Georgetown vs Puerto Varas

The 2024 census counted 52,942 people in the commune of Puerto Varas. Next door is Puerto Montt with 277,040 people, the airport and a large hospital.

OfficialINE: first results of the 2024 census for the Los Lagos region · checked 6 Oct 2026

Even a decent one-bedroom apartment for under 80k Guyana dollars (about 380 US dollars) a month is hard to find (2024). Oil workers get housing allowances of 2500+.

SpecialistStabroek News: City rents high and going higher, 18 June 2024 · checked 6 Oct 2026

A two-bedroom apartment is 650–750 thousand pesos a month (about 720 dollars). A three-bedroom house is mostly 620 thousand to 1.3 million, median 900 thousand.

SpecialistChilepropiedades: apartments for long-term rent in Puerto Varas, all 55 listings · checked 6 Oct 2026

A 5,000 m² plot (parcela de agrado) in listings costs 41–136 million pesos, median about 76 million (78 thousand dollars). In gated communities 100–300 million.

SpecialistChilepropiedades: plots (parcelas) for sale in the commune of Puerto Varas, first five pages (50 listings out of 260) · checked 6 Oct 2026

A three-bedroom house in listings costs 243–370 million pesos, median about 327 million (336 thousand dollars). There are few offers under 200 million.

SpecialistChilepropiedades: houses for sale in the commune of Puerto Varas, first five pages (50 listings out of 305) · checked 6 Oct 2026

Prices in Georgetown rose 3.6% in the year to August 2026, food 4.4%. Since the end of 2018 the food price index has risen by about 70%.

OfficialBureau of Statistics: Consumer Price Index, Georgetown, August 2026 · checked 6 Oct 2026

The minimum food basket costs 92,327 pesos per person a month, about 369 thousand for four (380 dollars). The figure is national.

OfficialChile's Ministry of Social Development: cost of the basic food basket and poverty lines, August 2026 report · checked 6 Oct 2026

The poverty line for a family of four without rent is 671,031 pesos a month. With rent, food, electricity and internet it comes to about 1.1–1.4 million, without heating.

OfficialChile's Ministry of Social Development: cost of the basic food basket and poverty lines, August 2026 report · checked 6 Oct 2026

The town has the German School and Colegio Puerto Varas. They do not publish tuition openly; only the application fee is visible: 1.5–2 UF.

OfficialColegio Alemán de Puerto Varas: letter to applicant families, admission for 2027 · checked 6 Oct 2026

The town has the accredited private high-complexity Clínica Puerto Varas. A large public hospital is in neighbouring Puerto Montt.

OfficialSuperintendencia de Salud: register of accredited healthcare providers in the Los Lagos region · checked 6 Oct 2026

CJIA international airport at Timehri: American, United, JetBlue, KLM, British Airways, Copa, Avianca and Caribbean airlines. Driving from the airport at night is not advised.

OfficialCheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA): list of airlines · checked 6 Oct 2026

Nearest airport: El Tepual near Puerto Montt, flights to Santiago by LATAM, Sky and JetSMART. By bus Santiago is 899 km, from 11 h 20 min, from 16 thousand pesos.

SpecialistCheckMyBus: buses Santiago – Puerto Varas, timetable and prices · checked 6 Oct 2026

There is no winter: in the coolest month, January, it is 23 degrees at night and 29 by day. All year round 29-31 by day and 23-24 at night.

OfficialWMO World Weather Information Service: climate normals for Georgetown · checked 6 Oct 2026

About 2260 mm a year, two rainy seasons: May-July (270-330 mm a month) and December-January (185-260). Driest are February, September and October, about 90-110 mm.

OfficialWMO World Weather Information Service: climate normals for Georgetown · checked 6 Oct 2026

The mean temperature in July 2026 near Puerto Montt was 6.2 °C: about 11 by day, about 2–3 at night. Frosts are common; the coldest night was minus 4.5 °C.

OfficialChilean Meteorological Office: July 2026 temperature, El Tepual Puerto Montt Ap. station, code 410005 · checked 6 Oct 2026

The 1991–2020 normal is about 1,566 mm a year, with rain in every month: from 69 mm in February to 213 mm in June. 2025 had 160 days with at least 1 mm.

OfficialChilean Meteorological Office: 2025 rainfall and the 1991–2020 normal, El Tepual Puerto Montt Ap. station, code 410005 · checked 6 Oct 2026

Stabroek Market is off limits to US embassy staff at all times. The UK and US name Tiger Bay, Albouystown, Agricola and Sophia as dangerous.

OfficialU.S. Department of State: Guyana Travel Advisory, Level 3, 25 August 2026 · checked 6 Oct 2026

The coast where Georgetown stands is below sea level and relies on sea defences. Drainage is poorly maintained, and floods happen in the rainy seasons (May-June, December-January).

OfficialUK Foreign Office: Guyana travel advice, Safety and security (updated 30 December 2025) · checked 6 Oct 2026

In 2025 the commune of Puerto Varas had two homicides, neighbouring Puerto Montt 16. The Los Lagos region had 4.5 per 100 thousand residents against 5.4 nationally.

OfficialReport on homicide victims in Chile for 2025, with figures by region and commune (published on the Fiscalía website) · checked 6 Oct 2026

The Calbuco and Osorno volcanoes are nearby. SENAPRED has a separate evacuation plan for Puerto Varas in case of a Calbuco eruption and a plan for the Osorno volcano.

OfficialSENAPRED: evacuation plans for the Los Lagos region, including for volcanic eruptions · checked 6 Oct 2026

Median fixed internet speed in Guyana is 149 Mbit/s download and 43 upload (Speedtest, August 2026). There are no mobile data.

SpecialistSpeedtest Global Index: Guyana, median speeds, August 2026 · checked 6 Oct 2026

Fibre from 12,990 pesos a month on promotion; the median price after the promotion is 26,990 (about 28 dollars). Tariffs are national; availability is checked by address.

SpecialistRedify: catalogue of home fibre internet plans in Chile, October 2026 · checked 6 Oct 2026

GPL electricity: 43.43 Guyana dollars per kWh plus 351 a month for consumption above 75 kWh. 300 kWh is about 13.4k, roughly 64 US dollars.

OfficialGPL: electricity tariffs in force since 11 April 2021 · checked 6 Oct 2026

SAESA electricity from 1 October 2026: 264.8 pesos per kWh with IVA plus 1,242 a month. 300 kWh is about 80.7 thousand pesos (83 dollars), cheaper than Valparaíso.

OfficialSAESA: electricity tariffs for regulated customers from 1 October 2026, table by commune · checked 6 Oct 2026