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: $1,086 in Chile versus $1,009 in Uruguay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,656 in Chile versus $1,611 in Uruguay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,225 in Chile versus $2,212 in Uruguay.

Living in Chile is roughly 8% more expensive than in Uruguay on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Chile 19% lower, Uruguay 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chile
Uruguay
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.65 CLP 8,200
$17.02 UYU 683
-49.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.96 CLP 41.7K
$54.4 UYU 2,183
-19.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.69 CLP 7,298
$11.51 UYU 462
-33.19%
Cappuccino
$2.86 CLP 2,710
$4.14 UYU 166
-30.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 CLP 1,339
$2.34 UYU 93.9
-39.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04 CLP 987
$1.84 UYU 73.8
-43.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.30 CLP 3,133
$3.88 UYU 156
-14.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.84 CLP 3,646
$3.57 UYU 143
7.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chile
Uruguay
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 CLP 1,148
$1.16 UYU 46.38
4.31%
White Bread (500g)
$1.55 CLP 1,472
$2.69 UYU 108
-42.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 CLP 1,680
$1.67 UYU 66.9
5.99%
Eggs
$3.58 CLP 3,396
$4.26 UYU 171
-15.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.70 CLP 10.2K
$13.40 UYU 538
-20.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.02 CLP 5,705
$10.70 UYU 430
-43.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.13 CLP 10.6K
$11.09 UYU 445
0.36%
Apples (1kg)
$1.95 CLP 1,847
$2.78 UYU 112
-29.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 CLP 1,572
$2.45 UYU 98.5
-32.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 CLP 1,797
$1.45 UYU 58.4
30.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.70 CLP 1,613
$3.28 UYU 132
-48.17%
Potato (1kg)
$1.50 CLP 1,425
$2.05 UYU 82.4
-26.83%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 CLP 1,504
$2.01 UYU 80.6
-20.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.25 CLP 1,182
$1.25 UYU 50.2
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 CLP 1,137
$1.70 UYU 68.4
-29.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.49 CLP 5,204
$5.06 UYU 203
8.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.24 CLP 4,973
$7.49 UYU 301
-30.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50 CLP 1,427
$2.31 UYU 92.7
-35.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 CLP 2,132
$2.93 UYU 118
-23.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Chile
Uruguay
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 CLP 800
$1.24 UYU 49.83
-32.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.27 CLP 38.2K
$43.79 UYU 1,758
-8.04%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.89 CLP 841
$1.44 UYU 57.6
-38.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 CLP 1,501
$1.52 UYU 60.9
3.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.18 CLP 12.5K
$10.82 UYU 434
21.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.42 CLP 1,349
$1.94 UYU 78.0
-26.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K CLP 17.6M
$38.6K UYU 1.6M
-52.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.6K CLP 19.6M
$37.8K UYU 1.5M
-45.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chile
Uruguay
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$114 CLP 108.5K
$143 UYU 5,745
-20.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.29 CLP 11.7K
$17.93 UYU 720
-31.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.97 CLP 21.8K
$42.43 UYU 1,703
-45.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chile
Uruguay
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.33 CLP 34.5K
$55.7 UYU 2,237
-34.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.56 CLP 19.5K
$18.74 UYU 752
9.71%
Cinema Ticket
$5.70 CLP 5,401
$10.09 UYU 405
-43.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chile
Uruguay
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$376 CLP 356.7K
$467 UYU 18.7K
-19.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,345 CLP 6.0M
$8,602 UYU 345.3K
-26.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chile
Uruguay
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.63 CLP 45.2K
$92.2 UYU 3,702
-48.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.36 CLP 27.8K
$50.1 UYU 2,011
-41.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$65.6 CLP 62.2K
$114 UYU 4,582
-42.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.8 CLP 72.9K
$117 UYU 4,686
-34.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chile
Uruguay
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$467 CLP 442.8K
$601 UYU 24.1K
-22.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$386 CLP 366.0K
$463 UYU 18.6K
-16.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$830 CLP 786.9K
$1,025 UYU 41.2K
-19.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$671 CLP 636.6K
$798 UYU 32.0K
-15.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,299 CLP 2.2M
$3,373 UYU 135.4K
-31.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,027 CLP 1.9M
$2,074 UYU 83.3K
-2.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chile
Uruguay
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$692 CLP 656.7K
$1,081 UYU 43.4K
-35.93%
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: July 19, 2026

Last update for Uruguay: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $475 in Chile, $286 in Uruguay. Capital cities: $520 in Santiago vs $615 in Montevideo.

National salary averages: $713 in Chile, $857 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 20% higher in Uruguay, and purchasing power comes out stronger 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
Chile vs Uruguay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Chile and Uruguay?
At $1,134 per month in Chile and $1,009 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?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Uruguay: 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 Chile is consistently higher than in Uruguay across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget in Chile or in Uruguay?
In Uruguay, $2,500 covers most cities easily; in Chile it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Chile or to Uruguay?
It depends on what you're after: Uruguay wins on affordability; Chile may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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