Cost of Living Comparison Between Uruguay and China Cost of Living Comparison Between Uruguay and China

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,020 in Uruguay versus $713 in China.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,623 in Uruguay versus $1,132 in China.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,226 in Uruguay versus $1,551 in China.

Living in Uruguay is roughly 43% more expensive than China on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Uruguay 24% lower, China 47% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Uruguay
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.81 UYU 681
$2.86 ¥19.38
487.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1 UYU 2,150
$23.29 ¥158
127.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.40 UYU 462
$4.83 ¥32.71
136.02%
Cappuccino
$4.19 UYU 170
$3.04 ¥20.55
37.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 UYU 94.3
$0.45 ¥3.03
417.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 UYU 74.2
$0.27 ¥1.82
577.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.85 UYU 156
$0.99 ¥6.72
288.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 UYU 151
$2.03 ¥13.76
83.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Uruguay
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.20 UYU 48.57
$1.75 ¥11.88
-31.43%
White Bread (500g)
$2.71 UYU 110
$1.67 ¥11.33
62.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.66 UYU 67.3
$0.97 ¥6.57
71.13%
Eggs
$4.22 UYU 171
$1.54 ¥10.46
174.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.50 UYU 547
$13.30 ¥90.1
1.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.74 UYU 435
$3.21 ¥21.72
234.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.15 UYU 451
$10.79 ¥73.1
3.34%
Apples (1kg)
$2.89 UYU 117
$1.81 ¥12.29
59.67%
Banana (1kg)
$2.38 UYU 96.4
$1.31 ¥8.86
81.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 UYU 62.0
$1.50 ¥10.16
2.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.23 UYU 131
$1.14 ¥7.75
183.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 UYU 79.4
$0.73 ¥4.91
168.49%
Onion (1kg)
$2.08 UYU 84.4
$0.87 ¥5.86
139.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.26 UYU 51.1
$0.57 ¥3.85
121.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 UYU 68.9
$0.54 ¥3.64
214.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.06 UYU 205
$3.53 ¥23.92
43.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.47 UYU 303
$11.71 ¥79.3
-36.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.32 UYU 94.0
$0.84 ¥5.67
176.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93 UYU 119
$1.67 ¥11.31
75.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Uruguay
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.20 UYU 48.59
$0.41 ¥2.76
192.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.23 UYU 1,791
$20.78 ¥141
112.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.43 UYU 57.9
$1.36 ¥9.22
5.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.49 UYU 60.2
$0.33 ¥2.21
351.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.10 UYU 449
$6.86 ¥46.46
61.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.95 UYU 78.8
$1.12 ¥7.59
74.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.5K UYU 1.6M
$19.2K ¥129.9K
105.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.6K UYU 1.6M
$16.9K ¥114.6K
127.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uruguay
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$145 UYU 5,874
$51.8 ¥351
179.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.48 UYU 708
$9.85 ¥66.7
77.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.52 UYU 1,682
$11.13 ¥75.4
273.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Uruguay
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.4 UYU 2,204
$39.10 ¥265
39.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.12 UYU 774
$14.89 ¥101
28.41%
Cinema Ticket
$10.12 UYU 410
$6.25 ¥42.30
61.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Uruguay
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$467 UYU 18.9K
$404 ¥2,736
15.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,615 UYU 348.9K
$17.8K ¥120.7K
-51.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Uruguay
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.4 UYU 3,701
$46.11 ¥312
98.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.66 UYU 2,011
$32.27 ¥219
53.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 UYU 4,721
$72.7 ¥492
60.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 UYU 4,735
$72.9 ¥493
60.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Uruguay
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$597 UYU 24.2K
$445 ¥3,014
34.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$467 UYU 18.9K
$255 ¥1,729
82.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 UYU 41.0K
$927 ¥6,275
9.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$804 UYU 32.6K
$532 ¥3,605
51.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,417 UYU 138.4K
$4,943 ¥33.5K
-30.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,095 UYU 84.8K
$2,492 ¥16.9K
-15.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Uruguay
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,094 UYU 44.3K
$1,057 ¥7,158
3.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
4.06
58.87%

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

Last update for Uruguay: June 7, 2026

Last update for China: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $287 in Uruguay, $286 in China. Capital cities: $619 in Montevideo vs $913 in Beijing (Pekin).

National salary averages: $860 in Uruguay, $862 in China. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Dining out costs 110% more in Uruguay.

Public transport is 61% more expensive 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 China: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: China or Uruguay?
At $871 per month in China and $1,049 in Uruguay, there's a 20% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: China or Uruguay?
China 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.
How do rents compare between China and Uruguay?
Rent in Uruguay beats China across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
How far does $2,000 go in China vs Uruguay?
In China, $2,000 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.
How do I choose between living in China and Uruguay?
It depends on what you're after. China 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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