Cost of living in Uruguay
The cost of living in Uruguay runs at about 73% of US prices, and INE's basic food basket in Montevideo was 6,628 pesos a person a month in December 2025.
Official prices, where your money goes further, and a budget built from your own rent and insurance. Checked against official sources on Oct 7, 2026.
- Price level
- ~73% of the US Household consumption, 2025. World Bank. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
- Food basket, Montevideo
- UYU 6,628/mo (about $160) Official, household of 1, December 2025. INE. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
- Food basket, Interior
- UYU 5,685/mo (about $140) Official, household of 1, December 2025. INE. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
- Per person
- $165/mo Food basket divided by household size
Build your Uruguay budget
No official source tracks what expats pay in rent, and rent is the biggest line in any budget. So this starts from what is measured, the government's food basket, and adds your own numbers.
Get rent from current listings in the area you like and a written quote for health insurance at your age.
Your monthly budget
$0
The official food basket
INE, Uruguay's statistics office, values a basic food basket (Canasta Básica Alimentaria) every month, which sets the indigence line: the minimum monthly cost, per person, of food only. The figures are for December 2025.
| Area | December 2025 |
|---|---|
| Montevideo | UYU 6,628 (about $160) |
| Interior (rest of the country) | UYU 5,685 (about $140) |
INE. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
Cost of living questions
How much do I need a month to live in Uruguay?
It depends mostly on rent, which no official source tracks for expats. Start from the official food basket ($165 a person), add your rent and insurance quotes in the calculator above.
Is Uruguay cheaper than the US?
On average, yes: the World Bank puts household prices in Uruguay at about 73% of US levels (2025). Imported goods, cars and electronics can cost as much as at home or more.
Is it cheaper outside Montevideo?
Food is: the official food basket for Interior costs UYU 5,685 (about $140) against UYU 6,628 (about $160) (December 2025).
Is Uruguay expensive to retire in?
Prices run at about 73% of US levels on the World Bank's comparison, among the higher levels in South America. INE's basic food basket was 6,628 pesos a person a month in Montevideo in December 2025.
How much does food cost in Montevideo?
INE's basic food basket was 6,628 pesos a person a month in Montevideo in December 2025, against 5,685 pesos in the rest of the country. That is the minimum for food only, not a comfortable budget.
