Cost of Living Comparison Between Uruguay and Argentina Cost of Living Comparison Between Uruguay and Argentina

Monthly Cost of Living

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: Uruguay 24% lower, Argentina 28% 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
$16.96 UYU 675
$11.91 ARS 16.5K
42.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.5 UYU 2,125
$50.2 ARS 69.6K
6.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.64 UYU 463
$9.88 ARS 13.7K
17.81%
Cappuccino
$4.24 UYU 169
$3.37 ARS 4,677
25.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 UYU 92.4
$1.94 ARS 2,692
19.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 UYU 70.6
$1.45 ARS 2,011
22.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.92 UYU 156
$2.95 ARS 4,088
32.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.74 UYU 149
$3.00 ARS 4,167
24.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Uruguay
Argentina
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 UYU 48.28
$1.41 ARS 1,962
-14.18%
White Bread (500g)
$2.66 UYU 106
$2.05 ARS 2,846
29.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.58 UYU 62.9
$2.05 ARS 2,850
-22.93%
Eggs
$4.31 UYU 171
$2.69 ARS 3,733
60.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.53 UYU 538
$9.98 ARS 13.8K
35.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.53 UYU 419
$6.91 ARS 9,593
52.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.08 UYU 440
$8.94 ARS 12.4K
23.94%
Apples (1kg)
$2.88 UYU 114
$2.27 ARS 3,155
26.87%
Banana (1kg)
$2.45 UYU 97.3
$2.02 ARS 2,800
21.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.47 UYU 58.6
$1.35 ARS 1,871
8.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.25 UYU 129
$2.49 ARS 3,451
30.52%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 UYU 81.2
$1.24 ARS 1,726
64.52%
Onion (1kg)
$2.09 UYU 83.0
$1.24 ARS 1,718
68.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.32 UYU 52.4
$1.60 ARS 2,219
-17.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 UYU 68.8
$1.54 ARS 2,139
12.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.07 UYU 202
$3.06 ARS 4,240
65.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.21 UYU 327
$4.89 ARS 6,792
67.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.31 UYU 91.9
$1.96 ARS 2,719
17.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 UYU 119
$3.01 ARS 4,173
-0.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Uruguay
Argentina
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.20 UYU 47.52
$0.73 ARS 1,019
64.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$43.44 UYU 1,727
$20.93 ARS 29.0K
107.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.50 UYU 59.5
$1.47 ARS 2,033
2.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 UYU 62.5
$0.97 ARS 1,346
61.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.14 UYU 443
$6.17 ARS 8,568
80.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.85 UYU 73.4
$1.14 ARS 1,576
62.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.4K UYU 1.6M
$25.3K ARS 35.1M
55.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.8K UYU 1.5M
$29.9K ARS 41.5M
29.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uruguay
Argentina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$142 UYU 5,639
$87.1 ARS 120.8K
62.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.99 UYU 715
$16.81 ARS 23.3K
7.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.63 UYU 1,655
$22.78 ARS 31.6K
82.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Uruguay
Argentina
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.9 UYU 2,181
$31.13 ARS 43.2K
76.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.02 UYU 756
$13.26 ARS 18.4K
43.44%
Cinema Ticket
$10.17 UYU 404
$6.80 ARS 9,432
49.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Uruguay
Argentina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$475 UYU 18.9K
$248 ARS 344.3K
91.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,694 UYU 345.7K
$3,649 ARS 5.1M
138.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Uruguay
Argentina
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.4 UYU 3,595
$96.3 ARS 133.6K
-6.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.93 UYU 1,985
$78.7 ARS 109.2K
-36.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 UYU 4,643
$118 ARS 163.9K
-1.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 UYU 4,730
$119 ARS 165.0K
0.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Uruguay
Argentina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$594 UYU 23.6K
$486 ARS 674.1K
22.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$467 UYU 18.6K
$339 ARS 470.2K
37.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,027 UYU 40.8K
$895 ARS 1.2M
14.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$788 UYU 31.3K
$622 ARS 862.9K
26.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,270 UYU 130.0K
$2,214 ARS 3.1M
47.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,032 UYU 80.8K
$1,571 ARS 2.2M
29.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Uruguay
Argentina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,060 UYU 42.2K
$705 ARS 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.

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