Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bloomington, IL and Montevideo

For one person, living is cheaper in Montevideo: $1,784 a month against $2,258 in Bloomington, IL, rent and utilities included – about $5,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Bloomington, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,258
/mo nomad
Montevideo
🇺🇾 Uruguay
$1,784
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bloomington, IL 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 Bloomington, IL and in Montevideo actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,258 per month in Bloomington, IL vs $1,784 in Montevideo, rent included.

  • Bloomington, IL $2,258
  • Montevideo $1,784

A couple spends around $3,264 per month in Bloomington, IL vs $2,756 in Montevideo, rent included.

  • Bloomington, IL $3,264
  • Montevideo $2,756

A family of three spends $4,270 per month in Bloomington, IL vs $3,728 in Montevideo, rent included.

  • Bloomington, IL $4,270
  • Montevideo $3,728

Bloomington, IL costs about 27% more than Montevideo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both Bloomington, IL and Montevideo sit above the global median – Bloomington, IL by 67%, Montevideo by 32%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bloomington, IL
Montevideo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.84 $17.84
$14.82 UYU 595
20.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.4 $78.4
$69.7 UYU 2,797
12.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.98 $11.98
$14.68 UYU 589
-18.39%
Cappuccino
$5.24 $5.24
$4.65 UYU 186
12.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.74 UYU 110
-11.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 $1.69
$2.07 UYU 82.9
-18.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.65 $5.65
$4.79 UYU 192
17.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.18 $7.18
$3.63 UYU 146
97.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bloomington, IL
Montevideo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.39 UYU 55.8
-21.58%
White Bread (500g)
$2.32 $2.32
$2.89 UYU 116
-19.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.24 $4.24
$1.70 UYU 68.1
149.41%
Eggs
$3.71 $3.71
$4.62 UYU 185
-19.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.39 $13.39
$14.22 UYU 571
-5.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.76 $7.76
$11.62 UYU 466
-33.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.30 $17.30
$12.23 UYU 491
41.46%
Apples (1kg)
$3.55 $3.55
$2.77 UYU 111
28.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 $1.62
$2.85 UYU 114
-43.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.55 $5.55
$1.81 UYU 72.5
206.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.46 $3.46
$3.20 UYU 129
8.12%
Potato (1kg)
$3.40 $3.40
$1.94 UYU 77.8
75.26%
Onion (1kg)
$2.66 $2.66
$2.16 UYU 86.5
23.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.71 $2.71
$1.43 UYU 57.3
89.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.81 $2.81
$1.94 UYU 77.9
44.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.80 $7.80
$5.47 UYU 219
42.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.05 $15.05
$8.95 UYU 359
68.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.93 $1.93
$2.26 UYU 90.8
-14.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 $3.20
$2.81 UYU 113
13.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Bloomington, IL
Montevideo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.23 $1.23
$1.56 UYU 62.6
-21.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.70 $40.70
$73.8 UYU 2,962
-44.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.40 $3.40
$1.90 UYU 76.2
78.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 $1.57
$0.43 UYU 17.36
265.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$40.78 $40.78
$10.59 UYU 425
285.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$2.12 UYU 85.2
-55.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.3K $27.3K
$26.8K UYU 1.1M
1.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K $25.4K
$37.0K UYU 1.5M
-31.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bloomington, IL
Montevideo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$196 $196
$193 UYU 7,727
1.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$69.5 $69.5
$20.91 UYU 839
232.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.1 $76.1
$44.89 UYU 1,802
69.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bloomington, IL
Montevideo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$59.8 $59.8
$50.8 UYU 2,038
17.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.73 UYU 792
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.13 $10.13
$12.30 UYU 494
-17.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bloomington, IL
Montevideo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,426 $1,426
$629 UYU 25.2K
126.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.8K $23.8K
$10.9K UYU 437.3K
118.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bloomington, IL
Montevideo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.9 $58.9
$104 UYU 4,166
-43.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.53 $40.53
$57.4 UYU 2,305
-29.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.6 $86.6
$125 UYU 5,010
-30.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 $121
$132 UYU 5,315
-8.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bloomington, IL
Montevideo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,275 $1,275
$713 UYU 28.6K
78.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$970 $970
$575 UYU 23.1K
68.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,784 $1,784
$1,164 UYU 46.7K
53.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,439 $1,439
$1,033 UYU 41.5K
39.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,485 $1,485
$3,418 UYU 137.2K
-56.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,309 $1,309
$1,760 UYU 70.6K
-25.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bloomington, IL
Montevideo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,544 $4,544
$1,244 UYU 49.9K
265.23%
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 Bloomington, IL: 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
Bloomington, IL
$970
Montevideo
$575 40.7% $395
Groceries & Markets
Bloomington, IL
$370
Montevideo
$334 9.9% $36
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bloomington, IL
$342
Montevideo
$258 24.4% $83
Eating Out
Bloomington, IL
$301
Montevideo
$269 10.6% $32
Clothing & Footwear
Bloomington, IL
$138
Montevideo
$188 36.4% $50
Sport & Entertainment
Bloomington, IL
$80
Montevideo
$75 5.9% $4.7
Getting Around
Bloomington, IL
$57
Montevideo
$84 47.9% $27

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,275 in Bloomington, IL 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 265% 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 $78.0 in Bloomington, IL versus $70.0 in Montevideo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $370 vs $334 – making Montevideo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Bloomington, IL
🇺🇾 Montevideo
🕒 Local time
20:50 8:50 PM
22:50 10:50 PM
2 h ahead of Bloomington, IL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
69,247
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
  • Bloomington, IL Montevideo 9,030 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Bloomington, IL
  • 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
Bloomington, IL vs Montevideo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bloomington, IL or Montevideo?
Bloomington, IL costs about 27% more than Montevideo, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from utilities. 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 $3,387 per month in Bloomington, IL and $2,676 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 $1,426 per month in Bloomington, IL and $629 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 11% 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 $1,784, than in Bloomington, IL at $2,258. 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 $1,784 versus $2,258 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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