Cost of Living Comparison Between Chile and Uruguay Cost of Living Comparison Between Chile and Uruguay

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,072 in Chile versus $1,018 in Uruguay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,638 in Chile versus $1,616 in Uruguay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,204 in Chile versus $2,214 in Uruguay.

Living in Chile is roughly 5% more expensive than Uruguay on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Chile 20% lower, Uruguay 24% lower.

Internal cost variation is higher in Uruguay: monthly costs span $0 to $2,092, compared to $537$1,323 in Chile. City choice carries more weight in Uruguay.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chile
Uruguay
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.48 CLP 7,531
$16.96 UYU 675
-50.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.44 CLP 37.7K
$53.5 UYU 2,125
-20.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.50 CLP 6,664
$11.64 UYU 463
-35.57%
Cappuccino
$2.98 CLP 2,651
$4.24 UYU 169
-29.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 CLP 1,260
$2.32 UYU 92.4
-38.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 CLP 967
$1.78 UYU 70.6
-38.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.32 CLP 2,954
$3.92 UYU 156
-15.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80 CLP 3,374
$3.74 UYU 149
1.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chile
Uruguay
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 CLP 1,084
$1.21 UYU 48.28
0.83%
White Bread (500g)
$1.56 CLP 1,382
$2.66 UYU 106
-41.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 CLP 1,524
$1.58 UYU 62.9
8.23%
Eggs
$3.62 CLP 3,216
$4.31 UYU 171
-16.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.61 CLP 9,432
$13.53 UYU 538
-21.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.15 CLP 5,466
$10.53 UYU 419
-41.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.94 CLP 9,717
$11.08 UYU 440
-1.26%
Apples (1kg)
$1.87 CLP 1,658
$2.88 UYU 114
-35.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 CLP 1,475
$2.45 UYU 97.3
-32.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 CLP 1,677
$1.47 UYU 58.6
28.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.75 CLP 1,556
$3.25 UYU 129
-46.15%
Potato (1kg)
$1.49 CLP 1,324
$2.04 UYU 81.2
-26.96%
Onion (1kg)
$1.56 CLP 1,383
$2.09 UYU 83.0
-25.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.31 CLP 1,162
$1.32 UYU 52.4
-0.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 CLP 1,058
$1.73 UYU 68.8
-31.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.50 CLP 4,888
$5.07 UYU 202
8.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.47 CLP 4,863
$8.21 UYU 327
-33.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.46 CLP 1,296
$2.31 UYU 91.9
-36.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 CLP 2,015
$3.00 UYU 119
-24.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Chile
Uruguay
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.82 CLP 730
$1.20 UYU 47.52
-31.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.59 CLP 36.1K
$43.44 UYU 1,727
-6.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.83 CLP 741
$1.50 UYU 59.5
-44.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.61 CLP 1,433
$1.57 UYU 62.5
2.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.03 CLP 11.6K
$11.14 UYU 443
16.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 CLP 1,271
$1.85 UYU 73.4
-22.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.8K CLP 16.7M
$39.4K UYU 1.6M
-52.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K CLP 17.8M
$38.8K UYU 1.5M
-48.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chile
Uruguay
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$112 CLP 99.6K
$142 UYU 5,639
-20.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.52 CLP 11.1K
$17.99 UYU 715
-30.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.81 CLP 20.3K
$41.63 UYU 1,655
-45.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chile
Uruguay
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.39 CLP 32.3K
$54.9 UYU 2,181
-33.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.04 CLP 17.8K
$19.02 UYU 756
5.36%
Cinema Ticket
$5.70 CLP 5,066
$10.17 UYU 404
-43.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chile
Uruguay
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$384 CLP 341.0K
$475 UYU 18.9K
-19.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,224 CLP 5.5M
$8,694 UYU 345.7K
-28.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chile
Uruguay
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.77 CLP 42.4K
$90.4 UYU 3,595
-47.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.41 CLP 26.1K
$49.93 UYU 1,985
-41.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$64.9 CLP 57.7K
$117 UYU 4,643
-44.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 CLP 69.2K
$119 UYU 4,730
-34.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chile
Uruguay
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$468 CLP 415.8K
$594 UYU 23.6K
-21.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$385 CLP 342.5K
$467 UYU 18.6K
-17.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$826 CLP 733.6K
$1,027 UYU 40.8K
-19.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$665 CLP 590.6K
$788 UYU 31.3K
-15.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,323 CLP 2.1M
$3,270 UYU 130.0K
-28.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,131 CLP 1.9M
$2,032 UYU 80.8K
4.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chile
Uruguay
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$716 CLP 636.3K
$1,060 UYU 42.2K
-32.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.09
6.45
-21.09%

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

Last update for Chile: April 22, 2026

Last update for Uruguay: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $473 in Chile, $285 in Uruguay. Capital cities: $517 in Santiago vs $615 in Montevideo.

National salary averages: $747 in Chile, $841 in Uruguay. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 66% higher in Chile.

Public transport is 263% more expensive in Uruguay.

Salaries are 13% 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
Chile vs Uruguay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Chile and Uruguay?
At $930 per month in Chile and $1,046 in Uruguay, there's a 12% 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?
Chile 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 Chile 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 Chile or Uruguay?
In Chile, $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 Chile or Uruguay?
It depends on what you're after. Chile 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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