Answer
In Uruguay, $1,000 a month is enough to live on only in very limited circumstances, but it should not be considered a reliable budget for one person. The data include both examples of people living on this amount and a direct warning that $1,000 is not enough for one person.
The apparent contradiction is explained by different circumstances: housing, the city, whether rent is already covered, medical expenses, transportation, eating habits, and available funds all substantially affect the picture. If rent is already covered or someone lives very frugally, this amount looks different from what it would be when renting independently from scratch.
When planning a move, it is safer to regard $1,000 as the bare minimum for survival rather than a comfortable budget. You should budget separately for rent, healthcare, communications, groceries, transportation, and a reserve, because a single unexpected expense can quickly derail that budget.