Cost of Living Comparison Between Argentina and Uruguay Cost of Living Comparison Between Argentina and Uruguay

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $966 in Argentina versus $1,018 in Uruguay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,580 in Argentina versus $1,616 in Uruguay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,194 in Argentina versus $2,214 in Uruguay.

Living in Argentina costs about 5% less than in Uruguay on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Argentina 28% lower, Uruguay 24% lower.

Internal cost variation is higher in Uruguay: monthly costs span $0 to $2,092, compared to $614$1,398 in Argentina. City choice carries more weight in Uruguay.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Argentina
Uruguay
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.91 ARS 16.5K
$16.96 UYU 675
-29.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.2 ARS 69.6K
$53.5 UYU 2,125
-6.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.88 ARS 13.7K
$11.64 UYU 463
-15.12%
Cappuccino
$3.37 ARS 4,677
$4.24 UYU 169
-20.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 ARS 2,692
$2.32 UYU 92.4
-16.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 ARS 2,011
$1.78 UYU 70.6
-18.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 ARS 4,088
$3.92 UYU 156
-24.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 ARS 4,167
$3.74 UYU 149
-19.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Argentina
Uruguay
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 ARS 1,962
$1.21 UYU 48.28
16.53%
White Bread (500g)
$2.05 ARS 2,846
$2.66 UYU 106
-22.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.05 ARS 2,850
$1.58 UYU 62.9
29.75%
Eggs
$2.69 ARS 3,733
$4.31 UYU 171
-37.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.98 ARS 13.8K
$13.53 UYU 538
-26.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.91 ARS 9,593
$10.53 UYU 419
-34.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.94 ARS 12.4K
$11.08 UYU 440
-19.31%
Apples (1kg)
$2.27 ARS 3,155
$2.88 UYU 114
-21.18%
Banana (1kg)
$2.02 ARS 2,800
$2.45 UYU 97.3
-17.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.35 ARS 1,871
$1.47 UYU 58.6
-8.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.49 ARS 3,451
$3.25 UYU 129
-23.38%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 ARS 1,726
$2.04 UYU 81.2
-39.22%
Onion (1kg)
$1.24 ARS 1,718
$2.09 UYU 83.0
-40.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.60 ARS 2,219
$1.32 UYU 52.4
21.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 ARS 2,139
$1.73 UYU 68.8
-10.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.06 ARS 4,240
$5.07 UYU 202
-39.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.89 ARS 6,792
$8.21 UYU 327
-40.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.96 ARS 2,719
$2.31 UYU 91.9
-15.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 ARS 4,173
$3.00 UYU 119
0.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Argentina
Uruguay
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.73 ARS 1,019
$1.20 UYU 47.52
-39.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.93 ARS 29.0K
$43.44 UYU 1,727
-51.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 ARS 2,033
$1.50 UYU 59.5
-2.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.97 ARS 1,346
$1.57 UYU 62.5
-38.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.17 ARS 8,568
$11.14 UYU 443
-44.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ARS 1,576
$1.85 UYU 73.4
-38.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.3K ARS 35.1M
$39.4K UYU 1.6M
-35.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.9K ARS 41.5M
$38.8K UYU 1.5M
-22.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Argentina
Uruguay
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$87.1 ARS 120.8K
$142 UYU 5,639
-38.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.81 ARS 23.3K
$17.99 UYU 715
-6.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.78 ARS 31.6K
$41.63 UYU 1,655
-45.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Argentina
Uruguay
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.13 ARS 43.2K
$54.9 UYU 2,181
-43.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.26 ARS 18.4K
$19.02 UYU 756
-30.28%
Cinema Ticket
$6.80 ARS 9,432
$10.17 UYU 404
-33.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Argentina
Uruguay
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$248 ARS 344.3K
$475 UYU 18.9K
-47.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,649 ARS 5.1M
$8,694 UYU 345.7K
-58.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Argentina
Uruguay
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$96.3 ARS 133.6K
$90.4 UYU 3,595
6.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$78.7 ARS 109.2K
$49.93 UYU 1,985
57.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ARS 163.9K
$117 UYU 4,643
1.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 ARS 165.0K
$119 UYU 4,730
-0.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Argentina
Uruguay
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$486 ARS 674.1K
$594 UYU 23.6K
-18.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$339 ARS 470.2K
$467 UYU 18.6K
-27.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$895 ARS 1.2M
$1,027 UYU 40.8K
-12.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$622 ARS 862.9K
$788 UYU 31.3K
-21.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,214 ARS 3.1M
$3,270 UYU 130.0K
-32.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,571 ARS 2.2M
$2,032 UYU 80.8K
-22.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Argentina
Uruguay
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$705 ARS 978.8K
$1,060 UYU 42.2K
-33.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
65.53
6.45
915.97%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Argentina: April 20, 2026

Last update for Uruguay: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $352 in Argentina, $285 in Uruguay. Capital cities: $641 in Buenos Aires vs $615 in Montevideo.

National salary averages: $702 in Argentina, $841 in Uruguay. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 24% higher in Argentina.

Dining out costs 26% more in Uruguay.

Public transport is 480% more expensive in Uruguay.

Salaries are 20% higher in Uruguay.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Argentina vs Uruguay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Argentina and Uruguay?
At $1,006 per month in Argentina and $1,046 in Uruguay, there's a 4% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Argentina is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in Uruguay beats Argentina across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Argentina or Uruguay?
In Argentina, $1,500 covers most cities easily. In Uruguay, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Argentina or Uruguay?
It depends on what you're after. Argentina wins on affordability; Uruguay may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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