Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chattanooga, TN and Montevideo

For one person, living is cheaper in Montevideo: $1,784 a month against $2,611 in Chattanooga, TN, rent and utilities included – about $9,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Chattanooga, TN
🇺🇸 United States
$2,611
/mo nomad
Montevideo
🇺🇾 Uruguay
$1,784
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,611 per month in Chattanooga, TN vs $1,784 in Montevideo, rent included.

  • Chattanooga, TN $2,611
  • Montevideo $1,784

A couple spends around $3,850 per month in Chattanooga, TN vs $2,756 in Montevideo, rent included.

  • Chattanooga, TN $3,850
  • Montevideo $2,756

A family of three spends $5,089 per month in Chattanooga, TN vs $3,728 in Montevideo, rent included.

  • Chattanooga, TN $5,089
  • Montevideo $3,728

Chattanooga, TN costs about 46% more than Montevideo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chattanooga, TN and Montevideo sit above the global median – Chattanooga, TN by 93%, Montevideo by 32%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chattanooga, TN
Montevideo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.63 $19.63
$14.82 UYU 595
32.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99.2 $99.2
$69.7 UYU 2,797
42.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.15 $11.15
$14.68 UYU 589
-24.05%
Cappuccino
$5.35 $5.35
$4.65 UYU 186
15.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 $2.34
$2.74 UYU 110
-14.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08 $2.08
$2.07 UYU 82.9
0.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.14 $6.14
$4.79 UYU 192
28.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.49 $7.49
$3.63 UYU 146
106.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chattanooga, TN
Montevideo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.39 UYU 55.8
-19.42%
White Bread (500g)
$3.60 $3.60
$2.89 UYU 116
24.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.98 $3.98
$1.70 UYU 68.1
134.12%
Eggs
$4.19 $4.19
$4.62 UYU 185
-9.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.24 $14.24
$14.22 UYU 571
0.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.91 $14.91
$11.62 UYU 466
28.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.45 $13.45
$12.23 UYU 491
9.98%
Apples (1kg)
$6.41 $6.41
$2.77 UYU 111
131.41%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 $1.66
$2.85 UYU 114
-41.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.24 $4.24
$1.81 UYU 72.5
134.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.26 $4.26
$3.20 UYU 129
33.12%
Potato (1kg)
$2.76 $2.76
$1.94 UYU 77.8
42.27%
Onion (1kg)
$3.60 $3.60
$2.16 UYU 86.5
66.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.69 $2.69
$1.43 UYU 57.3
88.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.72 $2.72
$1.94 UYU 77.9
40.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.27 $9.27
$5.47 UYU 219
69.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.64 $17.64
$8.95 UYU 359
97.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.26 UYU 90.8
-11.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25 $3.25
$2.81 UYU 113
15.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Chattanooga, TN
Montevideo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.94 $1.94
$1.56 UYU 62.6
24.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$49.71 $49.71
$73.8 UYU 2,962
-32.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.14 $5.14
$1.90 UYU 76.2
170.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 $1.92
$0.43 UYU 17.36
346.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.07 $30.07
$10.59 UYU 425
183.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.96 $0.96
$2.12 UYU 85.2
-54.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6K $27.6K
$26.8K UYU 1.1M
2.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K $26.6K
$37.0K UYU 1.5M
-28.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chattanooga, TN
Montevideo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$159 $159
$193 UYU 7,727
-17.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$82.9 $82.9
$20.91 UYU 839
296.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.2 $75.2
$44.89 UYU 1,802
67.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chattanooga, TN
Montevideo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.22 $39.22
$50.8 UYU 2,038
-22.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.95 $3.95
$19.73 UYU 792
-79.98%
Cinema Ticket
$15.02 $15.02
$12.30 UYU 494
22.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chattanooga, TN
Montevideo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,086 $1,086
$629 UYU 25.2K
72.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.7K $24.7K
$10.9K UYU 437.3K
126.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chattanooga, TN
Montevideo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.44 $41.44
$104 UYU 4,166
-60.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.80 $38.80
$57.4 UYU 2,305
-32.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.9 $99.9
$125 UYU 5,010
-19.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 $118
$132 UYU 5,315
-10.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chattanooga, TN
Montevideo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,707 $1,707
$713 UYU 28.6K
139.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,272 $1,272
$575 UYU 23.1K
121.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,190 $3,190
$1,164 UYU 46.7K
174.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,984 $1,984
$1,033 UYU 41.5K
91.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,249 $2,249
$3,418 UYU 137.2K
-34.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,273 $2,273
$1,760 UYU 70.6K
29.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chattanooga, TN
Montevideo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,984 $3,984
$1,244 UYU 49.9K
220.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.63
5.74
15.51%

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

Last update for Chattanooga, TN: October 18, 2026

Last update for Montevideo: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chattanooga, TN
$1.3K
Montevideo
$575 54.8% $696
Groceries & Markets
Chattanooga, TN
$429
Montevideo
$334 22.2% $95
Eating Out
Chattanooga, TN
$318
Montevideo
$269 15.5% $49
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chattanooga, TN
$317
Montevideo
$258 18.5% $59
Clothing & Footwear
Chattanooga, TN
$134
Montevideo
$188 40.1% $54
Getting Around
Chattanooga, TN
$72
Montevideo
$84 16.5% $12
Sport & Entertainment
Chattanooga, TN
$69
Montevideo
$75 8.8% $6.1

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,707 in Chattanooga, TN 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 220% higher in Chattanooga, TN, 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 $99.0 in Chattanooga, TN versus $70.0 in Montevideo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $429 vs $334 – making Montevideo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Chattanooga, TN
🇺🇾 Montevideo
🕒 Local time
12:16 12:16 PM
13:16 1:16 PM
1 h ahead of Chattanooga, TN
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
176,588
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 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Uruguayan Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 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
  • Chattanooga, TN Montevideo 8,350 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chattanooga, TN
  • 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
Chattanooga, TN vs Montevideo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chattanooga, TN or Montevideo?
Chattanooga, TN costs about 46% more than Montevideo, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 Chattanooga, TN and in Montevideo?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,917 per month in Chattanooga, TN 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, Chattanooga, TN 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 much does it cost to live in Chattanooga, TN compared to Montevideo?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,611 in Chattanooga, TN and $1,784 in Montevideo. That's a gap of about 46%.
How expensive is transport in Chattanooga, TN compared to Montevideo?
Public transport costs about 48% less in Montevideo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Chattanooga, TN or in Montevideo?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Montevideo, where all-in costs run around $1,784, than in Chattanooga, TN at $2,611. In Montevideo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chattanooga, TN it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chattanooga, TN or Montevideo?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montevideo costs $1,784 versus $2,611 in Chattanooga, TN. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chattanooga, TN 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 Chattanooga, TN or to Montevideo?
If budget matters most, go with Montevideo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chattanooga, TN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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