MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Most expensive country of the region

Following currency devaluations and recession in Mercosur member countries, Chile has become the most expensive country in US dollars of the region. This means that countries once considered expensive have now become a “bargain”.

Taking into account a basic basket of 18 products Chile figures with the most expensive prices for eight of them and with none among the cheapest.

On the other hand Argentina and Uruguay until a few months ago the most expensive countries in US dollars in the region have now the cheapest prices for the 18 products.

Brazil has also ceased to be relatively cheap. Taking into account prices in US dollars, the cheapest basket of 18 products would be made up of the following: from Argentina, noodles, beef, poultry, apples, phone calls, bus tickets and weekend cinema tickets; from Brazil, sugar, bread and sunflower cooking oil; from Uruguay, rice, milk, beef, butter, cheese and mineral water.

The most expensive basket of 18 products in US dollars would include apples and mineral water from Brazil; rice, sugar, milk, potatoes, beef, cheese, urban bus ticket and weekend cinema ticket; from Uruguay, noodles, fresh bread, sunflower cooking oil, poultry and phone calls.

However it's important to point out that cheaper US dollar prices does not mean a lower cost of living; it rather depends on the purchasing power of family incomes.