Buenos Aires vs Punta del Este

In summer the city lives on tourists: 1.3 million of them entered the country in December–February, and Punta del Este is the main destination. A two-bedroom apartment for half of January rents for 6,500 dollars.

SpecialistPuntanews: results of the 2025-2026 summer season according to the Ministry of Tourism · checked 29 Sep 2026

Maldonado is the fastest-growing department in the country, 212,951 residents in the 2023 census. It grows through the arrival of Uruguayans and foreigners.

OfficialINE: final results of the 2023 census, population by department · checked 29 Sep 2026

For living with children, realtors recommend Cantegril, Beverly Hills, Pinares and Mansa. Península, La Barra and Roosevelt are jammed with traffic in summer.

SpecialistLa Cite Realtors: international schools in Maldonado and where to live nearby · checked 29 Sep 2026

A building maintenance fee: on average 337k pesos a month, on top of rent. For a three-room flat in Palermo, about 300k.

SpecialistLa Nacion: expensas in Buenos Aires, ConsorcioAbierto data on ~13,000 buildings · checked 28 Sep 2026

A flat with two bedrooms: Caballito 1.18 million pesos a month, Palermo 1.31 million, Núñez 1.41 million. Expensas on top.

OfficialIDECBA - Dynamics of the apartment rental market, Buenos Aires, Q2 2026 (Informe de resultados 2049) · checked 28 Sep 2026

A studio (monoambiente, about 30 m²) averages 565,658 pesos a month; a one-bedroom of 43 m² averages 764,485 pesos. Small flats vary little between barrios.

OfficialIDECBA - Dynamics of the apartment rental market, Buenos Aires, Q2 2026 (Informe de resultados 2049) · checked 28 Sep 2026

Three quarters of listings are homes with one bedroom at most. A family with two children can use about a quarter of the market.

OfficialIDECBA - Dynamics of the apartment rental market, Buenos Aires, Q2 2026 (Informe de resultados 2049) · checked 28 Sep 2026

Maldonado department: average existing contract 23,083 pesos a month, new 25,177 - more than Montevideo (July 2026). INE does not calculate the city separately.

OfficialINE: average rent by department, existing contracts · checked 29 Sep 2026

A two-bedroom apartment for a year or for winter is asked at 700 to 3,500 dollars a month, median about 1,550. Plus gastos comunes separately, up to 1,000–1,400 dollars in towers.

SpecialistGallito: two-bedroom apartments for rent in Punta del Este, 80 listings on the page · checked 29 Sep 2026

A two-bedroom apartment in Punta del Este is on sale for 138–967k dollars, median about 270k for 75 m². These are asking prices, not transactions.

SpecialistGallito: two-bedroom apartments for sale in Punta del Este · checked 29 Sep 2026

The city's basket for a family with two children is 2.08 million pesos a month, but without rent. With the rent of a three-room flat it comes to 3.3–3.5 million.

OfficialIDECBA - Poverty lines and consumer baskets of the City of Buenos Aires, August 2026 (Informe de resultados 2054) · checked 28 Sep 2026

The food basket for a family of four is 985,617 pesos a month at city prices (August 2026). Up 34.7% over the year.

OfficialIDECBA - Poverty lines and consumer baskets of the City of Buenos Aires, August 2026 (Informe de resultados 2054) · checked 28 Sep 2026

Middle class by the city's yardstick starts at 2.6 million pesos for a family of four, and that is with owned housing.

OfficialIDECBA - Poverty lines and consumer baskets of the City of Buenos Aires, August 2026 (Informe de resultados 2054) · checked 28 Sep 2026

The INE minimum food basket for the country excluding the capital is 5,421–5,621 pesos per person a month, for a family of four 21.7–22.5k. Data from 2025.

OfficialINE: income poverty estimate, first half of 2025, with poverty lines · checked 29 Sep 2026

A family of three renting housing outside the capital is considered poor at an income below 42,055 pesos a month. In Punta del Este the real bar is much higher.

OfficialINE: income poverty estimate, first half of 2025, with poverty lines · checked 29 Sep 2026

Fee ceilings in schools with state support: primary (half-day) 44–224k pesos a month, secondary 55–297k.

SpecialistiProfesional - new fee caps in CABA private schools from September 2026 · checked 28 Sep 2026

International schools Woodside, St Clare's and Garzón School. According to a realtor's estimate, 6–15k dollars a year per child, with higher grades costing more.

SpecialistLa Cite Realtors: international schools in Maldonado and where to live nearby · checked 29 Sep 2026

A mid-level plan costs 110–280k pesos a month per person; OSDE 210 cost 285k in September 2026. For a family, multiply.

SpecialistComparison of private health insurance (prepagas) prices, September 2026 · checked 28 Sep 2026

With residency, city hospitals are free on equal terms with Argentines. Without a DNI, elective care is paid; emergency care is for everyone.

