million here) and the bank's appraisal.
If you also agree to pay a broker 2% plus IVA, add 2.38% of the price. That is how you end up with the "3% to 5%" figures you see online: about 3.5% for cash and 4.3% with a mortgage in the worst case.
What's the usual total % of fees and taxes over the purchase price?
The usual total in Chile sits between about 0.5% and 2% of the price, depending mostly on whether you take a mortgage, and goes up to about 4.5% only if you pay a broker as well.
For a standard resale, plan on about 0.5% to 1% for a cash purchase and 1% to 2% with a mortgage. A new apartment bought from a developer often costs less in fees, since there is usually no broker and IVA is already inside the price.
Most of what you pay goes to service fees (notary, registry, lawyer, bank) rather than taxes. The only real tax on the purchase itself is the stamp tax, and only when you borrow.
What costs are always mandatory when buying?
In 2026, the mandatory costs when buying property in Chile are the notary fee for the deed (escritura pública), registration at the Conservador de Bienes Raíces, basic certificates, and, if you take a mortgage, the stamp tax on the loan. You also need a RUT (tax number) from the SII before you can sign.
Optional but strongly recommended for foreign buyers: an independent lawyer for the title study, extra debt checks on the property, a technical inspection, and a certified translator if you don't read Spanish well.
What taxes do I pay when buying a property in Chile in 2026?
What is the property transfer tax rate?
Chile has no property transfer tax in 2026. You are not charged a government tax just for buying a home, which is why closing costs are low compared with Europe.
There is no extra tax for foreigners either: foreign buyers pay the same buyer-side taxes and fees as Chileans.
IVA (19%) applies when you buy a new home from a developer or from a habitual seller, but it is already included in the advertised price, not added on top. Resales between private individuals don't carry IVA.
The stamp tax (Impuesto de Timbres y Estampillas) only applies to the loan, not to the sale: 0.066% per month of loan term, capped at 0.8% of the loan amount. Since mortgages run for years, you pay the full 0.8%. Some DFL2 homes get relief, so ask your bank.
Will the Ley de Reconstrucción make a new apartment in Chile cheaper?
Possibly, but only for some homes. Law 21.850 (Ley de Reconstrucción Nacional), published in the Diario Oficial on October 17, 2026, lets developers sell new homes without IVA for one year: deeds signed from December 1, 2026 to November 30, 2027. Parking spots and storage units sold in the same deal are included.
The catch: the home must already have its final municipal approval (recepción municipal definitiva) from before October 17, 2026, and it must be its first sale. So this targets finished, unsold stock, not off-plan (en blanco or en verde) projects. In Greater Santiago, the CChC estimated about 30 months to sell the new-home stock in Q2 2026, and much of it is already finished, so there is plenty of eligible stock.
The exemption is the seller's choice, not yours. Nothing forces the developer to pass the saving on, so negotiate: ask for the price "sin IVA" in writing, compare it with the price before December, and check the deed says the sale is under the exemption. If you sign a promesa during the window, a later deed can still qualify. Sales between related parties are excluded.
If you already bought a finished new home after the bill was sent to Congress and before December 1, 2026, the law includes a refund mechanism for the IVA paid; ask the developer whether your deal qualifies.
Are there tax exemptions or reduced rates for first-time buyers in Chile?
Chile has no first-time buyer tax break on closing costs. The DFL2 regime matters more, because it affects how rent is taxed later (see below).
If you buy through a company instead of in your own name, you lose personal benefits like the 8,000 UF capital gains exemption, and profits fall under corporate tax (27% general rate in 2026, which Law 21.850 cuts gradually toward 23%).
New builds bought from a developer carry 19% IVA inside the price, while resales between individuals don't. From December 2026, some finished new homes can be sold IVA-free (see above).
Whatever benefit you claim, the paperwork has to be right at signing, so have a lawyer check it before the deed.
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Which professional fees will I pay as a buyer in Chile in 2026?
How much does a notary or conveyancing lawyer cost?
Notary fees in Chile are a fixed tariff, not a percentage: one Santiago-area notary publishes CLP 140,000 for a sale over CLP 20 million and CLP 200,000 over CLP 100 million in 2026, and market guides quote CLP 200,000 to 600,000 once mortgage paperwork is added.
The Santiago registry (Conservador de Bienes Raíces) charges 0.2% of the price, capped at CLP 264,200 (about USD 270) for a cash sale. Other cities' registries set their own tariffs, and mortgage registrations add a bit more.
A translator or interpreter for the signing typically costs CLP 150,000 to 500,000 (about USD 155 to 510), more if you need several certified translations.
A tax advisor isn't mandatory for the purchase, but if you plan to rent out or sell later, expect roughly CLP 300,000 to 1,500,000 (about USD 305 to 1,540) depending on complexity.
What's the typical real estate agent fee?
The usual broker fee in Chile in 2026 is 2% of the price plus 19% IVA, so 2.38%. On a CLP 100 million property that is CLP 2.38 million (about USD 2,440).
