Montevideo skyline

🇺🇾Cost of Living in Montevideo

Uruguay · Population: 1,319,108 · Cost Index: 42/100

Cost of Living in Montevideo

Uruguay · South America

Uruguay's capital and largest city, Montevideo stretches along the Rio de la Plata coastline. Known for its relaxed lifestyle, strong social safety net, historic Ciudad Vieja quarter, and thriving mate tea culture.

1,319,108

Population

42

Cost Index

58

Safety Index

65

Quality of Life

Average Monthly Cost: $1,200 (single person, excluding rent)

Estimated monthly budget in Montevideo

Typical total monthly cost by household type.

Single person
$1,200
per month
Couple
$1,800
per month
Family of 4
$2,520
per month
Student
$900
per month

Estimates based on the average cost of living in Montevideo, scaled by household size. Actual costs vary with lifestyle, neighbourhood and housing.

Cost Breakdown

Housing

Avg: $717.50
1-Bedroom Apartment (City Center)(per month)
$600.00
1-Bedroom Apartment (Outside Center)(per month)
$420.00
3-Bedroom Apartment (City Center)(per month)
$1,100.00
3-Bedroom Apartment (Outside Center)(per month)
$750.00

Food & Groceries

Avg: $7.27
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant(per meal)
$9.00
Meal for 2 at Mid-Range Restaurant(per meal)
$40.00
McMeal at McDonald's(per meal)
$8.00
Milk (1 liter)(per liter)
$1.30
Bread (500g loaf)(per loaf)
$1.50
Rice (1 kg)(per kg)
$1.20
Eggs (12)(per dozen)
$2.50
Chicken Breast (1 kg)(per kg)
$5.80
Apples (1 kg)(per kg)
$2.00
Banana (1 kg)(per kg)
$1.40

Transportation

Avg: $8.55
Monthly Public Transit Pass(per month)
$38.00
One-Way Ticket (Local Transport)(per trip)
$0.90
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)(base fare)
$1.50
Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff)(per km)
$0.65
Gasoline (1 liter)(per liter)
$1.70

Utilities

Avg: $48.33
Basic Utilities (85m² Apt)(per month)
$95.00
Mobile Phone Plan(per month)
$20.00
Internet (60 Mbps+)(per month)
$30.00

Healthcare

Avg: $23.33
Doctor Visit(per visit)
$25.00
Dentist Visit(per visit)
$35.00
Prescription Medicine (avg)(per prescription)
$10.00

Entertainment

Avg: $10.68
Fitness Club Monthly(per month)
$30.00
Cinema Ticket(per ticket)
$6.00
Cappuccino(per cup)
$3.20
Beer (0.5l) at Restaurant(per glass)
$3.50

Clothing

Avg: $61.00
Pair of Jeans (Levi's)(per pair)
$60.00
Summer Dress (Chain Store)(per item)
$38.00
Running Shoes (Nike, Adidas)(per pair)
$85.00

Popular Montevideo comparisons

Frequently asked questions about Montevideo

Is Montevideo expensive to live in?
Montevideo has a cost of living index of 42 out of 100, where New York City scores 100. This puts it in the mid-range among the cities we track.
How much money do you need to live in Montevideo?
A single person needs an estimated $1,200 per month to live in Montevideo, covering rent, food, transport and other essentials. A family or a more comfortable lifestyle will cost more.
What is the cost of living index in Montevideo?
Montevideo's cost of living index is 42 out of 100. The index is relative to New York City (100), so a score of 50 means overall costs are roughly half those of New York.
What is quality of life like in Montevideo?
Montevideo scores 65 out of 100 for quality of life and 58 out of 100 for safety in our index.

Data & sources

As an independent cross-check, the World Bank puts the overall price level in Uruguay at 74 relative to the United States (=100) in 2024. View source

Cost figures on this site are independent estimates, cross-referenced with public data sources including World Bank, Numbeo, Eurostat, OECD.

Compare Montevideo with another city

See how Montevideo stacks up against any other city in our database.

Quick Facts

Currency
UYU
Language
Spanish
Cost Index
42/100
Safety Index
58/100
Quality of Life
65/100

Data last updated: . Prices are approximate and shown in USD.

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