OfficialResolución 1054/MSGC/2025 - procedure for treating patients without an Argentine DNI in city hospitals · checked 28 Sep 2026

The ASSE state hospital and the Mautone sanatorium are in the neighbouring city of Maldonado. In Punta del Este itself, on Roosevelt, parada 13, is the head office of the private mutualista Asistencial.

OfficialASSE: Hospital Departamental de Maldonado Dr. Elbio Rivero Moreno · checked 29 Sep 2026

The metro is 1,753 pesos per trip, a bus from 888. Fares drop from the 21st trip in a month. A family spends about 127k a month.

OfficialRed SUBE - AMBA public transport fares, in effect from 1 September 2026 · checked 28 Sep 2026

A Montevideo – Punta del Este ticket from COPSA costs 466 pesos, return 932. To Maldonado 450, with a student discount.

SpecialistCOPSA Línea Este: intercity bus fares from 7 January 2026 · checked 29 Sep 2026

Only Buenos Aires and São Paulo have regular flights all year round. Santiago, Asunción and Campinas are added only in summer. Data for the 2024–2025 season.

SpecialistAviacionline: Punta del Este adds flights for the 2024-2025 season · checked 29 Sep 2026

The average July temperature is 11.5 degrees: about 8 at night, about 16 by day. Snow comes once in several generations, but you need heating in winter.

SpecialistClimates to Travel - climate of Buenos Aires, 1991-2020 normals · checked 28 Sep 2026

About 1,260 mm a year and 77 rainy days – there is no dry season. It rains most in summer, winter is the driest. Downpours sometimes cause flooding.

SpecialistClimates to Travel - climate of Buenos Aires, 1991-2020 normals · checked 28 Sep 2026

July is the coldest month: average minimum 8.7 degrees, maximum 14.4. Summer is mild: in January 18.1 and 25.2.

OfficialWMO, World Weather Information Service: climate normals for Punta del Este · checked 29 Sep 2026

About 1,010 mm a year, evenly distributed: from 67 mm in December to 94 mm in August, 8–10 rain days in any month.

OfficialWMO, World Weather Information Service: climate normals for Punta del Este · checked 29 Sep 2026

In 2025 there were 2.53 homicides per 100k residents – the lowest since 1995, below the national average (3.7).

OfficialBuenos Aires crime map, summary report for 2025 · checked 28 Sep 2026

In 2025 there were 14 homicides in the Maldonado department, about 6.6 per 100 thousand residents. Nationwide, 10.3.

SpecialistMontevideo Portal: breakdown of 2025 homicides by department · checked 29 Sep 2026

Fibre at 300 Mbps costs about 14–22k pesos a month on promotion, 500 Mbps 22–36k. The main trap: after 6–12 months the list price kicks in, and it is three to four times higher.

SpecialistMovistar Argentina - 300 Mbps fiber plan · checked 28 Sep 2026

Antel fibre from 1,650 pesos for 400 Mbit/s to 4,342 for a gigabit. For holiday-home owners there is Fibra Temporada for 865 pesos: unlimited data from December to March.

OfficialAntel: data plan price list, 2026 · checked 29 Sep 2026

Without subsidies, electricity, gas and water cost about 142k pesos a month in spring and up to 166k in winter. Expensas (the building fee) are not included in this amount.

SpecialistTN citing the Observatorio de Tarifas y Subsidios IIEP (UBA-CONICET) - AMBA utilities basket, September 2026 · checked 28 Sep 2026

Edesur electricity without a subsidy: 157 pesos per kWh plus 3,632 a month (category 151–400 kWh). For 300 kWh about 50.8k pesos without IVA (33 dollars).

OfficialEdesur: cuadro tarifario, ENReGE resolution 535/26, in effect from 1 September 2026 · checked 30 Sep 2026

Metrogas gas without a subsidy: 316 pesos per m³ plus a fixed charge of 4.4–53.8k a month, without taxes. 100 m³ in winter (category R2 2°) – about 47.6k pesos (31 dollars).

OfficialMetrogas: cuadros tarifarios, September 2026 (tariffs for homes without SEF subsidies, excluding taxes) · checked 30 Sep 2026

The UTE tariff is uniform: 300 kWh comes to about 2,940 pesos, 600 kWh about 5,470. In apartments, gastos comunes come on top: from 13k pesos to 1,400 dollars.

OfficialDecree 339/025: UTE tariffs from 1 January 2026 · checked 29 Sep 2026

OSE, Maldonado resort zone: 47.41 pesos per m³ up to 15 m³ plus a fixed charge of 636.68. For 15 m³ with sewage about 2,200 pesos a month, more than in Montevideo.

OfficialDecree 340/025: OSE water and sewerage tariffs from 1 January 2026 · checked 29 Sep 2026

We did not find network gas in Punta del Este: the distributors Montevideo Gas and Conecta do not list Maldonado. Refilling a 13 kg cylinder costs about 1,216 pesos.

OfficialURSEA: network gas, tariffs of distribution companies · checked 29 Sep 2026