Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Athens, GA and Montevideo

For one person, living is cheaper in Montevideo: $1,784 a month against $2,200 in Athens, GA, rent and utilities included – about $5,000 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Athens, GA outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Athens, GA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,200
/mo nomad
Montevideo
🇺🇾 Uruguay
$1,784
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Athens, GA and in Montevideo

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Athens, GA and in Montevideo actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,200 per month in Athens, GA vs $1,784 in Montevideo, rent included.

  • Athens, GA $2,200
  • Montevideo $1,784

A couple spends around $3,313 per month in Athens, GA vs $2,756 in Montevideo, rent included.

  • Athens, GA $3,313
  • Montevideo $2,756

A family of three spends $4,426 per month in Athens, GA vs $3,728 in Montevideo, rent included.

  • Athens, GA $4,426
  • Montevideo $3,728

Athens, GA costs about 23% more than Montevideo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Athens, GA and Montevideo sit above the global median – Athens, GA by 62%, Montevideo by 32%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Athens, GA
Montevideo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.19 $13.19
$14.82 UYU 595
-11.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.7 $63.7
$69.7 UYU 2,797
-8.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.36 $10.36
$14.68 UYU 589
-29.43%
Cappuccino
$5.70 $5.70
$4.65 UYU 186
22.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93 $2.93
$2.74 UYU 110
6.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 $2.21
$2.07 UYU 82.9
6.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.52 $7.52
$4.79 UYU 192
56.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.79 $7.79
$3.63 UYU 146
114.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Athens, GA
Montevideo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.82 $0.82
$1.39 UYU 55.8
-41.01%
White Bread (500g)
$2.93 $2.93
$2.89 UYU 116
1.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.57 $6.57
$1.70 UYU 68.1
286.47%
Eggs
$3.27 $3.27
$4.62 UYU 185
-29.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.81 $8.81
$14.22 UYU 571
-38.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.55 $10.55
$11.62 UYU 466
-9.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.58 $14.58
$12.23 UYU 491
19.22%
Apples (1kg)
$5.96 $5.96
$2.77 UYU 111
115.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.36 $1.36
$2.85 UYU 114
-52.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.23 $6.23
$1.81 UYU 72.5
244.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.73 $4.73
$3.20 UYU 129
47.81%
Potato (1kg)
$4.21 $4.21
$1.94 UYU 77.8
117.01%
Onion (1kg)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.16 UYU 86.5
92.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.62 $2.62
$1.43 UYU 57.3
83.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.98 $1.98
$1.94 UYU 77.9
2.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.03 $9.03
$5.47 UYU 219
65.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.65 $18.65
$8.95 UYU 359
108.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 $1.78
$2.26 UYU 90.8
-21.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.93 $5.93
$2.81 UYU 113
111.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Athens, GA
Montevideo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.56 UYU 62.6
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.58 $15.58
$73.8 UYU 2,962
-78.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$1.90 UYU 76.2
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.43 UYU 17.36
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$10.59 UYU 425
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.00 $1.00
$2.12 UYU 85.2
-52.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4K $28.4K
$26.8K UYU 1.1M
5.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K $27.0K
$37.0K UYU 1.5M
-27.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens, GA
Montevideo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$285 $285
$193 UYU 7,727
47.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.91 $41.91
$20.91 UYU 839
100.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$79.7 $79.7
$44.89 UYU 1,802
77.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Athens, GA
Montevideo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.05 $25.05
$50.8 UYU 2,038
-50.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.80 $7.80
$19.73 UYU 792
-60.47%
Cinema Ticket
$12.95 $12.95
$12.30 UYU 494
5.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Athens, GA
Montevideo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$872 $872
$629 UYU 25.2K
38.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,396 $9,396
$10.9K UYU 437.3K
-13.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Athens, GA
Montevideo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 $54.8
$104 UYU 4,166
-47.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.97 $31.97
$57.4 UYU 2,305
-44.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$64.6 $64.6
$125 UYU 5,010
-48.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$54.5 $54.5
$132 UYU 5,315
-58.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Athens, GA
Montevideo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,340 $1,340
$713 UYU 28.6K
87.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$957 $957
$575 UYU 23.1K
66.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,322 $2,322
$1,164 UYU 46.7K
99.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,860 $1,860
$1,033 UYU 41.5K
80.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,420 $2,420
$3,418 UYU 137.2K
-29.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,230 $2,230
$1,760 UYU 70.6K
26.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Athens, GA
Montevideo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,487 $3,487
$1,244 UYU 49.9K
180.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.72
5.74
17.07%

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

Last update for Athens, GA: October 20, 2026

Last update for Montevideo: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Athens, GA
$957
Montevideo
$575 39.8% $381
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens, GA
$406
Montevideo
$258 36.4% $148
Groceries & Markets
Athens, GA
$399
Montevideo
$334 16.5% $66
Eating Out
Athens, GA
$279
Montevideo
$269 3.5% $9.9
Clothing & Footwear
Athens, GA
$93
Montevideo
$188 103% $96
Sport & Entertainment
Athens, GA
$51
Montevideo
$75 48% $24
Getting Around
Athens, GA
$16 *
Montevideo
$84 440% $69

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,340 in Athens, GA versus $713 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 180% higher in Athens, GA, 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 $64.0 in Athens, GA versus $70.0 in Montevideo. Groceries tell a different story – $399 in Athens, GA vs $334 in Montevideo – so Montevideo wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Athens, GA
🇺🇾 Montevideo
🕒 Local time
04:43 4:43 AM
05:43 5:43 AM
1 h ahead of Athens, GA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
115,452
1,319,108 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

UYU, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Uruguayan Peso exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 40.14 UYU (100 UYU = 2.49 USD). 1 EUR = 45.12 UYU (100 UYU = 2.22 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Athens, GA Montevideo 8,160 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Athens, GA
  • Montevideo

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Athens, GA vs Montevideo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Montevideo cheaper than Athens, GA?
Yes – Athens, GA is pricier by about 23%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,300 per month in Athens, GA and $2,676 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 Montevideo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Athens, GA and in Montevideo?
Groceries cost about 20% more in Athens, GA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Athens, GA or in Montevideo?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $64.0 in Athens, GA and $70.0 in Montevideo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Athens, GA or in Montevideo?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Montevideo, where all-in costs run around $1,784, than in Athens, GA at $2,200. In Montevideo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Athens, GA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Athens, GA or Montevideo more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Montevideo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Athens, GA 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 Montevideo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Athens, GA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Athens, GA vs other spots: cost of living compared

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