Cost of Living Comparison Between Punta del Este and Artigas Cost of Living Comparison Between Punta del Este and Artigas

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,094 in Punta del Este versus $311 in Artigas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,316 in Punta del Este versus $367 in Artigas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,537 in Punta del Este versus $424 in Artigas.

Living in Punta del Este is roughly 574% more expensive than Artigas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Punta del Este is 56% above, Artigas is 77% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.35 UYU 739

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.5 UYU 2,075

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.51 UYU 463

Cappuccino

$4.50 UYU 181

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 UYU 145

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 UYU 111

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.64 UYU 147

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.01 UYU 202

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 UYU 53.9

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 UYU 98.8

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 UYU 87.6

Eggs

$3.95 UYU 159

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.91 UYU 560

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.96 UYU 522

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.41 UYU 500

Apples (1kg)

$3.04 UYU 122

Banana (1kg)

$3.62 UYU 146

Oranges (1kg)

$1.99 UYU 80.0

Tomato (1kg)

$3.58 UYU 144

Potato (1kg)

$2.23 UYU 89.8

Onion (1kg)

$2.01 UYU 81.0

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.31 UYU 52.7

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 UYU 78.0

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.79 UYU 193

Wine (Bottle)

$7.96 UYU 320

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.18 UYU 128

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.10 UYU 205

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 UYU 55.3

$1.21 UYU 48.67

13.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.46 UYU 1,951

$44.57 UYU 1,795

8.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.45 UYU 58.2

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.43 UYU 138

$1.57 UYU 63.3

118.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.43 UYU 541

$10.96 UYU 441

22.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.86 UYU 74.9

$2.40 UYU 96.8

-22.50%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.9K UYU 1.2M

$38.9K UYU 1.6M

-23.15%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$34.4K UYU 1.4M

$39.4K UYU 1.6M

-12.73%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$94.9 UYU 3,822

$174 UYU 6,996

-45.36%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$15.87 UYU 639

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.15 UYU 1,617

$39.02 UYU 1,571

2.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.8 UYU 3,175

$29.31 UYU 1,180

168.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.64 UYU 992

Cinema Ticket

$9.99 UYU 402

$8.64 UYU 348

15.62%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$628 UYU 25.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,454 UYU 300.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$123 UYU 4,942

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.3 UYU 2,551

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$141 UYU 5,673

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$149 UYU 5,993

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,129 UYU 45.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$899 UYU 36.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,542 UYU 102.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,890 UYU 76.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,195 UYU 128.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,025 UYU 81.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,122 UYU 45.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Punta del Este: June 1, 2026

Last update for Artigas: May 31, 2026

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

Punta del Este vs Artigas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Artigas wins on cost – living expenses run 574% lower than in Punta del Este. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Artigas the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $3,141 in Punta del Este and $466 in Artigas to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

A monthly transit pass in Artigas runs roughly 9% less than in Punta del Este. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

All in, you'll spend $2,094 per month in Punta del Este versus $311 in Artigas – a 574% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $311 in Artigas versus $2,094 in Punta del Este, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Artigas but tight or insufficient in Punta del Este. The gap between the two cities makes Artigas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Punta del Este and Artigas are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Artigas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 574% less than in Punta del Este. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.