😐A single person spends $2,517 per month in Bloomington, IL vs $1,640 in Montevideo, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,494 per month in Bloomington, IL vs $2,477 in Montevideo, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,471 per month in Bloomington, IL vs $3,314 in Montevideo, rent included.
😐Bloomington, IL costs about 53% more than Montevideo, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both Bloomington, IL and Montevideo sit above the global median – Bloomington, IL by 88%, Montevideo by 22%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bloomington, IL
Montevideo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.45$15.45
$16.35UYU 650
-5.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.7$51.7
$54.3UYU 2,161
-4.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.89$10.89
$12.15UYU 483
-10.37%
Cappuccino
$2.54$2.54
$4.06UYU 162
-37.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99$1.99
$2.27UYU 90.1
-12.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03$2.03
$1.70UYU 67.7
19.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.86$5.86
$4.51UYU 179
29.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.90$4.90
$3.63UYU 144
34.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bloomington, IL
Montevideo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.83$0.83
$1.26UYU 50.3
-34.13%
White Bread(500g)
$3.06$3.06
$2.87UYU 114
6.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.34$4.34
$1.61UYU 64.1
169.57%
Eggs
$3.39$3.39
$4.71UYU 188
-28.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.02$9.02
$13.42UYU 534
-32.79%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.42$6.42
$10.74UYU 427
-40.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.07$13.07
$11.19UYU 445
16.80%
Apples(1kg)
$4.29$4.29
$3.13UYU 125
37.06%
Banana(1kg)
$1.29$1.29
$2.34UYU 93.3
-44.87%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.53$5.53
$1.55UYU 61.8
256.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.12$3.12
$3.63UYU 144
-14.05%
Potato(1kg)
$2.07$2.07
$2.14UYU 85.0
-3.27%
Onion(1kg)
$2.12$2.12
$1.96UYU 77.9
8.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.77$1.77
$1.36UYU 54.2
30.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.04$2.04
$1.73UYU 68.9
17.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.18$9.18
$5.09UYU 202
80.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.69$15.69
$9.90UYU 394
58.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72$1.72
$2.33UYU 92.8
-26.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23$2.23
$3.05UYU 121
-26.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Bloomington, IL
Montevideo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22$1.22
$1.35UYU 53.9
-9.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.17$40.17
$55.2UYU 2,197
-27.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.04$2.04
$1.61UYU 64.0
26.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.14$2.14
$3.60UYU 143
-40.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.38$33.38
$12.42UYU 494
168.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.89$0.89
$1.85UYU 73.5
-51.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.3K$33.3K
$34.8KUYU 1.4M
-4.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K$25.1K
$36.3KUYU 1.4M
-30.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bloomington, IL
Montevideo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$170$170
$175UYU 6,968
-2.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$64.8$64.8
$16.91UYU 673
283.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.9$72.9
$50.0UYU 1,989
45.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bloomington, IL
Montevideo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.4$59.4
$60.6UYU 2,410
-1.93%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.35UYU 691
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.42$8.42
$10.46UYU 416
-19.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bloomington, IL
Montevideo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,768$1,768
$494UYU 19.7K
257.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$27.4K$27.4K
$8,985UYU 357.5K
205.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bloomington, IL
Montevideo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.75$46.75
$96.1UYU 3,822
-51.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.81$41.81
$48.11UYU 1,914
-13.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.2$86.2
$116UYU 4,606
-25.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129$129
$125UYU 4,959
3.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bloomington, IL
Montevideo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,091$1,091
$615UYU 24.5K
77.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,373$1,373
$483UYU 19.2K
184.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,119$2,119
$1,117UYU 44.4K
89.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,970$1,970
$818UYU 32.6K
140.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,339$1,339
$3,484UYU 138.6K
-61.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,355$1,355
$2,267UYU 90.2K
-40.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bloomington, IL
Montevideo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,580$4,580
$1,283UYU 51.0K
257.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.53
5.68
14.96%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bloomington, IL: April 22, 2026
Last update for Montevideo: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,091 in Bloomington, IL versus $615 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 257% 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 $52 in Bloomington, IL versus $54 in Montevideo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $321 vs $322 – making Bloomington, IL 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
Bloomington, IL vs Montevideo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bloomington, IL or Montevideo?
Bloomington, IL costs about 53% 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 vs Montevideo?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,775 per month in Bloomington, IL and $2,460 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 Montevideo?
Kindergarten costs $1,768 per month in Bloomington, IL and $494 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 Montevideo?
Interestingly, groceries are about 0% cheaper in Bloomington, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Bloomington, IL or Montevideo?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Montevideo, where all-in costs run around $1,640, than in Bloomington, IL at $2,517. 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 $1,640 versus $2,517 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 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.
Bloomington, IL vs other spots: cost of living compared