How Much Does it Cost to Live in South America?
You asked “how much does it cost to live in South America?” It depends on where you want to live! Would you like to live in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru or Uruguay? Ok, now we´re talking.
Geographic Regions and Subregions of South America - by the United Nations Statistics Division
If on a tight budget, you may want to read: Where In South America Can I Live On $650 USD Per Month?
The general frame of reference is Boliva, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru have many low-cost locations where you can live on $650 to $800 USD per month comfortably. If your budget extends to $1000 USD per month and up, you will find many locations in Argentina, Chile, Brazil and Uruguay that you can call home.
Most who move to South America are adventurous souls who want to see and do all they can while living on the continent. To travel cheaply and get the most miles for your dollar you need to visit Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador or Peru.
Travel in Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay can be costly – especially the larger countries Argentina and Brazil where just getting from one area to the next takes multiple hours and therefore costs more.
For a list of capital cities complete with online Travel Guides click here: Capital Cities in South America
To find the currency used by your country of choice and information such as: ATMs (where are they located); how to do a wire transfer; credit cards (what is accepted in the country?); travelers checks (where can you cash them?) and where to exchange money, click on the country’s link:
Living in Argentina – Money
Living in Ecuador – Money
Living in Uruguay – Money
These pages coming soon: Living in Bolivia – Money Living in Brazil - Money Living in Chile - Money Living in Colombia - Money Living in Peru – Money
Click here for FREE online Living Abroad Guides to each destination.
More Articles You May Like:
Is it Safe to Travel in South America?
Travel in Ecuador – Cotacachi
Travel in Brazil – Rio de Janeiro
Living in Uruguay – Travel Hot Spots
Living in Argentina – Travel Hot Spots
Thanks for the information im going to UY soon and will use this information of what date is this acurate
Accurate today – written a few weeks ago. We lived in Uruguay for eight months, feel free to ask questions. Molly
More likely you need $1000 and more to live sorta good. It is not that cheap as it looks in S.America at all.
You are correct that $1000 would give a person more options, but there are places that you can live off of for $650 USD and many do it. Locals in these areas live off of half of that!
If $1000 is all you had, and you had 1 decision where to move…Where would it be? Thanks
I would definitely pick Ecuador… you’d live like a king on $1000 USD, have tons of options for housing, be able to travel throughout the country etc. There is a large expat community in Quito as well… check out our Canoa – beach town – article for a place to visit! http://www.southamericaliving.com/cheap-place-to-live-in-south-america-canoa-ecuador/
Many more featured places to live in Ecuador coming soon! Best of luck, Molly
im 20 and im looking to move to Brazil how much money would i have to save canadian dollars to move there and have a good life
Move there and have a good life? That’s a tall order Tyson
How about move there for six months to a year and see how you like it! Brazil is one of the most expensive countries to live in, though you can find off-the-beaten-track areas to get a cheap rental and enjoy life. Traveling through the country is pricey, but you can join couchsurfers.com and then stay in locals home for a night for free… you just have to be creative if you are on a budget.
To live in Brazil I would definitely put away $1000 USD per month in savings. Important to note is you have to pay for a visa before traveling to Brazil. Information is here: Visas & Fees for Brazil http://www.southamericaliving.com/living-in-brazil-visas-fees/
Hi,
how much is 1700 US$ a month to live in Uruguay along the costline. ( no punta del’este). No rent to pay. If you compare to USA average spending ( midlle class)for the same life how much you need in Uruguay. I know that is a difficult answer.
Grazie
Giorgio
A very comfortable lifestyle – eat out when you want, visit Argentina or Brazil for a week or so every few months…
Uruguay has opened up their national health care to foreigners. I need to write-up an article with more details but basically you would also have access to decent medical care (easy access if near Montevideo).
I would recommend staying closer to Montevideo where there are more expats for the social aspect, i.e. near Atlantida, etc. as opposed to further north.
Hope that helps! I have a travel writer contributor who lives in Atlantida, will email her and ask about her costs… update here in few days! Molly
Thank you Molly,
I heard very different opinion about Uruguay and I do not know anymore if it is a country that we can live confortable with 1700US$. For me confortable life for two of us mean:
Have one car, decent medical care, buy grocery ( we do not eat beef meat)and enjoy the beach and fishing. We normally do not spend time at the restaurant, probably no more then twice a month.
We love a simple life.
I am waiting for your update.
Molly, were do you live?
Thank you, grazie,gracias
Giorgio
I thought you meant cost for one person – yourself! Didn’t assume it was for a couple, maybe should have clarified! For one person that is a high amount, for two, of course not. My travel writer gal responded and wrote this:
“About $1000 sounds about right, but it varies, depending on where and how you live.”
That’s for one person, so your $1700 would have been very comfortable (you said without paying for housing)! For two people, more average living, definitely no car (outrageous costs) – many live off of that but not extavagantly.
I would pick Ecuador (much better fishing, weather) over Uruguay for you. Or Panama… both countries would be a very nice lifestyle for two (without rent costs) and good affordable medical care (staying near core areas such as Quito or Cuenca for Ecuador, Panama City or other for Panama).
We have spent time in both countries (Panama, Ecuador). Is a huge decision, research all you can online to balance my info and opinions! Molly