Cost of Living Comparison Between Uruguay and ChileCost of Living Comparison Between Uruguay and Chile
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,018 in Uruguay versus $1,072 in Chile.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,616 in Uruguay versus $1,638 in Chile.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,214 in Uruguay versus $2,204 in Chile.
🙂Living in Uruguay costs about 5% less than in Chile on average.
📊Both countries sit below the global median: Uruguay24% lower, Chile20% lower.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in Uruguay: monthly costs span $0 to $2,092, compared to $537–$1,323 in Chile. City choice carries more weight in Uruguay.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.96UYU 675
$8.48CLP 7,531
100.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.5UYU 2,125
$42.44CLP 37.7K
25.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.64UYU 463
$7.50CLP 6,664
55.20%
Cappuccino
$4.24UYU 169
$2.98CLP 2,651
42.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32UYU 92.4
$1.42CLP 1,260
63.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78UYU 70.6
$1.09CLP 967
63.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.92UYU 156
$3.32CLP 2,954
18.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.74UYU 149
$3.80CLP 3,374
-1.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21UYU 48.28
$1.22CLP 1,084
-0.82%
White Bread(500g)
$2.66UYU 106
$1.56CLP 1,382
70.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58UYU 62.9
$1.71CLP 1,524
-7.60%
Eggs
$4.31UYU 171
$3.62CLP 3,216
19.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.53UYU 538
$10.61CLP 9,432
27.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.53UYU 419
$6.15CLP 5,466
71.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.08UYU 440
$10.94CLP 9,717
1.28%
Apples(1kg)
$2.88UYU 114
$1.87CLP 1,658
54.01%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45UYU 97.3
$1.66CLP 1,475
47.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.47UYU 58.6
$1.89CLP 1,677
-22.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.25UYU 129
$1.75CLP 1,556
85.71%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04UYU 81.2
$1.49CLP 1,324
36.91%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09UYU 83.0
$1.56CLP 1,383
33.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.32UYU 52.4
$1.31CLP 1,162
0.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.73UYU 68.8
$1.19CLP 1,058
45.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.07UYU 202
$5.50CLP 4,888
-7.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.21UYU 327
$5.47CLP 4,863
50.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.31UYU 91.9
$1.46CLP 1,296
58.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00UYU 119
$2.27CLP 2,015
32.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.20UYU 47.52
$0.82CLP 730
46.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.44UYU 1,727
$40.59CLP 36.1K
7.02%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50UYU 59.5
$0.83CLP 741
80.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.57UYU 62.5
$1.61CLP 1,433
-2.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.14UYU 443
$13.03CLP 11.6K
-14.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.85UYU 73.4
$1.43CLP 1,271
29.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.4KUYU 1.6M
$18.8KCLP 16.7M
109.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.8KUYU 1.5M
$20.0KCLP 17.8M
93.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$142UYU 5,639
$112CLP 99.6K
26.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.99UYU 715
$12.52CLP 11.1K
43.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.63UYU 1,655
$22.81CLP 20.3K
82.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.9UYU 2,181
$36.39CLP 32.3K
50.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.02UYU 756
$20.04CLP 17.8K
-5.09%
Cinema Ticket
$10.17UYU 404
$5.70CLP 5,066
78.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$475UYU 18.9K
$384CLP 341.0K
23.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,694UYU 345.7K
$6,224CLP 5.5M
39.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.4UYU 3,595
$47.77CLP 42.4K
89.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.93UYU 1,985
$29.41CLP 26.1K
69.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117UYU 4,643
$64.9CLP 57.7K
79.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119UYU 4,730
$77.9CLP 69.2K
52.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$594UYU 23.6K
$468CLP 415.8K
26.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$467UYU 18.6K
$385CLP 342.5K
21.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,027UYU 40.8K
$826CLP 733.6K
24.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$788UYU 31.3K
$665CLP 590.6K
18.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,270UYU 130.0K
$2,323CLP 2.1M
40.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,032UYU 80.8K
$2,131CLP 1.9M
-4.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,060UYU 42.2K
$716CLP 636.3K
48.09%
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: April 22, 2026
Last update for Chile: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $285 in Uruguay, $473 in Chile. Capital cities: $615 in Montevideo vs $517 in Santiago.
💰National salary averages: $841 in Uruguay, $747 in Chile. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 66% higher in Chile.
⭐Public transport is 263% more expensive in Uruguay.
⭐Salaries are 13% 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 $930 per month in Chile and $1,046 in Uruguay, there's a 12% 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?
Chile 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 Chile 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 Chile or Uruguay?
In Chile, $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 Chile or Uruguay?
It depends on what you're after. Chile wins on affordability; Uruguay may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.