Cost of Living Comparison Between Uruguay and Canada Cost of Living Comparison Between Uruguay and Canada

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,020 per month in Uruguay vs $2,320 in Canada, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,623 per month in Uruguay vs $3,377 in Canada, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,226 per month in Uruguay vs $4,433 in Canada, rent included.

Uruguay is roughly 56% cheaper than Canada on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Uruguay sits 24% below the global median, while Canada is 73% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Uruguay
Canada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.81 UYU 681
$18.77 CA$26.19
-10.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1 UYU 2,150
$74.2 CA$103
-28.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.40 UYU 462
$11.25 CA$15.70
1.33%
Cappuccino
$4.19 UYU 170
$3.86 CA$5.38
8.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 UYU 94.3
$2.19 CA$3.06
6.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 UYU 74.2
$1.69 CA$2.36
8.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.85 UYU 156
$5.96 CA$8.31
-35.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 UYU 151
$5.91 CA$8.24
-37.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Uruguay
Canada
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.20 UYU 48.57
$2.29 CA$3.19
-47.60%
White Bread (500g)
$2.71 UYU 110
$2.76 CA$3.85
-1.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.66 UYU 67.3
$3.60 CA$5.03
-53.89%
Eggs
$4.22 UYU 171
$3.50 CA$4.88
20.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.50 UYU 547
$11.47 CA$16.00
17.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.74 UYU 435
$12.38 CA$17.28
-13.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.15 UYU 451
$14.97 CA$20.88
-25.52%
Apples (1kg)
$2.89 UYU 117
$4.22 CA$5.89
-31.52%
Banana (1kg)
$2.38 UYU 96.4
$1.51 CA$2.10
57.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 UYU 62.0
$3.90 CA$5.45
-60.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.23 UYU 131
$4.11 CA$5.73
-21.41%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 UYU 79.4
$2.79 CA$3.89
-29.75%
Onion (1kg)
$2.08 UYU 84.4
$2.62 CA$3.66
-20.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.26 UYU 51.1
$2.66 CA$3.71
-52.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 UYU 68.9
$1.82 CA$2.53
-6.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.06 UYU 205
$14.71 CA$20.53
-65.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.47 UYU 303
$12.87 CA$17.96
-41.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.32 UYU 94.0
$3.02 CA$4.21
-23.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93 UYU 119
$3.39 CA$4.73
-13.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Uruguay
Canada
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.20 UYU 48.59
$2.59 CA$3.62
-53.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.23 UYU 1,791
$78.1 CA$109
-43.40%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.43 UYU 57.9
$3.56 CA$4.97
-59.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.49 UYU 60.2
$1.47 CA$2.05
1.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.10 UYU 449
$29.11 CA$40.61
-61.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.95 UYU 78.8
$1.17 CA$1.63
66.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.5K UYU 1.6M
$24.6K CA$34.4K
60.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.6K UYU 1.6M
$20.5K CA$28.6K
88.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uruguay
Canada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$145 UYU 5,874
$154 CA$215
-5.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.48 UYU 708
$46.20 CA$64.5
-62.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.52 UYU 1,682
$63.1 CA$88.0
-34.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Uruguay
Canada
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.4 UYU 2,204
$42.87 CA$59.8
26.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.12 UYU 774
$17.61 CA$24.58
8.57%
Cinema Ticket
$10.12 UYU 410
$11.46 CA$15.99
-11.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Uruguay
Canada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$467 UYU 18.9K
$813 CA$1,135
-42.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,615 UYU 348.9K
$12.2K CA$17.1K
-29.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Uruguay
Canada
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.4 UYU 3,701
$56.3 CA$78.5
62.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.66 UYU 2,011
$41.36 CA$57.7
20.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 UYU 4,721
$89.0 CA$124
30.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 UYU 4,735
$106 CA$148
9.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Uruguay
Canada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$597 UYU 24.2K
$1,380 CA$1,925
-56.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$467 UYU 18.9K
$1,182 CA$1,649
-60.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 UYU 41.0K
$2,125 CA$2,965
-52.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$804 UYU 32.6K
$1,889 CA$2,635
-57.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,417 UYU 138.4K
$4,826 CA$6,734
-29.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,095 UYU 84.8K
$3,896 CA$5,436
-46.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Uruguay
Canada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,094 UYU 44.3K
$2,947 CA$4,112
-62.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
6.33
1.90%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Uruguay: June 7, 2026

Last update for Canada: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $287 in Uruguay vs $1,279 in Canada. For reference, capital cities sit at $619 in Montevideo and $1,500 in Ottawa.

Average salary: $860 in Uruguay vs $2,945 in Canada. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 346% higher in Canada.

Dining out costs 55% more in Canada.

Public transport is 124% more expensive in Canada.

Salaries are 242% higher in Canada, giving Canada 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 Canada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Canada more expensive than Uruguay?
Uruguay is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 110% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Canada, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Canada consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Uruguay, contributing to the overall 110% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget in Canada or Uruguay?
$2,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Uruguay, but in Canada it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Canada or Uruguay?
Uruguay is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

Uruguay vs other spots: cost of living compared

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