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: $967 in Argentina versus $1,020 in Uruguay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,577 in Argentina versus $1,623 in Uruguay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,186 in Argentina versus $2,226 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.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Argentina
Uruguay
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.86 ARS 17.1K
$16.81 UYU 681
-29.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.09 ARS 70.7K
$53.1 UYU 2,150
-7.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.03 ARS 14.4K
$11.40 UYU 462
-12.02%
Cappuccino
$3.34 ARS 4,812
$4.19 UYU 170
-20.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88 ARS 2,715
$2.33 UYU 94.3
-19.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39 ARS 2,007
$1.83 UYU 74.2
-24.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.06 ARS 4,414
$3.85 UYU 156
-20.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 ARS 4,481
$3.72 UYU 151
-16.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Argentina
Uruguay
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 ARS 1,960
$1.20 UYU 48.57
13.33%
White Bread (500g)
$2.03 ARS 2,921
$2.71 UYU 110
-25.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.03 ARS 2,927
$1.66 UYU 67.3
22.29%
Eggs
$2.69 ARS 3,875
$4.22 UYU 171
-36.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.28 ARS 14.8K
$13.50 UYU 547
-23.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.07 ARS 10.2K
$10.74 UYU 435
-34.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.16 ARS 13.2K
$11.15 UYU 451
-17.85%
Apples (1kg)
$2.21 ARS 3,188
$2.89 UYU 117
-23.53%
Banana (1kg)
$2.10 ARS 3,027
$2.38 UYU 96.4
-11.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.30 ARS 1,877
$1.53 UYU 62.0
-15.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.49 ARS 3,588
$3.23 UYU 131
-22.91%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ARS 1,840
$1.96 UYU 79.4
-34.69%
Onion (1kg)
$1.25 ARS 1,800
$2.08 UYU 84.4
-39.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.59 ARS 2,290
$1.26 UYU 51.1
26.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.47 ARS 2,117
$1.70 UYU 68.9
-13.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.97 ARS 4,275
$5.06 UYU 205
-41.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.06 ARS 7,289
$7.47 UYU 303
-32.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.93 ARS 2,781
$2.32 UYU 94.0
-16.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 ARS 4,123
$2.93 UYU 119
-2.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Argentina
Uruguay
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.78 ARS 1,119
$1.20 UYU 48.59
-35.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.39 ARS 30.8K
$44.23 UYU 1,791
-51.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.54 ARS 2,215
$1.43 UYU 57.9
7.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.98 ARS 1,415
$1.49 UYU 60.2
-34.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.08 ARS 8,768
$11.10 UYU 449
-45.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 ARS 1,578
$1.95 UYU 78.8
-43.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.5K ARS 36.7M
$39.5K UYU 1.6M
-35.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.8K ARS 44.3M
$38.6K UYU 1.6M
-20.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Argentina
Uruguay
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$86.1 ARS 124.0K
$145 UYU 5,874
-40.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.86 ARS 24.3K
$17.48 UYU 708
-3.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.99 ARS 33.1K
$41.52 UYU 1,682
-44.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Argentina
Uruguay
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.36 ARS 45.2K
$54.4 UYU 2,204
-42.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.58 ARS 19.6K
$19.12 UYU 774
-28.97%
Cinema Ticket
$7.07 ARS 10.2K
$10.12 UYU 410
-30.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Argentina
Uruguay
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$253 ARS 364.8K
$467 UYU 18.9K
-45.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,758 ARS 5.4M
$8,615 UYU 348.9K
-56.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Argentina
Uruguay
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$96.0 ARS 138.3K
$91.4 UYU 3,701
4.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$76.8 ARS 110.6K
$49.66 UYU 2,011
54.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$119 ARS 171.4K
$117 UYU 4,721
2.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 ARS 169.8K
$117 UYU 4,735
0.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Argentina
Uruguay
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$484 ARS 697.9K
$597 UYU 24.2K
-18.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$332 ARS 477.7K
$467 UYU 18.9K
-29.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$896 ARS 1.3M
$1,012 UYU 41.0K
-11.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$624 ARS 899.6K
$804 UYU 32.6K
-22.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,080 ARS 3.0M
$3,417 UYU 138.4K
-39.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,385 ARS 2.0M
$2,095 UYU 84.8K
-33.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Argentina
Uruguay
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$735 ARS 1.1M
$1,094 UYU 44.3K
-32.85%
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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Uruguay: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $352 in Argentina, $287 in Uruguay. Capital cities: $659 in Buenos Aires vs $619 in Montevideo.

National salary averages: $718 in Argentina, $860 in Uruguay. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 23% higher in Argentina.

Dining out costs 26% more in Uruguay.

Public transport is 480% more expensive in Uruguay.

Salaries are 20% higher in Uruguay, giving Uruguay stronger purchasing power.

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 $1,012 per month in Argentina and $1,049 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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