Compare countries · Chile vs Uruguay
Chile vs Uruguay
Chile(South America)·
Uruguay(South America)
Across 12 comparable indicators: Chile leads on 4, Uruguay on 6, 2 effectively tied. Which trade-offs matter is yours to weigh; the rows below show where each country wins, with sources.
Quick answers
Is Chile cheaper than Uruguay?
Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living index (NYC = 100) puts Chile at 39.0 and Uruguay at 55.6. Chile is about 30% cheaper overall.
Is Chile or Uruguay safer?
On the Global Peace Index (lower = more peaceful), Chile scores 1.83 and Uruguay scores 1.75. Uruguay ranks as the more peaceful of the two.
Which has the higher quality of life, Chile or Uruguay?
On the UN Human Development Index, Chile scores 0.878 and Uruguay scores 0.862. The two are effectively tied. Single indexes hide trade-offs; the full comparison above shows where each country wins.
What is life like in Chile compared to Uruguay?
GNI per capita runs $16,960 in Chile against $24,020 in Uruguay; people live 81.4 years on average against 78.3; Numbeo users rate healthcare 64 against 69. Those are national averages and they hide the thing you actually feel: capital-city costs run well ahead of the national figure in most countries, and rural provision of healthcare and internet often lags the number shown here. The table below splits it indicator by indicator.
Head to head
Cost of living index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Chile
39.0
Better than 58% of countries
Uruguay
55.6
Worse than 78% of countries
Chile: 30% cheaper overall.
Rent index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Chile
11.6
Better than 65% of countries
Uruguay
14.7
Around the global middle
Chile: 21% cheaper rents.
Peace — Global Peace Index
Institute for Economics & Peace (lower = more peaceful)
Chile
1.83
Better than 68% of countries
Uruguay
1.75
Better than 74% of countries
Uruguay: more peaceful (1.75 vs 1.83).
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report
Chile
0.878
Better than 77% of countries
Uruguay
0.862
Better than 75% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
GDP per person (PPP)
World Bank · 2025
Chile
$37,774
Better than 68% of countries
Uruguay
$38,315
Better than 69% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Life expectancy
World Bank · 2024
Chile
81.4 yrs
Better than 81% of countries
Uruguay
78.3 yrs
Better than 72% of countries
Chile: 3.1 years longer on average.
Healthcare index
Numbeo Healthcare Index 2026
Chile
63.6
Around the global middle
Uruguay
68.5
Better than 64% of countries
Uruguay: better-rated healthcare (68.5 vs 63.6).
Fixed broadband speed
Ookla Speedtest Global Index
Chile
338 Mbps
Better than 97% of countries
Uruguay
177 Mbps
Better than 74% of countries
Chile: 90% faster fixed internet.
Press freedom
RSF World Press Freedom Index
Chile
61/100
Better than 61% of countries
Uruguay
69/100
Better than 73% of countries
Uruguay: freer press (69 vs 61 of 100).
Happiness
World Happiness Report (Cantril ladder 0–10)
Chile
6.30
Better than 66% of countries
Uruguay
6.63
Better than 79% of countries
Uruguay: happier on the Cantril ladder (6.63 vs 6.30).
English proficiency
EF English Proficiency Index
Chile
517
Around the global middle
Uruguay
542
Better than 68% of countries
Uruguay: stronger English proficiency (542 vs 517).
Climate pleasantness
Numbeo Climate Index 2026
Chile
95.6
Better than 93% of countries
Uruguay
98.3
Better than 99% of countries
Uruguay: more pleasant climate rating (98.3 vs 95.6).
Not comparable for this pair
- Perceived street safety: Numbeo doesn't publish a safety index for one of these countries.
Deciding between Chile and Uruguay for real?
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Find your match →Full Chile profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.
Full Uruguay profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.