😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,288 in Groningen versus $1,806 in Montevideo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,495 in Groningen versus $2,668 in Montevideo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,702 in Groningen versus $3,530 in Montevideo.
🌍Living in Groningen is roughly 27% more expensive than in Montevideo, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Groningen66% above, Montevideo31% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Groningen
Montevideo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.20€18.23
$15.05UYU 605
40.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99.7€85.7
$63.1UYU 2,540
57.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.22€13.95
$13.11UYU 527
23.72%
Cappuccino
$4.58€3.94
$4.56UYU 183
0.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90€3.36
$2.69UYU 108
44.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30€2.84
$1.96UYU 78.7
68.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.93€5.10
$4.63UYU 186
28.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.68€4.88
$3.65UYU 147
55.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Groningen
Montevideo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.49€1.28
$1.34UYU 54.0
11.19%
White Bread(500g)
$2.73€2.35
$2.87UYU 115
-4.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.85€2.45
$1.75UYU 70.6
62.86%
Eggs
$4.69€4.03
$4.79UYU 193
-2.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.70€11.78
$14.40UYU 579
-4.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.50€11.61
$11.94UYU 480
13.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.24€19.12
$11.57UYU 465
92.22%
Apples(1kg)
$3.10€2.66
$2.83UYU 114
9.54%
Banana(1kg)
$2.53€2.18
$2.78UYU 112
-8.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.66€2.28
$1.76UYU 71.0
51.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.03€4.32
$3.00UYU 121
67.67%
Potato(1kg)
$2.29€1.97
$2.14UYU 86.1
7.01%
Onion(1kg)
$1.62€1.39
$2.17UYU 87.4
-25.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.32€1.13
$1.46UYU 58.6
-9.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27€1.09
$1.98UYU 79.6
-35.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.05€12.94
$5.55UYU 223
171.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.86€5.90
$8.31UYU 334
-17.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44€1.24
$2.24UYU 90.2
-35.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53€2.17
$2.89UYU 116
-12.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Groningen
Montevideo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.27€3.67
$1.55UYU 62.3
175.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$69.3€59.6
$75.6UYU 3,042
-8.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.84€5.88
$1.81UYU 72.7
277.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.85€2.45
$0.41UYU 16.34
595.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.82€25.63
$10.35UYU 417
188.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.57€2.21
$2.09UYU 84.2
22.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.5K€37.4K
$27.2KUYU 1.1M
60.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.3K€34.6K
$37.6KUYU 1.5M
7.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Groningen
Montevideo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$234€201
$188UYU 7,548
24.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.65€18.61
$16.86UYU 678
28.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.1€43.92
$45.26UYU 1,821
12.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Groningen
Montevideo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.27€34.62
$48.88UYU 1,967
-17.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.72€13.52
$18.99UYU 764
-17.22%
Cinema Ticket
$17.56€15.09
$12.33UYU 496
42.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Groningen
Montevideo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,818€1,563
$640UYU 25.8K
183.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,840€6,740
$10.8KUYU 433.7K
-27.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Groningen
Montevideo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€87.4
$94.5UYU 3,804
7.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.18€39.70
$56.7UYU 2,281
-18.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$109€93.8
$123UYU 4,952
-11.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144€124
$132UYU 5,296
9.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Groningen
Montevideo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,368€1,176
$760UYU 30.6K
80.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$917€789
$602UYU 24.2K
52.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,958€1,684
$1,193UYU 48.0K
64.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,448€1,245
$980UYU 39.4K
47.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,591€4,807
$3,484UYU 140.2K
60.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,027€3,462
$1,865UYU 75.0K
115.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Groningen
Montevideo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,132€2,692
$1,211UYU 48.7K
158.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.62
5.49
-34.06%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Groningen: August 30, 2026
Last update for Montevideo: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,368 in Groningen and $760 in Montevideo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Groningen pays 159% 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: $100 in Groningen vs $63.0 in Montevideo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $371 vs $333 per month, with Montevideo cheaper across the board.
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
Groningen vs Montevideo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Groningen or Montevideo?
Montevideo wins on cost – living expenses run 27% lower than in Groningen. 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 Groningen or in Montevideo?
Average pay runs 159% higher in Groningen, 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 Groningen compared to Montevideo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,368 in Groningen versus $760 in Montevideo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Groningen or in Montevideo?
Supermarket bills run roughly 11% higher in Groningen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Groningen and in Montevideo?
Dining out is cheaper in Montevideo – a meal for two runs $63.0 versus $100 in Groningen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Groningen or in Montevideo?
At $1,806 in Montevideo versus $2,288 in Groningen, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Montevideo but tight or insufficient in Groningen. The gap between the two cities makes Montevideo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Groningen or Montevideo?
Both work as nomad bases, but Montevideo delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,806 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Montevideo hard to pass up.
How safe is Groningen compared to Montevideo?
Safety-wise, Groningen 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 27% less than in Groningen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.