[GFischer]

I'm not the parent, but utilities for me in Uruguay are closer to 10% of my take-home pay than to 2% (electricity alone is 5%). I pay 5,6 URGP per kWh (about 22 U.S. cents).

According to Google, it's twice the price paid on average in the U.S.

The same goes for most other utilities. They're usually NOT included in rent contracts, that's another sticker shock foreigners have (also, houses have no basic appliances when rented out).

Most groceries are also way more expensive. Third world doesn't mean cheap, sadly. Only labor is cheaper (and some locally produced and nonexported goods, or subsidized).