πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $313 in Artigas versus $1,646 in Montevideo.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $371 in Artigas versus $2,495 in Montevideo.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $428 in Artigas versus $3,344 in Montevideo.
πLiving in Artigas costs roughly 81% less than in Montevideo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Artigas is 77% below, Montevideo is 22% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Artigas
Montevideo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$16.24UYUΒ 658
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$56.0UYUΒ 2,272
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$12.28UYUΒ 498
-
Cappuccino
-
$4.11UYUΒ 166
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.26UYUΒ 91.4
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.76UYUΒ 71.5
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$4.38UYUΒ 178
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.74UYUΒ 152
-
π Groceries & Markets
Artigas
Montevideo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
-
$1.21UYUΒ 48.94
-
White Bread(500g)
-
$2.84UYUΒ 115
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$1.67UYUΒ 67.6
-
Eggs
-
$4.80UYUΒ 195
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$13.77UYUΒ 558
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$10.84UYUΒ 439
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$11.19UYUΒ 454
-
Apples(1kg)
-
$3.10UYUΒ 126
-
Banana(1kg)
-
$2.39UYUΒ 97.1
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$1.50UYUΒ 60.8
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$3.75UYUΒ 152
-
Potato(1kg)
-
$2.15UYUΒ 87.0
-
Onion(1kg)
-
$1.94UYUΒ 78.8
-
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$1.33UYUΒ 53.8
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.71UYUΒ 69.3
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$5.23UYUΒ 212
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$10.14UYUΒ 411
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.30UYUΒ 93.4
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.02UYUΒ 122
-
π Getting Around
Artigas
Montevideo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.19UYUΒ 48.12
$1.29UYUΒ 52.3
-7.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.98UYUΒ 1,783
$56.1UYUΒ 2,275
-21.63%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.51UYUΒ 61.1
$1.56UYUΒ 63.1
-3.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.56UYUΒ 63.2
$3.47UYUΒ 141
-55.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.95UYUΒ 444
$12.35UYUΒ 501
-11.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.38UYUΒ 96.5
$1.87UYUΒ 76.0
27.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.9KUYUΒ 1.6M
$34.0KUYUΒ 1.4M
17.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3KUYUΒ 1.6M
$36.9KUYUΒ 1.5M
6.41%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Artigas
Montevideo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$174UYUΒ 7,051
$170UYUΒ 6,873
2.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$16.98UYUΒ 688
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.39UYUΒ 1,557
$48.75UYUΒ 1,976
-21.25%
π Sport & Entertainment
Artigas
Montevideo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.05UYUΒ 1,178
$62.0UYUΒ 2,512
-53.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.74UYUΒ 719
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.72UYUΒ 354
$10.40UYUΒ 422
-16.15%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Artigas
Montevideo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$486UYUΒ 19.7K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$8,923UYUΒ 361.7K
-
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Artigas
Montevideo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$94.4UYUΒ 3,826
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$46.75UYUΒ 1,895
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$112UYUΒ 4,531
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$124UYUΒ 5,009
-
π Accommodation & Living
Artigas
Montevideo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$619UYUΒ 25.1K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$487UYUΒ 19.7K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,094UYUΒ 44.4K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$811UYUΒ 32.9K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,553UYUΒ 144.1K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,245UYUΒ 91.0K
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Artigas
Montevideo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,317UYUΒ 53.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
5.68
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Artigas: June 9, 2026
Last update for Montevideo: June 8, 2026
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Artigas vs Montevideo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Artigas or Montevideo?
Artigas wins on cost β living expenses run 426% lower than in Montevideo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Artigas the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Artigas vs Montevideo?
You'd need roughly $469 in Artigas and $2,469 in Montevideo to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How expensive is transport in Artigas vs Montevideo?
A monthly transit pass in Artigas runs roughly 28% less than in Montevideo. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How much does it cost to live in Artigas compared to Montevideo?
All in, you'll spend $313 per month in Artigas versus $1,646 in Montevideo β a 426% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Artigas or Montevideo?
At $313 in Artigas versus $1,646 in Montevideo, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Artigas but tight or insufficient in Montevideo. The gap between the two cities makes Artigas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Artigas or Montevideo?
Both work as nomad bases, but Artigas delivers better value β similar infrastructure at $313 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Artigas hard to pass up.
How safe is Artigas compared to Montevideo?
Safety-wise, Artigas and Montevideo are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Artigas gentler on the wallet β expenses run 426% less than in Montevideo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.