Cost of Living Comparison Between Bloomington, IL and Montevideo Cost of Living Comparison Between Bloomington, IL and Montevideo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,222 per month in Bloomington, IL vs $1,806 in Montevideo, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,120 per month in Bloomington, IL vs $2,668 in Montevideo, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,018 per month in Bloomington, IL vs $3,530 in Montevideo, rent included.

Bloomington, IL costs about 23% more than Montevideo, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Bloomington, IL and Montevideo sit above the global median – Bloomington, IL by 62%, Montevideo by 31%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bloomington, IL
Montevideo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.13 $16.13
$15.05 UYU 605
7.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.26 $44.26
$63.1 UYU 2,541
-29.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.91 $11.91
$13.11 UYU 527
-9.15%
Cappuccino
$2.52 $2.52
$4.56 UYU 183
-44.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 $1.99
$2.69 UYU 108
-26.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 $1.70
$1.96 UYU 78.7
-13.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.58 $5.58
$4.63 UYU 186
20.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.10 $5.10
$3.65 UYU 147
39.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bloomington, IL
Montevideo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.34 UYU 54.0
-19.40%
White Bread (500g)
$2.41 $2.41
$2.87 UYU 115
-16.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.28 $4.28
$1.75 UYU 70.6
144.57%
Eggs
$3.68 $3.68
$4.79 UYU 193
-23.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.44 $13.44
$14.40 UYU 579
-6.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.58 $7.58
$11.94 UYU 480
-36.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.90 $17.90
$11.57 UYU 465
54.71%
Apples (1kg)
$3.68 $3.68
$2.83 UYU 114
30.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 $1.54
$2.78 UYU 112
-44.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.37 $5.37
$1.76 UYU 71.0
205.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.60 $3.60
$3.00 UYU 121
20.00%
Potato (1kg)
$3.55 $3.55
$2.14 UYU 86.1
65.89%
Onion (1kg)
$2.72 $2.72
$2.17 UYU 87.4
25.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.82 $2.82
$1.46 UYU 58.6
93.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.70 $2.70
$1.98 UYU 79.6
36.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.86 $7.86
$5.55 UYU 223
41.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.18 $15.18
$8.31 UYU 334
82.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.94 $1.94
$2.24 UYU 90.2
-13.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26 $3.26
$2.89 UYU 116
12.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Bloomington, IL
Montevideo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.55 UYU 62.3
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.72 $40.72
$75.6 UYU 3,042
-46.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.58 $3.58
$1.81 UYU 72.7
97.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 $1.53
$0.41 UYU 16.34
273.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$40.19 $40.19
$10.35 UYU 417
288.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$2.09 UYU 84.2
-54.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.6K $34.6K
$27.2K UYU 1.1M
27.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K $25.1K
$37.6K UYU 1.5M
-33.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bloomington, IL
Montevideo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$192 $192
$188 UYU 7,548
2.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$70.0 $70.0
$16.86 UYU 678
315.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.3 $74.3
$45.26 UYU 1,821
64.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bloomington, IL
Montevideo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.3 $60.3
$48.88 UYU 1,967
23.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.99 UYU 764
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.80 $9.80
$12.33 UYU 496
-20.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bloomington, IL
Montevideo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,379 $1,379
$640 UYU 25.8K
115.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.4K $23.4K
$10.8K UYU 433.7K
117.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bloomington, IL
Montevideo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.7 $59.7
$94.5 UYU 3,804
-36.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.96 $43.96
$56.7 UYU 2,281
-22.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.2 $84.2
$123 UYU 4,952
-31.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 $119
$132 UYU 5,296
-9.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bloomington, IL
Montevideo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,249 $1,249
$760 UYU 30.6K
64.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$964 $964
$602 UYU 24.2K
60.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,744 $1,744
$1,193 UYU 48.0K
46.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,464 $1,464
$980 UYU 39.4K
49.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,345 $1,345
$3,484 UYU 140.2K
-61.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,304 $1,304
$1,865 UYU 75.0K
-30.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bloomington, IL
Montevideo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,640 $4,640
$1,211 UYU 48.7K
283.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.09
5.49
10.93%

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

Last update for Bloomington, IL: August 30, 2026

Last update for Montevideo: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,249 in Bloomington, IL 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 283% higher in Bloomington, IL, 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 $44.00 in Bloomington, IL versus $63.0 in Montevideo. Groceries tell a different story – $372 in Bloomington, IL vs $333 in Montevideo – so Montevideo wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Bloomington, IL vs Montevideo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bloomington, IL or Montevideo?
Bloomington, IL costs about 23% more than Montevideo, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Bloomington, IL and in Montevideo?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,334 per month in Bloomington, IL and $2,709 in Montevideo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Bloomington, IL or Montevideo?
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 childcare costs compare in Bloomington, IL and in Montevideo?
Kindergarten costs $1,379 per month in Bloomington, IL and $640 in Montevideo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Bloomington, IL or in Montevideo?
Groceries cost about 12% more in Bloomington, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Bloomington, IL or in Montevideo?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Montevideo, where all-in costs run around $1,806, than in Bloomington, IL at $2,222. In Montevideo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bloomington, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bloomington, IL or Montevideo?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montevideo costs $1,806 versus $2,222 in Bloomington, IL. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Bloomington, IL compared to 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.
Should I move to Bloomington, IL or to Montevideo?
If budget matters most, go with Montevideo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bloomington, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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