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: $1,154 in Uruguay versus $804 in Chile.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,755 in Uruguay versus $1,255 in Chile.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,355 in Uruguay versus $1,706 in Chile.
🌍Living in Uruguay is roughly 44% more expensive than in Chile on average.
📊Both countries sit below the global median: Uruguay 16% lower, Chile 42% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.22UYU 652
$8.62CLP 7,976
88.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.2UYU 2,139
$48.06CLP 44.4K
10.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.34UYU 496
$7.61CLP 7,036
62.16%
Cappuccino
$4.28UYU 172
$3.05CLP 2,825
40.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38UYU 95.6
$1.41CLP 1,309
68.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80UYU 72.2
$1.04CLP 963
73.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.03UYU 162
$3.73CLP 3,451
8.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.64UYU 146
$4.40CLP 4,069
-17.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18UYU 47.39
$1.23CLP 1,141
-4.07%
White Bread(500g)
$2.51UYU 101
$1.60CLP 1,483
56.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.68UYU 67.5
$1.61CLP 1,488
4.35%
Eggs
$4.34UYU 175
$3.56CLP 3,290
21.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.27UYU 534
$10.70CLP 9,891
24.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.52UYU 423
$6.41CLP 5,927
64.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.42UYU 459
$11.02CLP 10.2K
3.63%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64UYU 106
$1.90CLP 1,757
38.95%
Banana(1kg)
$2.48UYU 99.7
$1.73CLP 1,595
43.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.61UYU 64.6
$1.68CLP 1,554
-4.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.20UYU 129
$1.70CLP 1,567
88.24%
Potato(1kg)
$1.89UYU 76.0
$1.23CLP 1,139
53.66%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07UYU 83.1
$1.44CLP 1,333
43.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.32UYU 53.2
$1.22CLP 1,127
8.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.78UYU 71.6
$1.23CLP 1,133
44.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.38UYU 216
$5.24CLP 4,842
2.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.55UYU 304
$5.27CLP 4,875
43.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.19UYU 88.0
$1.35CLP 1,253
62.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69UYU 108
$2.19CLP 2,025
22.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37UYU 55.2
$0.83CLP 770
65.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$73.7UYU 2,966
$40.39CLP 37.3K
82.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.90UYU 76.4
$0.88CLP 817
115.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.71UYU 68.9
$1.22CLP 1,127
40.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.66UYU 429
$12.09CLP 11.2K
-11.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.03UYU 81.8
$1.42CLP 1,311
42.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2KUYU 1.1M
$18.4KCLP 17.0M
47.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.5KUYU 1.5M
$20.2KCLP 18.7M
85.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$152UYU 6,099
$115CLP 106.5K
31.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.76UYU 795
$12.90CLP 11.9K
53.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.60UYU 1,593
$23.08CLP 21.3K
71.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.15UYU 1,856
$36.17CLP 33.4K
27.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.44UYU 782
$15.03CLP 13.9K
29.34%
Cinema Ticket
$11.13UYU 448
$6.27CLP 5,794
77.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$582UYU 23.4K
$364CLP 336.4K
60.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,004UYU 362.2K
$6,904CLP 6.4M
30.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6UYU 3,444
$44.95CLP 41.6K
90.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.1UYU 2,053
$28.44CLP 26.3K
79.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$121UYU 4,855
$61.2CLP 56.6K
97.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111UYU 4,471
$75.0CLP 69.4K
48.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$664UYU 26.7K
$454CLP 419.7K
46.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$528UYU 21.2K
$354CLP 327.6K
48.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,072UYU 43.1K
$780CLP 721.2K
37.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$850UYU 34.2K
$615CLP 569.0K
38.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,370UYU 135.5K
$2,299CLP 2.1M
46.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,879UYU 75.6K
$2,029CLP 1.9M
-7.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Uruguay
Chile
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,058UYU 42.5K
$693CLP 640.7K
52.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.75
5.15
11.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Uruguay: September 5, 2026
Last update for Chile: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $338 in Uruguay, $346 in Chile. Capital cities: $762 in Montevideo vs $576 in Santiago.
💰National salary averages: $865 in Uruguay, $719 in Chile. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Dining out costs 20% more in Uruguay.
⭐Public transport is 44% more expensive in Uruguay.
⭐Salaries are 20% higher in Uruguay, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Chile.
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 $674 per month in Chile and $1,002 in Uruguay, there's a 49% 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 Chile: 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 is consistently higher than in 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 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.