🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,154 in Uruguay versus $1,172 in Argentina.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,755 in Uruguay versus $1,948 in Argentina.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,355 in Uruguay versus $2,724 in Argentina.
🌍Living in Uruguay costs about 2% less than in Argentina on average.
📊Both countries sit below the global median: Uruguay 16% lower, Argentina 15% lower.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in Uruguay: monthly costs span $47.00 to $1,956, compared to $868–$1,636 in Argentina. City choice carries more weight in Uruguay.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Uruguay
Argentina
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.22UYU 652
$14.68ARS 22.2K
10.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.2UYU 2,139
$55.9ARS 84.5K
-4.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.34UYU 496
$13.14ARS 19.9K
-6.09%
Cappuccino
$4.28UYU 172
$3.60ARS 5,440
18.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38UYU 95.6
$2.15ARS 3,249
10.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80UYU 72.2
$1.63ARS 2,464
10.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.03UYU 162
$3.47ARS 5,251
16.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.64UYU 146
$3.98ARS 6,014
-8.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Uruguay
Argentina
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18UYU 47.39
$1.37ARS 2,075
-13.87%
White Bread(500g)
$2.51UYU 101
$2.36ARS 3,569
6.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.68UYU 67.5
$1.79ARS 2,712
-6.15%
Eggs
$4.34UYU 175
$2.59ARS 3,915
67.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.27UYU 534
$9.87ARS 14.9K
34.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.52UYU 423
$8.23ARS 12.4K
27.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.42UYU 459
$12.05ARS 18.2K
-5.23%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64UYU 106
$2.54ARS 3,838
3.94%
Banana(1kg)
$2.48UYU 99.7
$2.16ARS 3,271
14.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.61UYU 64.6
$1.43ARS 2,160
12.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.20UYU 129
$2.44ARS 3,687
31.15%
Potato(1kg)
$1.89UYU 76.0
$1.13ARS 1,713
67.26%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07UYU 83.1
$1.09ARS 1,645
89.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.32UYU 53.2
$1.52ARS 2,294
-13.16%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.78UYU 71.6
$1.61ARS 2,431
10.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.38UYU 216
$4.01ARS 6,063
34.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.55UYU 304
$4.96ARS 7,497
52.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.19UYU 88.0
$1.90ARS 2,879
15.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69UYU 108
$2.87ARS 4,336
-6.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Uruguay
Argentina
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37UYU 55.2
$1.02ARS 1,538
34.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$73.7UYU 2,966
$28.16ARS 42.6K
161.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.90UYU 76.4
$1.62ARS 2,447
17.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.71UYU 68.9
$1.03ARS 1,553
66.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.66UYU 429
$7.67ARS 11.6K
38.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.03UYU 81.8
$1.21ARS 1,829
67.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2KUYU 1.1M
$27.3KARS 41.2M
-0.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.5KUYU 1.5M
$33.4KARS 50.5M
12.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uruguay
Argentina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$152UYU 6,099
$136ARS 205.2K
11.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.76UYU 795
$17.43ARS 26.3K
13.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.60UYU 1,593
$26.38ARS 39.9K
50.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Uruguay
Argentina
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.15UYU 1,856
$33.69ARS 50.9K
36.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.44UYU 782
$19.06ARS 28.8K
1.99%
Cinema Ticket
$11.13UYU 448
$9.81ARS 14.8K
13.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Uruguay
Argentina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$582UYU 23.4K
$336ARS 508.4K
73.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,004UYU 362.2K
$6,330ARS 9.6M
42.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Uruguay
Argentina
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6UYU 3,444
$104ARS 156.5K
-17.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.1UYU 2,053
$80.5ARS 121.6K
-36.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$121UYU 4,855
$124ARS 186.7K
-2.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111UYU 4,471
$119ARS 180.3K
-6.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Uruguay
Argentina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$664UYU 26.7K
$514ARS 776.7K
29.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$528UYU 21.2K
$367ARS 554.4K
43.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,072UYU 43.1K
$1,056ARS 1.6M
1.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$850UYU 34.2K
$807ARS 1.2M
5.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,370UYU 135.5K
$2,231ARS 3.4M
51.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,879UYU 75.6K
$1,443ARS 2.2M
30.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Uruguay
Argentina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,058UYU 42.5K
$762ARS 1.2M
38.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.75
59.9
-90.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Uruguay: September 5, 2026
Last update for Argentina: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $338 in Uruguay, $478 in Argentina. Capital cities: $762 in Montevideo vs $714 in Buenos Aires.
💰National salary averages: $865 in Uruguay, $763 in Argentina. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 41% higher in Argentina.
⭐Dining out costs 21% more in Argentina.
⭐Public transport is 225% more expensive in Uruguay.
⭐Salaries are 13% 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 $1,252 per month in Argentina and $1,002 in Uruguay, there's a 25% 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?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Uruguay: 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 Argentina is consistently higher than in Uruguay across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget in Argentina or in Uruguay?
In Uruguay, $2,500 covers most cities easily; in Argentina it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Argentina or to Uruguay?
It depends on what you're after: Uruguay wins on affordability; Argentina may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.