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 $2,525 per month in Bloomington, IL vs $1,661 in Montevideo, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,505 per month in Bloomington, IL vs $2,471 in Montevideo, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,486 per month in Bloomington, IL vs $3,281 in Montevideo, rent included.

Bloomington, IL costs about 52% more than Montevideo, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Bloomington, IL and Montevideo sit above the global median – Bloomington, IL by 89%, Montevideo by 24%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bloomington, IL
Montevideo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.20 $15.20
$16.41 UYU 659
-7.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.7 $52.7
$54.5 UYU 2,187
-3.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.18 $11.18
$12.00 UYU 482
-6.83%
Cappuccino
$2.55 $2.55
$4.13 UYU 166
-38.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 $1.94
$2.24 UYU 89.8
-13.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 $1.98
$1.77 UYU 70.9
11.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.06 $6.06
$4.42 UYU 177
37.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.92 $4.92
$3.77 UYU 151
30.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bloomington, IL
Montevideo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.79 $0.79
$1.23 UYU 49.31
-35.77%
White Bread (500g)
$3.01 $3.01
$2.87 UYU 115
4.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$1.59 UYU 63.9
174.84%
Eggs
$3.59 $3.59
$4.91 UYU 197
-26.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.96 $8.96
$13.33 UYU 535
-32.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.48 $6.48
$10.90 UYU 438
-40.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.00 $13.00
$11.12 UYU 446
16.91%
Apples (1kg)
$4.28 $4.28
$3.01 UYU 121
42.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.30 $1.30
$2.47 UYU 99.3
-47.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.40 $5.40
$1.49 UYU 59.6
262.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.10 $3.10
$3.73 UYU 150
-16.89%
Potato (1kg)
$2.12 $2.12
$2.10 UYU 84.3
0.95%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 $2.19
$1.87 UYU 75.1
17.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.85 $1.85
$1.37 UYU 55.0
35.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.04 $2.04
$1.65 UYU 66.4
23.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.63 $9.63
$5.11 UYU 205
88.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.88 $14.88
$8.74 UYU 351
70.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$2.27 UYU 91.1
-22.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 $2.19
$2.99 UYU 120
-26.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Bloomington, IL
Montevideo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 $1.22
$1.29 UYU 51.9
-5.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.56 $39.56
$56.3 UYU 2,259
-29.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.96 $1.96
$1.57 UYU 62.8
24.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.20 $2.20
$3.45 UYU 139
-36.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.31 $34.31
$12.40 UYU 498
176.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 $0.89
$1.88 UYU 75.7
-52.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.5K $33.5K
$34.8K UYU 1.4M
-3.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.0K $25.0K
$36.8K UYU 1.5M
-32.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bloomington, IL
Montevideo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$171 $171
$170 UYU 6,835
0.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.9 $63.9
$16.69 UYU 670
283.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.3 $75.3
$48.56 UYU 1,949
55.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bloomington, IL
Montevideo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.0 $61.0
$61.2 UYU 2,455
-0.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.22 UYU 691
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.30 $8.30
$10.35 UYU 416
-19.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bloomington, IL
Montevideo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,770 $1,770
$478 UYU 19.2K
270.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$27.6K $27.6K
$9,037 UYU 362.8K
205.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bloomington, IL
Montevideo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.81 $46.81
$94.2 UYU 3,782
-50.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.39 $40.39
$47.87 UYU 1,921
-15.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.1 $86.1
$113 UYU 4,517
-23.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127 $127
$125 UYU 5,034
1.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bloomington, IL
Montevideo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,114 $1,114
$615 UYU 24.7K
81.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,330 $1,330
$483 UYU 19.4K
175.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,172 $2,172
$1,080 UYU 43.3K
101.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,019 $2,019
$824 UYU 33.1K
145.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,341 $1,341
$3,631 UYU 145.7K
-63.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,343 $1,343
$2,309 UYU 92.7K
-41.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bloomington, IL
Montevideo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,600 $4,600
$1,318 UYU 52.9K
249.01%
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: July 20, 2026

Last update for Montevideo: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,114 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 249% 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 $53.0 in Bloomington, IL versus $54.0 in Montevideo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $320 vs $320 – 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 52% 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 $3,787 per month in Bloomington, IL and $2,491 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 $1,770 per month in Bloomington, IL and $478 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 0% 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 $1,661, than in Bloomington, IL at $2,525. 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 $1,661 versus $2,525 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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