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: $1,020 in Uruguay versus $967 in Argentina.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,623 in Uruguay versus $1,577 in Argentina.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,226 in Uruguay versus $2,186 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.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Uruguay
Argentina
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.81 UYU 680
$11.86 ARS 17.2K
41.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1 UYU 2,148
$49.09 ARS 71.0K
8.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.40 UYU 461
$10.03 ARS 14.5K
13.66%
Cappuccino
$4.19 UYU 170
$3.34 ARS 4,829
25.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 UYU 94.2
$1.88 ARS 2,724
23.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 UYU 74.2
$1.39 ARS 2,014
31.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.85 UYU 156
$3.06 ARS 4,430
25.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 UYU 151
$3.11 ARS 4,496
19.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Uruguay
Argentina
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.20 UYU 48.54
$1.36 ARS 1,967
-11.76%
White Bread (500g)
$2.71 UYU 110
$2.03 ARS 2,931
33.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.66 UYU 67.2
$2.03 ARS 2,937
-18.23%
Eggs
$4.22 UYU 171
$2.69 ARS 3,889
56.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.50 UYU 546
$10.28 ARS 14.9K
31.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.74 UYU 435
$7.07 ARS 10.2K
51.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.15 UYU 451
$9.16 ARS 13.3K
21.72%
Apples (1kg)
$2.89 UYU 117
$2.21 ARS 3,199
30.77%
Banana (1kg)
$2.38 UYU 96.4
$2.10 ARS 3,037
13.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 UYU 61.9
$1.30 ARS 1,884
17.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.23 UYU 131
$2.49 ARS 3,600
29.72%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 UYU 79.3
$1.28 ARS 1,846
53.12%
Onion (1kg)
$2.08 UYU 84.4
$1.25 ARS 1,807
66.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.26 UYU 51.0
$1.59 ARS 2,298
-20.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 UYU 68.8
$1.47 ARS 2,124
15.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.06 UYU 205
$2.97 ARS 4,290
70.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.47 UYU 302
$5.06 ARS 7,315
47.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.32 UYU 93.9
$1.93 ARS 2,790
20.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93 UYU 119
$2.86 ARS 4,137
2.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Uruguay
Argentina
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.20 UYU 48.55
$0.78 ARS 1,123
53.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.23 UYU 1,790
$21.39 ARS 30.9K
106.78%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.43 UYU 57.9
$1.54 ARS 2,222
-7.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.49 UYU 60.2
$0.98 ARS 1,420
52.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.10 UYU 449
$6.08 ARS 8,798
82.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.95 UYU 78.7
$1.10 ARS 1,584
77.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.5K UYU 1.6M
$25.5K ARS 36.8M
55.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.6K UYU 1.6M
$30.8K ARS 44.5M
25.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uruguay
Argentina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$145 UYU 5,870
$86.1 ARS 124.5K
68.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.48 UYU 707
$16.86 ARS 24.4K
3.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.52 UYU 1,680
$22.99 ARS 33.2K
80.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Uruguay
Argentina
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.4 UYU 2,202
$31.36 ARS 45.3K
73.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.12 UYU 774
$13.58 ARS 19.6K
40.80%
Cinema Ticket
$10.12 UYU 410
$7.07 ARS 10.2K
43.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Uruguay
Argentina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$467 UYU 18.9K
$253 ARS 366.1K
84.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,615 UYU 348.7K
$3,758 ARS 5.4M
129.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Uruguay
Argentina
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.4 UYU 3,699
$96.0 ARS 138.7K
-4.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.66 UYU 2,010
$76.8 ARS 111.0K
-35.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 UYU 4,718
$119 ARS 172.0K
-1.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 UYU 4,732
$118 ARS 170.4K
-0.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Uruguay
Argentina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$597 UYU 24.2K
$484 ARS 700.4K
23.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$467 UYU 18.9K
$332 ARS 479.4K
40.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 UYU 41.0K
$896 ARS 1.3M
12.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$804 UYU 32.5K
$624 ARS 902.7K
28.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,417 UYU 138.3K
$2,080 ARS 3.0M
64.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,095 UYU 84.8K
$1,385 ARS 2.0M
51.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Uruguay
Argentina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,094 UYU 44.3K
$735 ARS 1.1M
48.91%
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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Argentina: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $287 in Uruguay, $352 in Argentina. Capital cities: $619 in Montevideo vs $659 in Buenos Aires.

National salary averages: $860 in Uruguay, $718 in Argentina. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 23% higher in Argentina.

Dining out costs 26% more in Uruguay.

Public transport is 480% more expensive in Uruguay.

Salaries are 20% 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
Uruguay vs Argentina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Argentina and Uruguay?
At $1,012 per month in Argentina and $1,049 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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