Cost of Living Comparison Between Canelones and Montevideo Cost of Living Comparison Between Canelones and Montevideo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,950 per month in Canelones vs $1,787 in Montevideo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,166 per month in Canelones vs $2,687 in Montevideo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,383 per month in Canelones vs $3,588 in Montevideo, rent included.

Canelones costs about 9% more than Montevideo, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Canelones and Montevideo sit above the global median – Canelones by 41%, Montevideo by 30%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.77 UYU 594

$14.88 UYU 598

-0.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.40 UYU 1,987

$60.9 UYU 2,448

-18.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.07 UYU 526

$13.91 UYU 559

-6.04%

Cappuccino

$3.87 UYU 156

$4.36 UYU 175

-11.24%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 UYU 107

$2.78 UYU 112

-3.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 UYU 80.3

$2.03 UYU 81.7

-1.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.72 UYU 190

$4.73 UYU 190

-0.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 UYU 119

$3.76 UYU 151

-21.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 UYU 52.3

$1.32 UYU 53.3

-1.52%

White Bread (500g)

$2.81 UYU 113

$2.91 UYU 117

-3.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.83 UYU 73.6

$1.74 UYU 69.9

5.17%

Eggs

$4.70 UYU 189

$4.84 UYU 195

-2.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.00 UYU 563

$14.19 UYU 571

-1.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.84 UYU 476

$11.47 UYU 461

3.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 UYU 458

$11.74 UYU 472

-3.07%

Apples (1kg)

$2.94 UYU 118

$2.91 UYU 117

1.03%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 UYU 113

$2.79 UYU 112

1.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 UYU 73.3

$1.73 UYU 69.6

5.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.04 UYU 122

$3.14 UYU 127

-3.18%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 UYU 82.1

$2.00 UYU 80.4

2.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 UYU 91.3

$2.15 UYU 86.5

5.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.41 UYU 56.5

$1.44 UYU 58.0

-2.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 UYU 79.2

$1.90 UYU 76.5

3.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.37 UYU 216

$5.34 UYU 215

0.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.11 UYU 326

$8.64 UYU 348

-6.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 UYU 91.9

$2.27 UYU 91.2

0.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 UYU 113

$2.85 UYU 114

-1.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 UYU 61.1

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.2 UYU 2,986

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.83 UYU 73.8

$1.85 UYU 74.2

-1.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 UYU 17.59

$0.41 UYU 16.44

7.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.37 UYU 417

$10.60 UYU 426

-2.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.99 UYU 80.1

$2.17 UYU 87.4

-8.29%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.4K UYU 1.1M

$27.3K UYU 1.1M

0.53%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$38.0K UYU 1.5M

$37.3K UYU 1.5M

1.87%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$189 UYU 7,617

$194 UYU 7,792

-2.25%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$17.48 UYU 703

$17.71 UYU 712

-1.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.67 UYU 1,837

$45.14 UYU 1,816

1.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.1 UYU 2,700

$53.5 UYU 2,152

25.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.77 UYU 795

Cinema Ticket

$12.26 UYU 493

$11.96 UYU 481

2.51%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$621 UYU 25.0K

$622 UYU 25.0K

-0.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K UYU 421.8K

$10.6K UYU 427.7K

-1.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$94.8 UYU 3,813

$97.1 UYU 3,904

-2.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.24 UYU 1,981

$57.4 UYU 2,310

-14.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 UYU 4,571

$122 UYU 4,925

-7.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 UYU 5,120

$133 UYU 5,335

-4.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$762 UYU 30.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$885 UYU 35.6K

$598 UYU 24.0K

48.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,192 UYU 47.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$958 UYU 38.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,051 UYU 163.0K

$3,581 UYU 144.0K

13.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,916 UYU 77.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$894 UYU 36.0K

$1,247 UYU 50.2K

-28.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.49

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Canelones: September 5, 2026

Last update for Montevideo: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 39% higher in Montevideo, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Canelones versus $61.0 in Montevideo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $330 vs $331 – making Canelones 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

Canelones vs Montevideo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Canelones is pricier by about 9%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,924 per month in Canelones and $2,680 in Montevideo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,950 in Canelones and $1,787 in Montevideo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $621 per month in Canelones and $622 in Montevideo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Montevideo, where all-in costs run around $1,787, than in Canelones at $1,950. In Montevideo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Canelones it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Montevideo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Montevideo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Canelones makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.