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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $755 per month in Asuncion vs $1,667 in Montevideo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,155 per month in Asuncion vs $2,511 in Montevideo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,556 per month in Asuncion vs $3,354 in Montevideo, rent included.

Asuncion is about 55% cheaper than Montevideo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Asuncion sits 43% below the global median, while Montevideo is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Asuncion
Montevideo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.29 ₲25.9K
$16.30 UYU 656
-73.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.47 ₲159.7K
$55.4 UYU 2,228
-52.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.60 ₲27.8K
$12.19 UYU 490
-62.26%
Cappuccino
$1.96 ₲11.8K
$4.26 UYU 171
-53.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 ₲5,336
$2.19 UYU 88.1
-59.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 ₲3,033
$1.71 UYU 68.8
-70.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.42 ₲8,581
$4.47 UYU 180
-68.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84 ₲11.1K
$3.70 UYU 149
-50.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Asuncion
Montevideo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.85 ₲5,114
$1.25 UYU 50.4
-32.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.05 ₲6,337
$2.91 UYU 117
-63.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.98 ₲5,892
$1.63 UYU 65.7
-39.88%
Eggs
$1.57 ₲9,462
$4.96 UYU 199
-68.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.64 ₲40.1K
$13.31 UYU 535
-50.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.14 ₲19.0K
$10.83 UYU 436
-71.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.65 ₲40.1K
$10.96 UYU 441
-39.32%
Apples (1kg)
$1.93 ₲11.7K
$3.08 UYU 124
-37.34%
Banana (1kg)
$0.79 ₲4,746
$2.36 UYU 94.9
-66.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.92 ₲5,552
$1.50 UYU 60.4
-38.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.63 ₲9,847
$3.58 UYU 144
-54.47%
Potato (1kg)
$1.12 ₲6,731
$2.08 UYU 83.6
-46.15%
Onion (1kg)
$1.08 ₲6,540
$1.94 UYU 78.1
-44.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.59 ₲3,554
$1.31 UYU 52.7
-54.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ₲3,147
$1.73 UYU 69.4
-69.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.39 ₲8,389
$5.23 UYU 210
-73.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.43 ₲50.8K
$8.76 UYU 353
-3.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 ₲4,612
$2.33 UYU 93.9
-67.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 ₲8,680
$2.90 UYU 117
-50.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Asuncion
Montevideo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.44 ₲2,655
$1.30 UYU 52.1
-66.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$24.82 ₲149.7K
$56.3 UYU 2,265
-55.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.61 ₲3,696
$1.54 UYU 62.1
-60.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.78 ₲4,699
$3.63 UYU 146
-78.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.94 ₲53.9K
$12.37 UYU 498
-27.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 ₲5,045
$1.83 UYU 73.5
-54.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$14.6K ₲87.8M
$33.7K UYU 1.4M
-56.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6K ₲142.6M
$35.9K UYU 1.4M
-34.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Asuncion
Montevideo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$42.71 ₲257.7K
$175 UYU 7,032
-75.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77 ₲83.0K
$16.95 UYU 682
-18.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.34 ₲92.5K
$48.42 UYU 1,948
-68.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Asuncion
Montevideo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.68 ₲167.0K
$61.7 UYU 2,480
-55.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.71 ₲70.6K
$17.76 UYU 715
-34.07%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97 ₲30.0K
$10.42 UYU 419
-52.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Asuncion
Montevideo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$162 ₲977.8K
$489 UYU 19.7K
-66.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,313 ₲20.0M
$8,967 UYU 360.7K
-63.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Asuncion
Montevideo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.53 ₲298.8K
$95.6 UYU 3,847
-48.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.79 ₲185.7K
$47.66 UYU 1,917
-35.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.4 ₲436.7K
$115 UYU 4,608
-36.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$52.8 ₲318.4K
$121 UYU 4,858
-56.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Asuncion
Montevideo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$404 ₲2.4M
$611 UYU 24.6K
-33.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$296 ₲1.8M
$488 UYU 19.6K
-39.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$707 ₲4.3M
$1,107 UYU 44.5K
-36.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$485 ₲2.9M
$818 UYU 32.9K
-40.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,761 ₲10.6M
$3,598 UYU 144.7K
-51.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,235 ₲7.4M
$2,274 UYU 91.5K
-45.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Asuncion
Montevideo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$631 ₲3.8M
$1,332 UYU 53.6K
-52.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.17
5.68
79.05%

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

Last update for Asuncion: July 13, 2026

Last update for Montevideo: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $404 in Asuncion versus $611 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 111% 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 $26.00 in Asuncion versus $55.0 in Montevideo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $149 vs $319 – 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 121%, 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 $1,132 per month in Asuncion and $2,501 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 127% less in Asuncion. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $162 per month in Asuncion and $489 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 $755, than in Montevideo at $1,667. 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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