😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,007 in Busto Arsizio versus $1,632 in Montevideo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,912 in Busto Arsizio versus $2,480 in Montevideo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,816 in Busto Arsizio versus $3,329 in Montevideo.
😐Living in Busto Arsizio is roughly 23% more expensive than Montevideo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Busto Arsizio50% above, Montevideo22% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Busto Arsizio
Montevideo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.16€16.50
$15.85UYU 638
20.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.5€71.0
$54.6UYU 2,197
51.16%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.44€9.85
$12.12UYU 488
-5.61%
Cappuccino
$1.93€1.66
$4.23UYU 170
-54.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38€2.91
$2.19UYU 88.1
54.34%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28€1.11
$1.69UYU 68.2
-24.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.19€5.33
$4.52UYU 182
36.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.38€4.63
$3.60UYU 145
49.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Busto Arsizio
Montevideo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.58€1.36
$1.27UYU 51.3
24.41%
White Bread(500g)
$2.55€2.20
$2.77UYU 112
-7.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.85€3.31
$1.58UYU 63.8
143.67%
Eggs
$3.98€3.43
$4.79UYU 193
-16.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.35€13.22
$13.41UYU 540
14.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.38€11.52
$10.67UYU 430
25.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$25.82€22.23
$11.24UYU 452
129.72%
Apples(1kg)
$1.99€1.71
$3.00UYU 121
-33.67%
Banana(1kg)
$2.26€1.94
$2.43UYU 98.0
-7.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.56€2.21
$1.54UYU 62.2
66.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.56€3.06
$3.66UYU 148
-2.73%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05€1.76
$2.11UYU 84.8
-2.84%
Onion(1kg)
$1.73€1.49
$1.89UYU 75.9
-8.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.27
$1.37UYU 55.0
7.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59€0.51
$1.71UYU 68.9
-65.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.35€6.33
$5.10UYU 205
44.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.98€5.15
$10.05UYU 405
-40.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.05€1.77
$2.36UYU 94.9
-13.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68€2.31
$2.92UYU 118
-8.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Busto Arsizio
Montevideo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.78€1.53
$1.29UYU 52.0
37.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.20€37.20
$55.8UYU 2,247
-22.59%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.99€3.44
$1.60UYU 64.3
149.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19€1.89
$3.63UYU 146
-39.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$46.03€39.63
$12.43UYU 500
270.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.07€1.78
$1.81UYU 73.0
14.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0K€28.4K
$34.5KUYU 1.4M
-4.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.7K€31.6K
$36.0KUYU 1.4M
2.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Busto Arsizio
Montevideo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$242€208
$170UYU 6,864
41.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.66€11.76
$16.51UYU 665
-17.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.35€26.13
$49.77UYU 2,004
-39.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Busto Arsizio
Montevideo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.18€29.43
$61.8UYU 2,489
-44.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.38€20.13
$17.67UYU 711
32.31%
Cinema Ticket
$12.04€10.37
$10.45UYU 421
15.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Busto Arsizio
Montevideo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$543€467
$482UYU 19.4K
12.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,623€3,981
$8,873UYU 357.3K
-47.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Busto Arsizio
Montevideo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.8€77.3
$94.9UYU 3,821
-5.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.66€32.43
$47.22UYU 1,902
-20.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114€98.1
$112UYU 4,502
1.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140€121
$123UYU 4,964
13.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Busto Arsizio
Montevideo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,353€1,165
$628UYU 25.3K
115.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$745€642
$492UYU 19.8K
51.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,049€1,765
$1,112UYU 44.8K
84.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,078€928
$801UYU 32.2K
34.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,677€2,305
$3,582UYU 144.2K
-25.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,647€1,418
$2,272UYU 91.5K
-27.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Busto Arsizio
Montevideo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,224€1,915
$1,334UYU 53.7K
66.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.68
5.68
-17.61%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Busto Arsizio: June 1, 2026
Last update for Montevideo: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,353 in Busto Arsizio and $628 in Montevideo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Busto Arsizio pays 67% 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: $82.0 in Busto Arsizio vs $55.0 in Montevideo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $365 vs $321 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 Montevideo?
Busto Arsizio and Montevideo differ by about 23% in total monthly costs ($2,007 vs $1,632 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?
Busto Arsizio pays 67% more on average, 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 Montevideo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,353 in Busto Arsizio versus $628 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 $55.0 versus $82.0 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 $2,007 per month in Busto Arsizio versus $1,632 in Montevideo – a 23% 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 $1,632 in Montevideo versus $2,007 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 23% 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