😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,345 in Cochrane versus $1,667 in Montevideo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,130 in Cochrane versus $2,511 in Montevideo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,914 in Cochrane versus $3,354 in Montevideo.
🌍Living in Cochrane is roughly 41% more expensive than in Montevideo, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Cochrane76% above, Montevideo25% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cochrane
Montevideo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.45CA$25.87
$16.30UYU 656
13.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.1CA$92.7
$55.4UYU 2,228
19.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.33CA$14.48
$12.19UYU 490
-15.26%
Cappuccino
$3.69CA$5.17
$4.26UYU 171
-13.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10CA$2.95
$2.19UYU 88.1
-4.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79CA$2.51
$1.71UYU 68.8
4.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.97CA$8.37
$4.47UYU 180
33.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.84CA$8.18
$3.70UYU 149
57.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cochrane
Montevideo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.00CA$2.80
$1.25UYU 50.4
60.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.44CA$3.42
$2.91UYU 117
-16.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.09CA$4.33
$1.63UYU 65.7
89.57%
Eggs
$3.22CA$4.51
$4.96UYU 199
-35.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.13CA$12.80
$13.31UYU 535
-31.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.90CA$12.48
$10.83UYU 436
-17.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.74CA$12.25
$10.96UYU 441
-20.26%
Apples(1kg)
$4.76CA$6.68
$3.08UYU 124
54.55%
Banana(1kg)
$1.32CA$1.84
$2.36UYU 94.9
-44.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.95CA$5.54
$1.50UYU 60.4
163.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.45CA$2.03
$3.58UYU 144
-59.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.50CA$2.10
$2.08UYU 83.6
-27.88%
Onion(1kg)
$2.15CA$3.01
$1.94UYU 78.1
10.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.76CA$3.86
$1.31UYU 52.7
110.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.94CA$2.72
$1.73UYU 69.4
12.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.55CA$20.40
$5.23UYU 210
178.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.57CA$12.01
$8.76UYU 353
-2.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.09CA$4.33
$2.33UYU 93.9
32.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24CA$4.55
$2.90UYU 117
11.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Cochrane
Montevideo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.66CA$5.13
$1.30UYU 52.1
181.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$62.8CA$88.0
$56.3UYU 2,265
11.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.25CA$4.56
$1.54UYU 62.1
111.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.65CA$2.31
$3.63UYU 146
-54.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.07CA$32.35
$12.37UYU 498
86.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.07CA$1.50
$1.83UYU 73.5
-41.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.2KCA$35.4K
$33.7KUYU 1.4M
-25.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2KCA$31.2K
$35.9KUYU 1.4M
-37.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cochrane
Montevideo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$205CA$287
$175UYU 7,032
17.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.64CA$62.6
$16.95UYU 682
163.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.1CA$92.6
$48.42UYU 1,948
36.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cochrane
Montevideo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.55CA$68.1
$61.7UYU 2,480
-21.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.76UYU 715
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.38CA$18.76
$10.42UYU 419
28.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cochrane
Montevideo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$702CA$984
$489UYU 19.7K
43.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5KCA$16.2K
$8,967UYU 360.7K
28.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cochrane
Montevideo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.03CA$68.7
$95.6UYU 3,847
-48.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.25CA$59.2
$47.66UYU 1,917
-11.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.5CA$118
$115UYU 4,608
-26.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103CA$144
$121UYU 4,858
-14.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cochrane
Montevideo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,249CA$1,752
$611UYU 24.6K
104.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,160CA$1,626
$488UYU 19.6K
137.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,872CA$2,624
$1,107UYU 44.5K
69.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,379CA$1,933
$818UYU 32.9K
68.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$22.3KCA$31.2K
$3,598UYU 144.7K
518.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,274UYU 91.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cochrane
Montevideo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,055CA$5,686
$1,332UYU 53.6K
204.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
5.68
-11.97%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cochrane: July 14, 2026
Last update for Montevideo: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,249 in Cochrane and $611 in Montevideo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cochrane pays 204% 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: $66.0 in Cochrane vs $55.0 in Montevideo. Groceries flip the comparison at $305 vs $319, with Cochrane cheaper for home cooking.
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
Cochrane vs Montevideo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cochrane or Montevideo?
Montevideo wins on cost – living expenses run 41% lower than in Cochrane. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Montevideo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Cochrane or in Montevideo?
Average pay runs 204% higher in Cochrane, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Cochrane compared to Montevideo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,249 in Cochrane versus $611 in Montevideo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Cochrane and in Montevideo?
Dining out is cheaper in Montevideo – a meal for two runs $55.0 versus $66.0 in Cochrane. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Cochrane compared to Montevideo?
All in, you'll spend $2,345 per month in Cochrane versus $1,667 in Montevideo – a 41% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Cochrane or in Montevideo?
At $1,667 in Montevideo versus $2,345 in Cochrane, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Montevideo but tight or insufficient in Cochrane. The gap between the two cities makes Montevideo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Cochrane or Montevideo?
Both work as nomad bases, but Montevideo delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,667 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Montevideo hard to pass up.
How safe is Cochrane compared to Montevideo?
Safety-wise, Cochrane 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Montevideo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Cochrane. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.