Money at Arturo Merino Benítez International (SCL)
Currency, tipping and cash-vs-card for arrivals at Santiago, Chile.
Santiago uses the CLP ($). Expected airport→city taxi fare is roughly CLP 1900–CLP 25000. Card usually accepted; small CLP for taxis.
Airport currency kiosks quote rates 5–15% worse than any bank ATM inside the terminal. If you need cash on landing, use an in-terminal bank ATM — not the "0% commission" kiosks (the margin is in the rate).
Frequently asked
Q.What currency is used at Arturo Merino Benítez International (SCL)?
Chile uses the CLP ($). Airport ATMs dispense CLP directly — skip the exchange kiosks.
Q.How much should a taxi from SCL to the city cost?
Expected fare on the SCL → Centro route is roughly CLP 1900–CLP 25000. Around CLP 35000+ is already high, and CLP 45000+ unofficial is a scam quote — confirm the meter or a printed rate before you get in.
Q.Do I tip taxi drivers at SCL?
Not expected — round up. Drivers in Chile don't rely on tips the way US drivers do; inflated "tips" are sometimes used to justify an overcharge — pay the metered fare first, then decide.
Q.Cash or card for a taxi at SCL?
Card usually accepted; small CLP for taxis. "Card machine broken" is the most common excuse to force a cash overpay — carry a small stack of CLP notes and you keep the leverage.
Q.Should I change money at SCL?
Only if you need $10–20 of CLP to cover a taxi or a SIM card. Airport exchange kiosks quote 5–15% worse than a bank ATM in the same terminal. If your card has no FX fee, just pay by card and skip cash entirely.
Every transport option ranked, fare tiers, first-30-minute checklist and reported scams.