Who pays it depends on the deal: some agencies charge 2% to both buyer and seller, others charge only the seller (often 1% to 2% plus IVA). Read the order to visit (orden de visita) before you sign it, because that is where the buyer fee hides.
Commission is always negotiable, and new apartments sold directly by a developer usually carry no buyer commission at all.
How much do legal checks cost (title, liens, permits)?
Basic certificates (ownership, liens and prohibitions, no-expropriation) cost about CLP 20,000 to 60,000 in total, and a lawyer's title study (estudio de títulos) about CLP 200,000 to 800,000 (about USD 205 to 820).
If you take a mortgage, the bank's appraisal (tasación) costs about CLP 150,000 to 400,000 (about USD 155 to 410), and each bank uses its own appraiser.
The one check you should never skip is the title study with the lien certificate from the Conservador, because ownership only transfers once the deed is registered there.
What hidden or surprise costs should I watch for in Chile right now?
What are the most common unexpected fees buyers discover?
The usual surprises are the stamp tax and bank fees on a mortgage, high gastos comunes in buildings with pools and 24-hour staff, costs to regularize unpermitted extensions, and bank and exchange fees when moving money from abroad (transfers over USD 10,000 are reported by the bank).
Unpaid contribuciones and condominium debts can stay with the property, so ask for the contribuciones payment certificate (SII and TGR) and a no-debt certificate from the building administrator before signing.
Scams do happen: fake reservation deposits, copied listings and requests to pay outside a traceable channel. Check the owner in the Conservador's records and pay only by bank transfer or a notary-held payment instruction (instrucción notarial).
Sellers rarely mention unpermitted work or building debts up front, so ask for the municipal final approval and the building's last statements.
Are there extra fees if the property has a tenant?
Buying with a tenant in place can add legal costs of roughly CLP 200,000 to 800,000 (about USD 205 to 820) to review or renegotiate the lease, plus the cost of waiting if you wanted to move in.
You take over the existing lease and must respect it until it ends or is legally terminated. You can't evict the tenant just because you bought.
Ending the lease early usually needs the tenant's agreement or a legal ground, and an eviction through the courts takes time.
A sitting tenant makes the property less attractive to owner-occupiers but can suit an investor, and it gives you an argument to negotiate the price down.
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What you pay each year, and when you sell.
Message a proWhich fees are negotiable, and who really pays what in Chile?
Which closing costs are negotiable in Chile right now?
You can negotiate the broker's commission, your lawyer's fee, who pays which certificates, and repair credits deducted from the price.
You can't negotiate the stamp tax rate, the Conservador's tariff or the notary's published tariff.
Lawyers and brokers often give a discount on higher-value deals or repeat business; ask for a fixed fee in writing before you start.
Can I ask the seller to cover some closing costs?
Yes, and your chances are better right now than in a hot market. Used apartments in the Santiago region took about 97 days to sell on RE/MAX listings in Q2 2026, and developers in Greater Santiago are sitting on about 30 months of new stock.
Sellers most often agree to pay the broker, some certificates, or part of the notary costs. Developers more often offer free parking, a storage unit, or help with the down payment.
Your hand is strongest when the property has been listed for months and you can close quickly.
Is price bargaining common?
Yes, bargaining is normal on resales in 2026, and how much you get depends on the area, the property and how long it has been listed.
We found no reliable official figure for the gap between asking and sale prices. As a rough guide, a few percent off is common, and more on stale or overpriced listings: 5% off a CLP 100 million property saves CLP 5 million (about USD 5,120).
What monthly, quarterly or annual costs will I pay as an owner in Chile?
What's the realistic monthly owner budget in Chile right now?
For a mid-range apartment in Chile, plan on roughly CLP 150,000 to 400,000 a month (about USD 155 to 410) on top of any mortgage payment.
That covers gastos comunes, utilities, home insurance (fire and earthquake cover is required by banks on a mortgage) and a reserve for repairs.
Gastos comunes are the line that moves the most. The median on Santiago listings is CLP 90,000 a month (Aguila, October 2026), but averages reach CLP 211,015 in Las Condes and CLP 300,227 in Vitacura (Edifito, April 2026). Viña del Mar averages CLP 133,349 and Concepción CLP 74,032 (ComunidadFeliz, April 2026).
Per year, gastos comunes plus contribuciones come to roughly CLP 1.1 to 3.3 million for an apartment (about USD 1,110 to 3,400), or 0.7% to 2% of a 4,000 UF price, before utilities and insurance.
What is the annual property tax amount?
Contribuciones are charged on the SII fiscal value (avalúo fiscal), not on the price you paid, and are paid in four installments in April, June, September and November.
For the second half of 2026, homes with a fiscal value up to CLP 61,711,570 pay nothing. Above that, you pay 0.893% a year on the part over the threshold, and 1.042% on the part of the fiscal value above CLP 220,398,431.
