😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,936 in Busto Arsizio versus $1,806 in Montevideo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,985 in Busto Arsizio versus $2,668 in Montevideo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,034 in Busto Arsizio versus $3,530 in Montevideo.
🌍Living in Busto Arsizio is roughly 7% more expensive than in Montevideo, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Busto Arsizio41% above, Montevideo31% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Busto Arsizio
Montevideo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.41€19.29
$15.05UYU 605
48.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.5€81.4
$63.1UYU 2,541
49.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.55€9.94
$13.11UYU 527
-11.90%
Cappuccino
$2.30€1.98
$4.56UYU 183
-49.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80€3.27
$2.69UYU 108
41.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42€1.22
$1.96UYU 78.7
-27.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.04€6.06
$4.63UYU 186
52.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.23€5.36
$3.65UYU 147
70.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Busto Arsizio
Montevideo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64€1.41
$1.34UYU 54.0
22.39%
White Bread(500g)
$2.54€2.19
$2.87UYU 115
-11.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.59€3.09
$1.75UYU 70.6
105.14%
Eggs
$5.04€4.34
$4.79UYU 193
5.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.90€15.41
$14.40UYU 579
24.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.05€12.10
$11.94UYU 480
17.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$23.54€20.27
$11.57UYU 465
103.46%
Apples(1kg)
$2.90€2.50
$2.83UYU 114
2.47%
Banana(1kg)
$1.88€1.62
$2.78UYU 112
-32.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.54€2.19
$1.76UYU 71.0
44.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.16€3.58
$3.00UYU 121
38.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.75€1.51
$2.14UYU 86.1
-18.22%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17€1.86
$2.17UYU 87.4
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.16€1.00
$1.46UYU 58.6
-20.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71€0.61
$1.98UYU 79.6
-64.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.95€6.84
$5.55UYU 223
43.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.26€4.53
$8.31UYU 334
-36.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.53€1.32
$2.24UYU 90.2
-31.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65€1.42
$2.89UYU 116
-42.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Busto Arsizio
Montevideo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.70€1.47
$1.55UYU 62.3
9.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$44.79€38.56
$75.6UYU 3,042
-40.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.15€3.57
$1.81UYU 72.7
129.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.27€1.96
$0.41UYU 16.34
453.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$40.35€34.73
$10.35UYU 417
289.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.04€1.76
$2.09UYU 84.2
-2.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.5K€32.3K
$27.2KUYU 1.1M
37.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.3K€31.3K
$37.6KUYU 1.5M
-3.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Busto Arsizio
Montevideo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$200€172
$188UYU 7,548
6.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.03€10.35
$16.86UYU 678
-28.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.46€24.50
$45.26UYU 1,821
-37.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Busto Arsizio
Montevideo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.38€27.87
$48.88UYU 1,967
-33.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.99UYU 764
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.02€10.34
$12.33UYU 496
-2.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Busto Arsizio
Montevideo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$936€806
$640UYU 25.8K
46.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,274€6,262
$10.8KUYU 433.7K
-32.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Busto Arsizio
Montevideo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.9€81.7
$94.5UYU 3,804
0.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.76€24.76
$56.7UYU 2,281
-49.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138€119
$123UYU 4,952
12.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142€122
$132UYU 5,296
7.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Busto Arsizio
Montevideo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,325€1,140
$760UYU 30.6K
74.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$666€573
$602UYU 24.2K
10.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,063€1,775
$1,193UYU 48.0K
72.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,117€961
$980UYU 39.4K
14.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,601€2,239
$3,484UYU 140.2K
-25.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,620€1,394
$1,865UYU 75.0K
-13.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Busto Arsizio
Montevideo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,249€1,936
$1,211UYU 48.7K
85.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.4
5.49
-38.07%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Busto Arsizio: August 30, 2026
Last update for Montevideo: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,325 in Busto Arsizio and $760 in Montevideo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Busto Arsizio pays 86% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $95.0 in Busto Arsizio vs $63.0 in Montevideo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $372 vs $333 per month, with Montevideo cheaper across the board.
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
Busto Arsizio vs Montevideo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Busto Arsizio and in Montevideo?
Busto Arsizio and Montevideo differ by about 7% in total monthly costs ($1,936 vs $1,806 including rent). Montevideo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Busto Arsizio or Montevideo?
Average pay runs 86% higher in Busto Arsizio, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Busto Arsizio and in Montevideo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,325 in Busto Arsizio versus $760 in Montevideo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Montevideo – a meal for two runs $63.0 versus $95.0 in Busto Arsizio. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Busto Arsizio or Montevideo?
All in, you'll spend $1,936 per month in Busto Arsizio versus $1,806 in Montevideo – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $1,806 in Montevideo versus $1,936 in Busto Arsizio, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Montevideo but tight or insufficient in Busto Arsizio. The gap between the two cities makes Montevideo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Busto Arsizio and Montevideo?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Busto Arsizio or Montevideo safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Busto Arsizio and Montevideo are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Busto Arsizio or Montevideo?
Expats usually find Montevideo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Busto Arsizio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Busto Arsizio vs other spots: cost of living compared