😐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: Uruguay24% lower, Argentina28% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Uruguay
Argentina
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.81UYU 680
$11.86ARS 17.2K
41.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1UYU 2,148
$49.09ARS 71.0K
8.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.40UYU 461
$10.03ARS 14.5K
13.66%
Cappuccino
$4.19UYU 170
$3.34ARS 4,829
25.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33UYU 94.2
$1.88ARS 2,724
23.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83UYU 74.2
$1.39ARS 2,014
31.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.85UYU 156
$3.06ARS 4,430
25.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72UYU 151
$3.11ARS 4,496
19.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Uruguay
Argentina
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.20UYU 48.54
$1.36ARS 1,967
-11.76%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71UYU 110
$2.03ARS 2,931
33.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.66UYU 67.2
$2.03ARS 2,937
-18.23%
Eggs
$4.22UYU 171
$2.69ARS 3,889
56.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.50UYU 546
$10.28ARS 14.9K
31.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.74UYU 435
$7.07ARS 10.2K
51.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.15UYU 451
$9.16ARS 13.3K
21.72%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89UYU 117
$2.21ARS 3,199
30.77%
Banana(1kg)
$2.38UYU 96.4
$2.10ARS 3,037
13.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53UYU 61.9
$1.30ARS 1,884
17.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.23UYU 131
$2.49ARS 3,600
29.72%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96UYU 79.3
$1.28ARS 1,846
53.12%
Onion(1kg)
$2.08UYU 84.4
$1.25ARS 1,807
66.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.26UYU 51.0
$1.59ARS 2,298
-20.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.70UYU 68.8
$1.47ARS 2,124
15.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.06UYU 205
$2.97ARS 4,290
70.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.47UYU 302
$5.06ARS 7,315
47.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.32UYU 93.9
$1.93ARS 2,790
20.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93UYU 119
$2.86ARS 4,137
2.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Uruguay
Argentina
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.20UYU 48.55
$0.78ARS 1,123
53.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$44.23UYU 1,790
$21.39ARS 30.9K
106.78%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.43UYU 57.9
$1.54ARS 2,222
-7.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.49UYU 60.2
$0.98ARS 1,420
52.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.10UYU 449
$6.08ARS 8,798
82.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.95UYU 78.7
$1.10ARS 1,584
77.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.5KUYU 1.6M
$25.5KARS 36.8M
55.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.6KUYU 1.6M
$30.8KARS 44.5M
25.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uruguay
Argentina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145UYU 5,870
$86.1ARS 124.5K
68.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.48UYU 707
$16.86ARS 24.4K
3.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.52UYU 1,680
$22.99ARS 33.2K
80.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Uruguay
Argentina
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.4UYU 2,202
$31.36ARS 45.3K
73.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.12UYU 774
$13.58ARS 19.6K
40.80%
Cinema Ticket
$10.12UYU 410
$7.07ARS 10.2K
43.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Uruguay
Argentina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$467UYU 18.9K
$253ARS 366.1K
84.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,615UYU 348.7K
$3,758ARS 5.4M
129.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Uruguay
Argentina
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.4UYU 3,699
$96.0ARS 138.7K
-4.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.66UYU 2,010
$76.8ARS 111.0K
-35.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117UYU 4,718
$119ARS 172.0K
-1.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117UYU 4,732
$118ARS 170.4K
-0.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Uruguay
Argentina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$597UYU 24.2K
$484ARS 700.4K
23.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$467UYU 18.9K
$332ARS 479.4K
40.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,012UYU 41.0K
$896ARS 1.3M
12.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$804UYU 32.5K
$624ARS 902.7K
28.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,417UYU 138.3K
$2,080ARS 3.0M
64.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,095UYU 84.8K
$1,385ARS 2.0M
51.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Uruguay
Argentina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,094UYU 44.3K
$735ARS 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.