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[Veritas_Aequitas]

Hello,

I have a question for those who have lived in the above mentioned cities. Which did you prefer? What were the upsides of both? The downsides?

Thank you very much for your time.

VA

[matttheboy]

I would personally say don't even think about santiago. The most unpleasant city i've ever been to. Buenos Aires is beautiful and a million times the city santiarsehole is.

Some points about santiago:

-Full of aggressive, obnoxious, racist chileans who see no problem in referring to other latinos as monkeys, stupid and un(der)-developed
-Smog so bad that on some days in winter you can't see the cerro san cristobal slap bang in the centre of the city from a distance of more than 1km
-you can't walk anywhere. you need to take the bus or drive a car
-people who barge you out of the way without so much as an 'excuse me'. No please no thank you in many places
-an accent and style of spanish that is nigh on impossible to understand if you are a learner of the language (and also for fluent speakers). Learning chilean spanish is not a good idea as you probably won't be understood in other countries either
-it's very expensive
-the food is ok but nothing special
-a total lack of cultural heritage: if it's old knock it down and build a new tower block. They don't even bother to light up the Moneda (the presidential palace) and the surrounding plaza at night


Buenos Aires:

-a beautiful city, amazing architecture, friendly locals, respect for others, little pollution, incredibly attractive women (and apparently the men are the best in the region as well), very very low cost of living if you have any foreign savings, culture (in the architecture, the dozens of theatres, art cinemas, the Teatro Colon, the markets, tango and more), a cross between Paris, Barcelona and Madrid, amazing nightlife, bars and cafes for all tastes, the best steak in the world and great (and cheap) wine to go with it.

In short, the coolest city on the planet.

You earn more in santiago but with the high cost of living you also spend more. You won't be able to save money in buenos aires but you'll earn enough to live on. The crime rate in buenos aires is higher but i still feel safer walking around at night here than in london. I have met not a single person who has enjoyed santiago if they have already been to buenos aires. I once lived in a foreigners' house in santiago and a group of german students went to buenos aires for a weekend, came back to santiago, went to uni the next day and transferred to BsAs the next week (and they were happy in santiago!).

My views on chileans are based on my chilean girlfriend's family, friends and associates not on one particular bad experience i had. I find them to be possibly the rudest, most arrogant and selfish people i've met. If you're english then think a thatcher's child multilplied by 100.

Outside of santiago is not so bad but nowhere lives up to argentina (except the south which is amazing).

I would encourage everyone to come to buenos aires, it's impossible no to love it here. Only professional city haters wouldn't fall for its charms.

Good luck.

[Veritas_Aequitas]

Thank you for the reply.

[thehairyhorse]

Matt the Boy
Have you been to Temuco (southern Chile)?
Any views as I've had enough here and am heading back to BA pronto!

[matttheboy]

Sorry. I know next to nothing about Temuco having only driven through. I think the guidebooks say it�s quite nice though...maybe...?

[matttheboy]

Just asked my girlfriend and she�s not particularly impressed by Temuco but the countryside around is beautiful (which i can agree with). If you�re looking for an exciting place to go out then it�s not that but if you want a base to explore the surrounding nature the you should be ok. Apparently.