Cost of Living Comparison Between Uruguay and Chile Cost of Living Comparison Between Uruguay and Chile

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,020 in Uruguay versus $1,084 in Chile.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,623 in Uruguay versus $1,655 in Chile.

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

Living in Uruguay costs about 6% less than in Chile on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Uruguay 24% lower, Chile 19% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.81 UYU 681
$8.84 CLP 8,103
90.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1 UYU 2,150
$42.89 CLP 39.3K
23.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.40 UYU 462
$7.42 CLP 6,802
53.64%
Cappuccino
$4.19 UYU 170
$2.92 CLP 2,676
43.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 UYU 94.3
$1.36 CLP 1,250
71.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 UYU 74.2
$1.09 CLP 998
67.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.85 UYU 156
$3.27 CLP 2,997
17.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 UYU 151
$3.84 CLP 3,525
-3.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.20 UYU 48.57
$1.24 CLP 1,133
-3.23%
White Bread (500g)
$2.71 UYU 110
$1.62 CLP 1,481
67.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.66 UYU 67.3
$1.77 CLP 1,627
-6.21%
Eggs
$4.22 UYU 171
$3.71 CLP 3,399
13.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.50 UYU 547
$10.49 CLP 9,618
28.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.74 UYU 435
$6.23 CLP 5,716
72.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.15 UYU 451
$11.00 CLP 10.1K
1.36%
Apples (1kg)
$2.89 UYU 117
$1.89 CLP 1,734
52.91%
Banana (1kg)
$2.38 UYU 96.4
$1.71 CLP 1,567
39.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 UYU 62.0
$1.84 CLP 1,682
-16.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.23 UYU 131
$1.71 CLP 1,570
88.89%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 UYU 79.4
$1.48 CLP 1,360
32.43%
Onion (1kg)
$2.08 UYU 84.4
$1.57 CLP 1,442
32.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.26 UYU 51.1
$1.26 CLP 1,152
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 UYU 68.9
$1.20 CLP 1,103
41.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.06 UYU 205
$5.44 CLP 4,985
-6.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.47 UYU 303
$5.52 CLP 5,062
35.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.32 UYU 94.0
$1.44 CLP 1,325
61.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93 UYU 119
$2.30 CLP 2,108
27.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.20 UYU 48.59
$0.84 CLP 770
42.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.23 UYU 1,791
$41.34 CLP 37.9K
6.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.43 UYU 57.9
$0.89 CLP 811
60.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.49 UYU 60.2
$1.61 CLP 1,473
-7.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.10 UYU 449
$12.99 CLP 11.9K
-14.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.95 UYU 78.8
$1.40 CLP 1,283
39.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.5K UYU 1.6M
$18.8K CLP 17.3M
109.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.6K UYU 1.6M
$19.9K CLP 18.3M
93.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$145 UYU 5,874
$115 CLP 105.2K
26.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.48 UYU 708
$12.67 CLP 11.6K
37.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.52 UYU 1,682
$22.53 CLP 20.7K
84.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.4 UYU 2,204
$35.49 CLP 32.5K
53.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.12 UYU 774
$20.39 CLP 18.7K
-6.23%
Cinema Ticket
$10.12 UYU 410
$5.72 CLP 5,239
76.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$467 UYU 18.9K
$385 CLP 353.4K
21.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,615 UYU 348.9K
$6,389 CLP 5.9M
34.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.4 UYU 3,701
$48.78 CLP 44.7K
87.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.66 UYU 2,011
$28.57 CLP 26.2K
73.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 UYU 4,721
$66.5 CLP 61.0K
75.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 UYU 4,735
$76.6 CLP 70.2K
52.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$597 UYU 24.2K
$464 CLP 425.3K
28.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$467 UYU 18.9K
$383 CLP 351.5K
21.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 UYU 41.0K
$839 CLP 768.8K
20.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$804 UYU 32.6K
$680 CLP 623.6K
18.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,417 UYU 138.4K
$2,459 CLP 2.3M
38.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,095 UYU 84.8K
$2,243 CLP 2.1M
-6.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,094 UYU 44.3K
$699 CLP 640.5K
56.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
5.09
26.72%

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

Last update for Uruguay: June 7, 2026

Last update for Chile: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $287 in Uruguay, $474 in Chile. Capital cities: $619 in Montevideo vs $505 in Santiago.

National salary averages: $860 in Uruguay, $732 in Chile. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 65% higher in Chile.

Public transport is 263% more expensive in Uruguay.

Salaries are 17% 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 Chile: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Chile and Uruguay?
At $1,145 per month in Chile and $1,049 in Uruguay, there's a 9% 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?
Uruguay 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 Chile beats 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 Chile or Uruguay?
In Uruguay, $2,500 covers most cities easily. In Chile, 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 Chile or Uruguay?
It depends on what you're after. Uruguay wins on affordability; Chile may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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