😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,018 in Uruguay versus $966 in Argentina.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,616 in Uruguay versus $1,580 in Argentina.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,214 in Uruguay versus $2,194 in Argentina.
😐Living in Uruguay is roughly 5% more expensive than Argentina on average.
📊Both countries sit below the global median: Uruguay24% lower, Argentina28% 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
Uruguay
Argentina
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.96UYU 675
$11.91ARS 16.5K
42.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.5UYU 2,125
$50.2ARS 69.6K
6.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.64UYU 463
$9.88ARS 13.7K
17.81%
Cappuccino
$4.24UYU 169
$3.37ARS 4,677
25.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32UYU 92.4
$1.94ARS 2,692
19.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78UYU 70.6
$1.45ARS 2,011
22.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.92UYU 156
$2.95ARS 4,088
32.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.74UYU 149
$3.00ARS 4,167
24.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Uruguay
Argentina
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21UYU 48.28
$1.41ARS 1,962
-14.18%
White Bread(500g)
$2.66UYU 106
$2.05ARS 2,846
29.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58UYU 62.9
$2.05ARS 2,850
-22.93%
Eggs
$4.31UYU 171
$2.69ARS 3,733
60.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.53UYU 538
$9.98ARS 13.8K
35.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.53UYU 419
$6.91ARS 9,593
52.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.08UYU 440
$8.94ARS 12.4K
23.94%
Apples(1kg)
$2.88UYU 114
$2.27ARS 3,155
26.87%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45UYU 97.3
$2.02ARS 2,800
21.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.47UYU 58.6
$1.35ARS 1,871
8.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.25UYU 129
$2.49ARS 3,451
30.52%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04UYU 81.2
$1.24ARS 1,726
64.52%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09UYU 83.0
$1.24ARS 1,718
68.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.32UYU 52.4
$1.60ARS 2,219
-17.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.73UYU 68.8
$1.54ARS 2,139
12.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.07UYU 202
$3.06ARS 4,240
65.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.21UYU 327
$4.89ARS 6,792
67.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.31UYU 91.9
$1.96ARS 2,719
17.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00UYU 119
$3.01ARS 4,173
-0.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Uruguay
Argentina
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.20UYU 47.52
$0.73ARS 1,019
64.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.44UYU 1,727
$20.93ARS 29.0K
107.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50UYU 59.5
$1.47ARS 2,033
2.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.57UYU 62.5
$0.97ARS 1,346
61.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.14UYU 443
$6.17ARS 8,568
80.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.85UYU 73.4
$1.14ARS 1,576
62.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.4KUYU 1.6M
$25.3KARS 35.1M
55.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.8KUYU 1.5M
$29.9KARS 41.5M
29.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uruguay
Argentina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$142UYU 5,639
$87.1ARS 120.8K
62.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.99UYU 715
$16.81ARS 23.3K
7.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.63UYU 1,655
$22.78ARS 31.6K
82.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Uruguay
Argentina
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.9UYU 2,181
$31.13ARS 43.2K
76.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.02UYU 756
$13.26ARS 18.4K
43.44%
Cinema Ticket
$10.17UYU 404
$6.80ARS 9,432
49.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Uruguay
Argentina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$475UYU 18.9K
$248ARS 344.3K
91.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,694UYU 345.7K
$3,649ARS 5.1M
138.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Uruguay
Argentina
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.4UYU 3,595
$96.3ARS 133.6K
-6.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.93UYU 1,985
$78.7ARS 109.2K
-36.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117UYU 4,643
$118ARS 163.9K
-1.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119UYU 4,730
$119ARS 165.0K
0.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Uruguay
Argentina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$594UYU 23.6K
$486ARS 674.1K
22.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$467UYU 18.6K
$339ARS 470.2K
37.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,027UYU 40.8K
$895ARS 1.2M
14.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$788UYU 31.3K
$622ARS 862.9K
26.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,270UYU 130.0K
$2,214ARS 3.1M
47.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,032UYU 80.8K
$1,571ARS 2.2M
29.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Uruguay
Argentina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,060UYU 42.2K
$705ARS 978.8K
50.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.45
65.53
-90.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Uruguay: April 22, 2026
Last update for Argentina: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $285 in Uruguay, $352 in Argentina. Capital cities: $615 in Montevideo vs $641 in Buenos Aires.
💰National salary averages: $841 in Uruguay, $702 in Argentina. 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
Uruguay vs Argentina: 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.