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: $1,009 in Uruguay versus $1,086 in Chile.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,611 in Uruguay versus $1,656 in Chile.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,212 in Uruguay versus $2,225 in Chile.
🌍Living in Uruguay costs about 7% 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
$17.02UYU 683
$8.65CLP 8,200
96.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.4UYU 2,183
$43.96CLP 41.7K
23.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.51UYU 462
$7.69CLP 7,298
49.67%
Cappuccino
$4.14UYU 166
$2.86CLP 2,710
44.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34UYU 93.9
$1.41CLP 1,339
65.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84UYU 73.8
$1.04CLP 987
76.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.88UYU 156
$3.30CLP 3,133
17.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.57UYU 143
$3.84CLP 3,646
-7.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.16UYU 46.38
$1.21CLP 1,148
-4.13%
White Bread(500g)
$2.69UYU 108
$1.55CLP 1,472
73.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.67UYU 66.9
$1.77CLP 1,680
-5.65%
Eggs
$4.26UYU 171
$3.58CLP 3,396
18.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.40UYU 538
$10.70CLP 10.2K
25.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.70UYU 430
$6.02CLP 5,705
77.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.09UYU 445
$11.13CLP 10.6K
-0.36%
Apples(1kg)
$2.78UYU 112
$1.95CLP 1,847
42.56%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45UYU 98.5
$1.66CLP 1,572
47.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.45UYU 58.4
$1.89CLP 1,797
-23.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.28UYU 132
$1.70CLP 1,613
92.94%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05UYU 82.4
$1.50CLP 1,425
36.67%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01UYU 80.6
$1.59CLP 1,504
26.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.25UYU 50.2
$1.25CLP 1,182
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.70UYU 68.4
$1.20CLP 1,137
41.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.06UYU 203
$5.49CLP 5,204
-7.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.49UYU 301
$5.24CLP 4,973
42.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.31UYU 92.7
$1.50CLP 1,427
54.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93UYU 118
$2.25CLP 2,132
30.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.24UYU 49.83
$0.84CLP 800
47.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.79UYU 1,758
$40.27CLP 38.2K
8.74%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44UYU 57.6
$0.89CLP 841
61.80%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.52UYU 60.9
$1.58CLP 1,501
-3.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.82UYU 434
$13.18CLP 12.5K
-17.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.94UYU 78.0
$1.42CLP 1,349
36.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.6KUYU 1.6M
$18.5KCLP 17.6M
108.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.8KUYU 1.5M
$20.6KCLP 19.6M
83.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$143UYU 5,745
$114CLP 108.5K
25.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.93UYU 720
$12.29CLP 11.7K
45.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.43UYU 1,703
$22.97CLP 21.8K
84.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.7UYU 2,237
$36.33CLP 34.5K
53.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.74UYU 752
$20.56CLP 19.5K
-8.85%
Cinema Ticket
$10.09UYU 405
$5.70CLP 5,401
77.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$467UYU 18.7K
$376CLP 356.7K
24.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,602UYU 345.3K
$6,345CLP 6.0M
35.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.2UYU 3,702
$47.63CLP 45.2K
93.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.1UYU 2,011
$29.36CLP 27.8K
70.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114UYU 4,582
$65.6CLP 62.2K
74.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117UYU 4,686
$76.8CLP 72.9K
51.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$601UYU 24.1K
$467CLP 442.8K
28.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$463UYU 18.6K
$386CLP 366.0K
19.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,025UYU 41.2K
$830CLP 786.9K
23.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$798UYU 32.0K
$671CLP 636.6K
18.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,373UYU 135.4K
$2,299CLP 2.2M
46.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,074UYU 83.3K
$2,027CLP 1.9M
2.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,081UYU 43.4K
$692CLP 656.7K
56.09%
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: July 21, 2026
Last update for Chile: July 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $286 in Uruguay, $475 in Chile. Capital cities: $615 in Montevideo vs $520 in Santiago.
💰National salary averages: $857 in Uruguay, $713 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 20% higher in Uruguay, and purchasing power comes out stronger 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 Chile: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Chile and Uruguay?
At $1,134 per month in Chile and $1,009 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?
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 Chile 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 Chile or in Uruguay?
In Uruguay, $2,500 covers most cities easily; in Chile 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 Chile or to 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.