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: $1,018 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: Uruguay 24% lower, Chile 20% 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
$16.96 UYU 675
$8.48 CLP 7,531
100.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.5 UYU 2,125
$42.44 CLP 37.7K
25.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.64 UYU 463
$7.50 CLP 6,664
55.20%
Cappuccino
$4.24 UYU 169
$2.98 CLP 2,651
42.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 UYU 92.4
$1.42 CLP 1,260
63.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 UYU 70.6
$1.09 CLP 967
63.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.92 UYU 156
$3.32 CLP 2,954
18.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.74 UYU 149
$3.80 CLP 3,374
-1.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 UYU 48.28
$1.22 CLP 1,084
-0.82%
White Bread (500g)
$2.66 UYU 106
$1.56 CLP 1,382
70.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.58 UYU 62.9
$1.71 CLP 1,524
-7.60%
Eggs
$4.31 UYU 171
$3.62 CLP 3,216
19.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.53 UYU 538
$10.61 CLP 9,432
27.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.53 UYU 419
$6.15 CLP 5,466
71.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.08 UYU 440
$10.94 CLP 9,717
1.28%
Apples (1kg)
$2.88 UYU 114
$1.87 CLP 1,658
54.01%
Banana (1kg)
$2.45 UYU 97.3
$1.66 CLP 1,475
47.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.47 UYU 58.6
$1.89 CLP 1,677
-22.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.25 UYU 129
$1.75 CLP 1,556
85.71%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 UYU 81.2
$1.49 CLP 1,324
36.91%
Onion (1kg)
$2.09 UYU 83.0
$1.56 CLP 1,383
33.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.32 UYU 52.4
$1.31 CLP 1,162
0.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 UYU 68.8
$1.19 CLP 1,058
45.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.07 UYU 202
$5.50 CLP 4,888
-7.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.21 UYU 327
$5.47 CLP 4,863
50.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.31 UYU 91.9
$1.46 CLP 1,296
58.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 UYU 119
$2.27 CLP 2,015
32.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.20 UYU 47.52
$0.82 CLP 730
46.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$43.44 UYU 1,727
$40.59 CLP 36.1K
7.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.50 UYU 59.5
$0.83 CLP 741
80.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 UYU 62.5
$1.61 CLP 1,433
-2.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.14 UYU 443
$13.03 CLP 11.6K
-14.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.85 UYU 73.4
$1.43 CLP 1,271
29.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.4K UYU 1.6M
$18.8K CLP 16.7M
109.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.8K UYU 1.5M
$20.0K CLP 17.8M
93.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$142 UYU 5,639
$112 CLP 99.6K
26.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.99 UYU 715
$12.52 CLP 11.1K
43.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.63 UYU 1,655
$22.81 CLP 20.3K
82.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.9 UYU 2,181
$36.39 CLP 32.3K
50.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.02 UYU 756
$20.04 CLP 17.8K
-5.09%
Cinema Ticket
$10.17 UYU 404
$5.70 CLP 5,066
78.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$475 UYU 18.9K
$384 CLP 341.0K
23.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,694 UYU 345.7K
$6,224 CLP 5.5M
39.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.4 UYU 3,595
$47.77 CLP 42.4K
89.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.93 UYU 1,985
$29.41 CLP 26.1K
69.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 UYU 4,643
$64.9 CLP 57.7K
79.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 UYU 4,730
$77.9 CLP 69.2K
52.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$594 UYU 23.6K
$468 CLP 415.8K
26.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$467 UYU 18.6K
$385 CLP 342.5K
21.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,027 UYU 40.8K
$826 CLP 733.6K
24.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$788 UYU 31.3K
$665 CLP 590.6K
18.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,270 UYU 130.0K
$2,323 CLP 2.1M
40.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,032 UYU 80.8K
$2,131 CLP 1.9M
-4.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,060 UYU 42.2K
$716 CLP 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.

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