As of November 12, 2026, Uruguay is cheaper than Costa Rica for travelers: a mid-range day costs about $124 in Uruguay against $128 in Costa Rica, a gap of 2.7%. Over the past year Uruguay has moved more in the US-dollar traveler's favor (+2.2% after inflation, against −5.9%). Both sit at US advisory Level 2.
| Measure | Costa Rica | Uruguay |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-range day | $128 | $124 |
| Lean day | $56 | $59 |
| Comfortable day | $289 | $270 |
| Real change, 12 months | −5.9% | +2.2% |
| Exchange rate alone, 12 months | −9.7% | +2.8% |
| Versus 5-year average | −10.7% | −5.1% |
| US advisory | Level 2 · Increased caution | Level 2 · Increased caution |
| Ease of travel | 4.4 · Well set up | 4.2 · Well set up |
| Index score | 50 | 54 |
| Best months | Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr | Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar |
| Shoulder months | May, Jun, Nov | Apr, Oct |
The better figure in each row is in bold. Costs are modeled estimates per person, excluding international flights.
Wildlife and stability, at a price: the colón has made it Central America's most expensive stop.
The catchA strong colón pushed dollar prices up sharply since 2022. It is safe and easy, but not cheap.
The calm, costly corner of South America.
The catchConsistently the region's most expensive country, and January prices on the coast double.
Source: Trip Arbitrage (triparbitrage.com), reading of November 12, 2026. How this is calculated.