In practice: a fiscal value of CLP 100 million means about CLP 342,000 a year (about USD 350), and CLP 150 million about CLP 788,000 (about USD 805). The fiscal value is usually below market price, so check the real figure on the SII site before you buy.
From 2027, owners aged 65 or older will be fully exempt on their main home (see the next section). There is no exemption for foreigners as such.
What does the 2026 reform change for owners and landlords in Chile from 2027?
Three changes from Law 21.850 matter to owners. First, from 2027, people aged 65 or older pay no contribuciones on their main home (one home nationwide), as long as they are up to date on the previous year's contribuciones and garbage fees and file a sworn statement with the SII. A second home or a rental doesn't qualify.
Second, landlords get a new optional 5% single tax on gross rent from January 1, 2027, for "viviendas económicas" of up to 90 m² from the third home onward (the first two keep the usual DFL2 exemption). New homes up to 140 m² bought by deed between October 17, 2026 and mid-October 2027 can also opt for the 5%. Whether a non-resident gets the same option is something to confirm with a Chilean tax advisor before you count on it.
Third, ignore the headlines saying the 10% capital gains tax "disappears" in 2027: that change is for listed shares, not property. We found no change to the 8,000 UF rule for homes, and non-residents never had access to it anyway.
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Message a proIf I rent it out, what extra taxes and fees apply in Chile in 2026?
What tax rate applies to rental income?
Chile-resident landlords add rent to their income and pay the progressive Global Complementario tax (0% to 40%). Non-resident owners face First Category tax and the Impuesto Adicional, whose default rate is 35%, with a credit for the First Category tax paid.
Resident landlords can deduct documented costs such as contribuciones, maintenance, management fees and mortgage interest, so their real rate depends on their whole income.
Rent from DFL2 homes held by an individual can be exempt for up to two qualifying homes; a third one doesn't inherit the exemption (but see the new 5% option above).
For a non-resident, 35% is the headline rate, not an automatic 35% withholding on every peso of gross rent. The final bill depends on DFL2 status, deductions and any tax treaty (the US-Chile treaty has been in force since December 2023), so get advice before you price your yield.
Do I pay tax on short-term rentals?
Yes. Short-term rental income is taxable in Chile, and a furnished rental with services like cleaning or linens can also be subject to 19% IVA.
The more it looks like a hotel (services, frequent turnover), the more likely it is treated as a business, with IVA and different income tax treatment than plain rent. Check your building's rules too: under the 2022 condominium law (Ley 21.442), the building's regulations can limit short stays.
If I sell later, what taxes and fees will I pay in Chile in 2026?
What's the total cost of selling as a % of price?
Selling usually costs about 2.4% to 3% of the price before tax, mostly the broker's 2% plus 19% IVA (2.38%).
Add a few hundred thousand pesos for certificates and your share of notary costs, any early repayment cost on your mortgage, and capital gains tax if it applies.
If the buyer's side pays more of the costs or you sell without a broker, you can get well below 2%.
What capital gains tax applies when selling?
For individuals who live in Chile (domiciled or tax resident), gains on homes are tax-free up to 8,000 UF over a lifetime (CLP 330 million, about USD 337,000). Above that, they choose between the progressive income tax and a 10% single tax.
Homes bought before January 1, 2004 follow the older rules, which are usually more favorable to individual sellers.
Non-residents can't use the 8,000 UF exemption or the 10% option. Their gain is taxed under the ordinary income tax rules (First Category and Additional Tax), and there is no single published rate, so get tax advice before you sell.
The gain is the sale price minus the purchase price adjusted for inflation (IPC), and documented improvement costs can be added to your cost.
Our methodology
This article estimates what a buyer pays on top of the price in Chile (cash and with a mortgage), what an owner pays each year, and the taxes on renting out and selling, with the changes brought by the 2026 Ley de Reconstrucción.
We built the purchase costs item by item on a 4,000 UF apartment, using official tariffs first (Santiago registry, SII stamp tax, a published notary tariff) and 2026 market guides for lawyer, appraisal and broker fees. Totals and percentages were calculated by script.
Tax rules come from the SII, the Income Tax Law (BCN) and the SII pages and law-firm summaries of Law 21.850, published on October 17, 2026. Gastos comunes come from listing data (Aguila) and building-management platforms (Edifito, ComunidadFeliz).
We checked these figures in October 2026. We converted amounts at about 977 Chilean pesos per US dollar and 1,099 pesos per euro, and used a UF value of about CLP 41,200 (SII, October 22, 2026).
Limits: notary, registry and lawyer fees vary by office and city (we used Santiago tariffs), gastos comunes from listings are asking figures, and tax for non-residents depends on each case. This is not tax advice.
Key sources used for this analysis include SII (stamp tax), SII (contribuciones 2026), Conservador de Bienes Raíces de Santiago, Sexta Notaría de Puente Alto, RE/MAX First, Círculo Verde, Garrigues, BCN (Income Tax Law), Tesorería General de la República and Global Property Guide.
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