😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,106 in Groningen versus $1,667 in Montevideo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,107 in Groningen versus $2,511 in Montevideo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,107 in Groningen versus $3,354 in Montevideo.
🌍Living in Groningen is roughly 26% more expensive than in Montevideo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Groningen58% above, Montevideo25% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Groningen
Montevideo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.16€15.02
$16.30UYU 655
5.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$93.9€82.2
$55.4UYU 2,226
69.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.66€11.97
$12.19UYU 490
12.06%
Cappuccino
$3.84€3.37
$4.26UYU 171
-9.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96€2.59
$2.19UYU 88.0
35.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59€2.27
$1.71UYU 68.7
51.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.92€5.18
$4.47UYU 180
32.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.01€3.51
$3.70UYU 149
8.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Groningen
Montevideo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25€1.10
$1.25UYU 50.3
-
White Bread(500g)
$2.01€1.76
$2.91UYU 117
-30.93%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.16€2.76
$1.63UYU 65.6
93.87%
Eggs
$4.81€4.21
$4.96UYU 199
-3.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.65€11.96
$13.31UYU 535
2.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.59€13.66
$10.83UYU 435
43.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.30€15.15
$10.96UYU 441
57.85%
Apples(1kg)
$2.21€1.93
$3.08UYU 124
-28.25%
Banana(1kg)
$2.56€2.24
$2.36UYU 94.8
8.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$1.50UYU 60.3
34.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.60€3.15
$3.58UYU 144
0.56%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08€1.82
$2.08UYU 83.5
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.91€1.67
$1.94UYU 78.1
-1.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.30€1.14
$1.31UYU 52.7
-0.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74€0.65
$1.73UYU 69.4
-57.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.94€12.20
$5.23UYU 210
166.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.77€5.93
$8.76UYU 352
-22.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.31
$2.33UYU 93.8
-35.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54€2.23
$2.90UYU 117
-12.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Groningen
Montevideo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.06€3.56
$1.30UYU 52.1
212.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$68.8€60.2
$56.3UYU 2,263
22.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.82€3.35
$1.54UYU 62.0
148.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.56€2.24
$3.63UYU 146
-29.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.76€26.06
$12.37UYU 497
140.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.29€2.01
$1.83UYU 73.4
25.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.8K€25.3K
$33.7KUYU 1.4M
-14.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K€28.2K
$35.9KUYU 1.4M
-10.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Groningen
Montevideo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$212€186
$175UYU 7,025
21.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.70€19.00
$16.95UYU 681
28.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.20€41.34
$48.42UYU 1,946
-2.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Groningen
Montevideo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.96€34.12
$61.7UYU 2,478
-36.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.54€12.73
$17.76UYU 714
-18.13%
Cinema Ticket
$14.46€12.66
$10.42UYU 419
38.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Groningen
Montevideo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,766€1,547
$489UYU 19.6K
261.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,627€7,555
$8,967UYU 360.4K
-3.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Groningen
Montevideo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.1€59.7
$95.6UYU 3,844
-28.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.94€22.72
$47.66UYU 1,915
-45.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.9€76.2
$115UYU 4,603
-24.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.9€79.6
$121UYU 4,853
-24.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Groningen
Montevideo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,186€1,038
$611UYU 24.5K
94.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$912€799
$488UYU 19.6K
87.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,721€1,508
$1,107UYU 44.5K
55.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,405€1,230
$818UYU 32.9K
71.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,361€4,696
$3,598UYU 144.6K
49.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,973€3,479
$2,274UYU 91.4K
74.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Groningen
Montevideo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,058€2,678
$1,332UYU 53.5K
129.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.64
5.68
-35.92%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Groningen: July 11, 2026
Last update for Montevideo: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,186 in Groningen and $611 in Montevideo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Groningen pays 130% 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: $94.0 in Groningen vs $55.0 in Montevideo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $338 vs $319 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 26% 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 130% 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: $1,186 in Groningen versus $611 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 6% 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 $55.0 versus $94.0 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 $1,667 in Montevideo versus $2,106 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 $1,667 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 26% less than in Groningen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.