Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Uruguay and Chile

For one person, living is cheaper in Chile: $1,045 a month against $1,637 in Uruguay, rent and utilities included – about $7,100 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

🇺🇾 Uruguay
$1,637
/mo nomad
🇨🇱 Chile
$1,045
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Uruguay and in Chile

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Uruguay and in Chile actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,637 in Uruguay versus $1,045 in Chile.

  • Uruguay $1,637
  • Chile $1,045

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,486 in Uruguay versus $1,621 in Chile.

  • Uruguay $2,486
  • Chile $1,621

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,335 in Uruguay versus $2,198 in Chile.

  • Uruguay $3,335
  • Chile $2,198

Living in Uruguay is roughly 57% more expensive than in Chile on average.

Uruguay (21% above) and Chile (23% below) straddle the global median.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.11 UYU 687
$8.01 CLP 7,889
113.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.1 UYU 2,169
$45.59 CLP 44.9K
18.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.35 UYU 496
$7.13 CLP 7,017
73.21%
Cappuccino
$4.29 UYU 172
$2.87 CLP 2,820
49.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 UYU 92.6
$1.34 CLP 1,323
72.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 UYU 73.5
$1.05 CLP 1,033
74.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.76 UYU 151
$3.62 CLP 3,565
3.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80 UYU 153
$4.14 CLP 4,072
-8.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 UYU 48.76
$1.19 CLP 1,169
1.68%
White Bread (500g)
$2.56 UYU 103
$1.55 CLP 1,526
65.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.66 UYU 66.8
$1.56 CLP 1,536
6.41%
Eggs
$4.21 UYU 169
$3.48 CLP 3,425
20.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.98 UYU 521
$9.99 CLP 9,835
29.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.58 UYU 424
$5.90 CLP 5,812
79.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.39 UYU 457
$10.80 CLP 10.6K
5.46%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 UYU 111
$1.75 CLP 1,726
57.71%
Banana (1kg)
$2.56 UYU 103
$1.63 CLP 1,600
57.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.55 UYU 62.2
$1.59 CLP 1,570
-2.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.07 UYU 123
$1.60 CLP 1,573
91.87%
Potato (1kg)
$1.82 UYU 73.1
$1.16 CLP 1,138
56.90%
Onion (1kg)
$2.13 UYU 85.6
$1.37 CLP 1,345
55.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.32 UYU 52.8
$1.20 CLP 1,186
10.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.81 UYU 72.7
$1.17 CLP 1,153
54.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.45 UYU 219
$4.97 CLP 4,892
9.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.36 UYU 295
$4.96 CLP 4,886
48.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.16 UYU 86.6
$1.33 CLP 1,313
62.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 UYU 112
$2.06 CLP 2,031
35.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.38 UYU 55.4
$0.78 CLP 769
76.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.0 UYU 3,051
$37.76 CLP 37.2K
101.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.82 UYU 73.2
$0.86 CLP 845
111.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.67 UYU 67.1
$1.20 CLP 1,177
39.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.49 UYU 421
$12.02 CLP 11.8K
-12.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.12 UYU 85.0
$1.37 CLP 1,353
54.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K UYU 1.1M
$16.9K CLP 16.6M
58.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.2K UYU 1.5M
$20.8K CLP 20.5M
78.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$150 UYU 6,028
$113 CLP 111.5K
32.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.75 UYU 833
$12.23 CLP 12.0K
69.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.71 UYU 1,634
$21.48 CLP 21.1K
89.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.61 UYU 1,871
$35.14 CLP 34.6K
32.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.19 UYU 770
$14.73 CLP 14.5K
30.28%
Cinema Ticket
$11.11 UYU 446
$6.16 CLP 6,068
80.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$575 UYU 23.1K
$346 CLP 340.6K
66.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,169 UYU 368.0K
$6,652 CLP 6.5M
37.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.5 UYU 3,431
$42.70 CLP 42.0K
100.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.89 UYU 2,003
$26.79 CLP 26.4K
86.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 UYU 4,820
$58.7 CLP 57.8K
104.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 UYU 4,432
$72.5 CLP 71.4K
52.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$663 UYU 26.6K
$435 CLP 428.1K
52.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$526 UYU 21.1K
$338 CLP 333.1K
55.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,079 UYU 43.3K
$766 CLP 754.5K
40.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$871 UYU 34.9K
$584 CLP 575.2K
48.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,313 UYU 133.0K
$2,299 CLP 2.3M
44.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,807 UYU 72.5K
$2,020 CLP 2.0M
-10.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,067 UYU 42.8K
$651 CLP 641.2K
63.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.81
5.15
12.82%

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

Last update for Uruguay: October 18, 2026

Last update for Chile: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Uruguay
$526
Chile
$338 35.7% $188
Groceries & Markets
Uruguay
$306
Chile
$218 28.7% $88
Eating Out
Uruguay
$268
Chile
$156 41.9% $112
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uruguay
$212
Chile
$147 30.6% $65
Clothing & Footwear
Uruguay
$165
Chile
$90 45.1% $74
Getting Around
Uruguay
$92
Chile
$48 48% $44
Sport & Entertainment
Uruguay
$69
Chile
$47 31% $21

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $337 in Uruguay, $330 in Chile. Capital cities: $713 in Montevideo vs $554 in Santiago.

National salary averages: $864 in Uruguay, $694 in Chile. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Dining out costs 35% more in Uruguay.

Public transport is 44% more expensive in Uruguay.

Salaries are 24% higher in Uruguay, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Chile.

Good to know
🇺🇾 Uruguay
🇨🇱 Chile
🕒 Local time
10:33 10:33 AM
10:33 10:33 AM
Same time as Uruguay
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,444,263
19,458,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CLP, USD, EUR to UYU – Uruguayan Peso Converter

Uruguayan Peso exchange rates as of October 24, 2026: 1 USD = 40.14 UYU (100 UYU = 2.49 USD). 1 EUR = 45.12 UYU (100 UYU = 2.22 EUR).

Chilean Peso exchange rates as of October 24, 2026: 1 USD = 984 CLP (1,000 CLP = 1.02 USD). 1 EUR = 1,107 CLP (10,000 CLP = 9.04 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Uruguay Chile 1,340 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Uruguay
  • Chile

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 $1,045 per month in Chile and $1,637 in Uruguay, there's a 57% 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 cheaper in Chile: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. 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 for a central one-bedroom averages $337 in Uruguay and $330 in Chile. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Chile or in Uruguay?
In Chile, $1,500 covers most cities easily; in Uruguay 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: Chile wins on affordability; Uruguay may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

Uruguay vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar countries

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?