Cost of Living Comparison Between Asuncion and Montevideo Cost of Living Comparison Between Asuncion and Montevideo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,030 per month in Asuncion vs $1,806 in Montevideo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,603 per month in Asuncion vs $2,668 in Montevideo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,176 per month in Asuncion vs $3,530 in Montevideo, rent included.

Asuncion is about 43% cheaper than Montevideo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Asuncion sits 25% below the global median, while Montevideo is 31% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Asuncion
Montevideo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.31 ₲43.0K
$15.05 UYU 605
-51.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.46 ₲249.9K
$63.1 UYU 2,541
-32.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.72 ₲39.6K
$13.11 UYU 527
-48.74%
Cappuccino
$3.28 ₲19.3K
$4.56 UYU 183
-28.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 ₲6,181
$2.69 UYU 108
-60.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₲3,704
$1.96 UYU 78.7
-67.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.04 ₲12.0K
$4.63 UYU 186
-55.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84 ₲10.8K
$3.65 UYU 147
-49.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Asuncion
Montevideo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.25 ₲7,351
$1.34 UYU 54.0
-6.72%
White Bread (500g)
$1.48 ₲8,694
$2.87 UYU 115
-48.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.30 ₲7,639
$1.75 UYU 70.6
-25.71%
Eggs
$2.42 ₲14.2K
$4.79 UYU 193
-49.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.59 ₲56.4K
$14.40 UYU 579
-33.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.28 ₲31.1K
$11.94 UYU 480
-55.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.66 ₲56.9K
$11.57 UYU 465
-16.51%
Apples (1kg)
$2.86 ₲16.9K
$2.83 UYU 114
1.06%
Banana (1kg)
$1.25 ₲7,380
$2.78 UYU 112
-55.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.17 ₲6,887
$1.76 UYU 71.0
-33.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.40 ₲14.1K
$3.00 UYU 121
-20.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.36 ₲7,994
$2.14 UYU 86.1
-36.45%
Onion (1kg)
$1.31 ₲7,739
$2.17 UYU 87.4
-39.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 ₲5,250
$1.46 UYU 58.6
-39.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69 ₲4,067
$1.98 UYU 79.6
-65.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34 ₲13.8K
$5.55 UYU 223
-57.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.16 ₲53.9K
$8.31 UYU 334
10.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.35 ₲7,970
$2.24 UYU 90.2
-39.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 ₲10.2K
$2.89 UYU 116
-40.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Asuncion
Montevideo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.59 ₲3,470
$1.55 UYU 62.3
-61.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$36.85 ₲216.9K
$75.6 UYU 3,042
-51.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.48 ₲8,730
$1.81 UYU 72.7
-18.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.56 ₲9,167
$0.41 UYU 16.34
280.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.33 ₲60.8K
$10.35 UYU 417
-0.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 ₲6,818
$2.09 UYU 84.2
-44.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.0K ₲100.3M
$27.2K UYU 1.1M
-37.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.9K ₲205.3M
$37.6K UYU 1.5M
-7.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Asuncion
Montevideo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$48.80 ₲287.2K
$188 UYU 7,549
-73.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.86 ₲99.2K
$16.86 UYU 678
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.77 ₲128.1K
$45.26 UYU 1,821
-51.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Asuncion
Montevideo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.22 ₲213.2K
$48.88 UYU 1,967
-25.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.80 ₲87.1K
$18.99 UYU 764
-22.06%
Cinema Ticket
$8.24 ₲48.5K
$12.33 UYU 496
-33.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Asuncion
Montevideo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$178 ₲1.0M
$640 UYU 25.8K
-72.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,730 ₲33.7M
$10.8K UYU 433.8K
-46.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Asuncion
Montevideo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.4 ₲361.2K
$94.5 UYU 3,804
-35.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.4 ₲332.1K
$56.7 UYU 2,281
-0.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 ₲613.5K
$123 UYU 4,952
-15.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.9 ₲405.2K
$132 UYU 5,296
-47.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Asuncion
Montevideo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$608 ₲3.6M
$760 UYU 30.6K
-20.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$377 ₲2.2M
$602 UYU 24.2K
-37.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,022 ₲6.0M
$1,193 UYU 48.0K
-14.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$635 ₲3.7M
$980 UYU 39.4K
-35.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,766 ₲10.4M
$3,484 UYU 140.2K
-49.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,220 ₲7.2M
$1,865 UYU 75.0K
-34.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Asuncion
Montevideo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$711 ₲4.2M
$1,211 UYU 48.7K
-41.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.15
5.49
84.88%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Asuncion: August 30, 2026

Last update for Montevideo: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $608 in Asuncion versus $760 in Montevideo. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 70% higher in Montevideo, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Asuncion versus $63.0 in Montevideo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $212 vs $333 – making Asuncion the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Asuncion vs Montevideo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Montevideo cheaper than Asuncion?
Yes – Montevideo is pricier by about 75%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,545 per month in Asuncion and $2,709 in Montevideo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Asuncion, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 105% less in Asuncion. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $178 per month in Asuncion and $640 in Montevideo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Asuncion or in Montevideo?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Asuncion, where all-in costs run around $1,030, than in Montevideo at $1,806. In Asuncion it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montevideo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Asuncion or Montevideo more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Asuncion – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Asuncion or Montevideo?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Asuncion. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Montevideo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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