😐A single person spends $2,055 per month in Cold Lake vs $1,667 in Montevideo, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,071 per month in Cold Lake vs $2,511 in Montevideo, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,087 per month in Cold Lake vs $3,354 in Montevideo, rent included.
😐Cold Lake costs about 23% more than Montevideo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Cold Lake and Montevideo sit above the global median – Cold Lake by 54%, Montevideo by 25%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cold Lake
Montevideo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.43CA$25.84
$16.30UYU 656
13.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.8CA$86.6
$55.4UYU 2,228
11.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.46CA$16.07
$12.19UYU 490
-5.99%
Cappuccino
$3.69CA$5.17
$4.26UYU 171
-13.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18CA$3.06
$2.19UYU 88.1
-0.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49CA$2.09
$1.71UYU 68.8
-12.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.02CA$8.44
$4.47UYU 180
34.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71CA$8.01
$3.70UYU 149
54.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cold Lake
Montevideo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.12CA$1.57
$1.25UYU 50.4
-10.40%
White Bread(500g)
$2.00CA$2.80
$2.91UYU 117
-31.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.14CA$4.40
$1.63UYU 65.7
92.64%
Eggs
$3.73CA$5.23
$4.96UYU 199
-24.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.49CA$16.11
$13.31UYU 535
-13.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.36CA$17.32
$10.83UYU 436
14.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.27CA$22.81
$10.96UYU 441
48.45%
Apples(1kg)
$4.68CA$6.56
$3.08UYU 124
51.95%
Banana(1kg)
$1.13CA$1.58
$2.36UYU 94.9
-52.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.81CA$2.53
$1.50UYU 60.4
20.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25CA$3.15
$3.58UYU 144
-37.15%
Potato(1kg)
$2.44CA$3.42
$2.08UYU 83.6
17.31%
Onion(1kg)
$1.08CA$1.52
$1.94UYU 78.1
-44.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.69CA$3.77
$1.31UYU 52.7
105.34%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.00CA$2.80
$1.73UYU 69.4
15.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.38CA$17.36
$5.23UYU 210
136.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.89CA$16.68
$8.76UYU 353
35.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.98CA$4.18
$2.33UYU 93.9
27.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14CA$4.41
$2.90UYU 117
8.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Cold Lake
Montevideo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.40CA$3.36
$1.30UYU 52.1
84.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$62.4CA$87.6
$56.3UYU 2,265
10.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.20CA$4.48
$1.54UYU 62.1
107.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.64CA$2.30
$3.63UYU 146
-54.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.53CA$32.99
$12.37UYU 498
90.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.05CA$1.47
$1.83UYU 73.5
-42.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.6KCA$35.8K
$33.7KUYU 1.4M
-24.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5KCA$31.5K
$35.9KUYU 1.4M
-37.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cold Lake
Montevideo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$202CA$283
$175UYU 7,032
15.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$45.23CA$63.4
$16.95UYU 682
166.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.4CA$93.1
$48.42UYU 1,948
37.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cold Lake
Montevideo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.10CA$59.0
$61.7UYU 2,480
-31.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.76UYU 715
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.34CA$18.70
$10.42UYU 419
28.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cold Lake
Montevideo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$697CA$978
$489UYU 19.7K
42.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.6KCA$16.3K
$8,967UYU 360.7K
29.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cold Lake
Montevideo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.72CA$41.67
$95.6UYU 3,847
-68.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.10CA$50.6
$47.66UYU 1,917
-24.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$55.5CA$77.8
$115UYU 4,608
-51.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.1CA$131
$121UYU 4,858
-22.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cold Lake
Montevideo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$919CA$1,289
$611UYU 24.6K
50.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$892CA$1,250
$488UYU 19.6K
82.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,599CA$2,241
$1,107UYU 44.5K
44.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,500CA$2,104
$818UYU 32.9K
83.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,598UYU 144.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,274UYU 91.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cold Lake
Montevideo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,040CA$4,262
$1,332UYU 53.6K
128.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.08
5.68
7.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cold Lake: July 13, 2026
Last update for Montevideo: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $919 in Cold Lake versus $611 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 128% higher in Cold Lake, 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 $62.0 in Cold Lake versus $55.0 in Montevideo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $342 vs $319 – making Montevideo 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
Cold Lake vs Montevideo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Montevideo cheaper than Cold Lake?
Yes – Cold Lake is pricier by about 23%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,082 per month in Cold Lake and $2,501 in Montevideo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Is eating out cheaper in Cold Lake or in Montevideo?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $62.0 in Cold Lake and $55.0 in Montevideo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Cold Lake and in Montevideo?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,055 in Cold Lake and $1,667 in Montevideo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Cold Lake or in Montevideo?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Montevideo, where all-in costs run around $1,667, than in Cold Lake at $2,055. In Montevideo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cold Lake it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Cold Lake or Montevideo more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Cold Lake or 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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Montevideo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cold Lake makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.