Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Lee, NJ and Montevideo

For one person, living is cheaper in Montevideo: $1,813 a month against $3,937 in Fort Lee, NJ, rent and utilities included – about $25,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Fort Lee, NJ
🇺🇸 United States
$3,937
/mo nomad
Montevideo
🇺🇾 Uruguay
$1,813
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,937 in Fort Lee, NJ versus $1,813 in Montevideo.

  • Fort Lee, NJ $3,937
  • Montevideo $1,813

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,241 in Fort Lee, NJ versus $2,782 in Montevideo.

  • Fort Lee, NJ $6,241
  • Montevideo $2,782

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $8,546 in Fort Lee, NJ versus $3,750 in Montevideo.

  • Fort Lee, NJ $8,546
  • Montevideo $3,750

Living in Fort Lee, NJ is roughly 117% more expensive than in Montevideo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Fort Lee, NJ 194% above, Montevideo 35% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fort Lee, NJ
Montevideo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.14 $25.14
$15.26 UYU 613
64.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.1 $82.1
$67.4 UYU 2,711
21.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.02 $11.02
$14.37 UYU 578
-23.31%
Cappuccino
$5.48 $5.48
$4.64 UYU 187
18.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 $2.23
$2.73 UYU 110
-18.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 $1.60
$2.09 UYU 84.0
-23.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.15 $8.15
$4.75 UYU 191
71.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.09 $8.09
$3.67 UYU 147
120.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fort Lee, NJ
Montevideo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.33 $1.33
$1.38 UYU 55.5
-3.62%
White Bread (500g)
$3.76 $3.76
$2.77 UYU 112
35.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.66 $6.66
$1.69 UYU 67.8
294.08%
Eggs
$4.79 $4.79
$4.52 UYU 182
5.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.36 $12.36
$14.17 UYU 570
-12.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.82 $11.82
$12.07 UYU 485
-2.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.34 $17.34
$12.16 UYU 489
42.60%
Apples (1kg)
$5.43 $5.43
$2.87 UYU 116
89.20%
Banana (1kg)
$1.80 $1.80
$2.75 UYU 110
-34.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.48 $6.48
$1.73 UYU 69.5
274.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.35 $5.35
$3.24 UYU 130
65.12%
Potato (1kg)
$3.97 $3.97
$2.07 UYU 83.1
91.79%
Onion (1kg)
$3.90 $3.90
$2.07 UYU 83.1
88.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.87 $2.87
$1.38 UYU 55.4
107.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.82 $2.82
$1.85 UYU 74.5
52.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.60 $11.60
$5.57 UYU 224
108.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.84 $11.84
$8.89 UYU 357
33.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 $1.75
$2.29 UYU 92.2
-23.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 $1.99
$2.70 UYU 109
-26.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Fort Lee, NJ
Montevideo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.76 $2.76
$1.52 UYU 61.3
81.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$139 $139
$73.7 UYU 2,962
88.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.95 $2.95
$1.82 UYU 73.4
62.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.08 $2.08
$0.40 UYU 16.05
420.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.65 $23.65
$10.66 UYU 429
121.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.87 $0.87
$2.22 UYU 89.2
-60.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.9K $31.9K
$26.7K UYU 1.1M
19.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$36.7K UYU 1.5M
-29.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fort Lee, NJ
Montevideo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$214 $214
$191 UYU 7,674
12.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$74.4 $74.4
$20.40 UYU 820
264.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.4 $65.4
$44.14 UYU 1,775
48.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fort Lee, NJ
Montevideo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$125 $125
$54.1 UYU 2,177
130.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.68 UYU 791
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.61 $14.61
$12.33 UYU 496
18.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fort Lee, NJ
Montevideo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,983 $1,983
$613 UYU 24.7K
223.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.1K $24.1K
$11.0K UYU 444.3K
118.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fort Lee, NJ
Montevideo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.22 $41.22
$103 UYU 4,134
-59.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.5 $56.5
$56.1 UYU 2,255
0.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.4 $77.4
$124 UYU 5,000
-37.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.5 $85.5
$130 UYU 5,214
-34.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fort Lee, NJ
Montevideo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,933 $2,933
$705 UYU 28.4K
315.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,298 $2,298
$575 UYU 23.1K
299.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$6,476 $6,476
$1,139 UYU 45.8K
468.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,974 $4,974
$1,016 UYU 40.8K
389.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,302 $4,302
$3,349 UYU 134.6K
28.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,810 $3,810
$1,942 UYU 78.1K
96.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fort Lee, NJ
Montevideo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,520 $6,520
$1,229 UYU 49.4K
430.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.75
5.74
17.60%

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

Last update for Fort Lee, NJ: October 3, 2026

Last update for Montevideo: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Fort Lee, NJ
$2.3K
Montevideo
$575 75% $1.7K
Groceries & Markets
Fort Lee, NJ
$437
Montevideo
$332 23.9% $104
Eating Out
Fort Lee, NJ
$372
Montevideo
$271 27.1% $101
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fort Lee, NJ
$354
Montevideo
$255 27.8% $98
Getting Around
Fort Lee, NJ
$163
Montevideo
$84 48.7% $79
Sport & Entertainment
Fort Lee, NJ
$154
Montevideo
$79 48.8% $75
Clothing & Footwear
Fort Lee, NJ
$117
Montevideo
$186 58.4% $69

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,933 in Fort Lee, NJ and $705 in Montevideo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Fort Lee, NJ pays 430% 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 Fort Lee, NJ vs $67.0 in Montevideo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $437 vs $332 per month, with Montevideo cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Fort Lee, NJ
🇺🇾 Montevideo
🕒 Local time
22:28 10:28 PM
23:28 11:28 PM
1 h ahead of Fort Lee, NJ
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
37,008
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 11, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Uruguayan Peso exchange rates as of October 11, 2026: 1 USD = 40.21 UYU (100 UYU = 2.49 USD). 1 EUR = 45.06 UYU (100 UYU = 2.22 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Fort Lee, NJ Montevideo 8,620 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Fort Lee, NJ
  • 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
Fort Lee, NJ vs Montevideo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Fort Lee, NJ or Montevideo?
Montevideo wins on cost – living expenses run 117% lower than in Fort Lee, NJ. 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 Fort Lee, NJ or in Montevideo?
Average pay runs 430% higher in Fort Lee, NJ, 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 Fort Lee, NJ compared to Montevideo?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,933 in Fort Lee, NJ versus $705 in Montevideo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Fort Lee, NJ compared to Montevideo?
All in, you'll spend $3,937 per month in Fort Lee, NJ versus $1,813 in Montevideo – a 117% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Fort Lee, NJ compared to Montevideo?
A monthly transit pass in Montevideo runs roughly 88% less than in Fort Lee, NJ. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Fort Lee, NJ or in Montevideo?
At $1,813 in Montevideo versus $3,937 in Fort Lee, NJ, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Montevideo but tight or insufficient in Fort Lee, NJ. The gap between the two cities makes Montevideo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Fort Lee, NJ or Montevideo?
Both work as nomad bases, but Montevideo delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,813 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Montevideo hard to pass up.
How safe is Fort Lee, NJ compared to Montevideo?
Safety-wise, Fort Lee, NJ 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 117% less than in Fort Lee, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Fort Lee, NJ vs other spots: cost of living compared

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