Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Guanajuato and Montevideo

For one person, living is cheaper in Guanajuato: $1,054 a month against $1,771 in Montevideo, rent and utilities included – about $8,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Guanajuato
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,054
/mo nomad
Montevideo
🇺🇾 Uruguay
$1,771
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,054 in Guanajuato versus $1,771 in Montevideo.

  • Guanajuato $1,054
  • Montevideo $1,771

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,619 in Guanajuato versus $2,740 in Montevideo.

  • Guanajuato $1,619
  • Montevideo $2,740

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,185 in Guanajuato versus $3,708 in Montevideo.

  • Guanajuato $2,185
  • Montevideo $3,708

Living in Guanajuato costs roughly 40% less than in Montevideo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

The two cities straddle the global median: Guanajuato is 22% below, Montevideo is 31% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guanajuato
Montevideo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.62 MX$252
$15.16 UYU 609
-10.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.07 MX$814
$69.2 UYU 2,776
-36.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.59 MX$140
$14.65 UYU 588
-48.19%
Cappuccino
$3.86 MX$71.3
$4.46 UYU 179
-13.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 MX$30.87
$2.67 UYU 107
-37.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99 MX$18.28
$2.00 UYU 80.4
-50.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.67 MX$49.29
$4.83 UYU 194
-44.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.84 MX$89.4
$3.80 UYU 152
27.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guanajuato
Montevideo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.59 MX$29.41
$1.36 UYU 54.8
16.91%
White Bread (500g)
$2.61 MX$48.21
$2.87 UYU 115
-9.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.44 MX$26.68
$1.75 UYU 70.2
-17.71%
Eggs
$2.38 MX$44.03
$4.68 UYU 188
-49.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.84 MX$89.5
$13.88 UYU 557
-65.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.57 MX$177
$11.98 UYU 481
-20.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.88 MX$219
$11.97 UYU 480
-0.75%
Apples (1kg)
$2.72 MX$50.2
$2.78 UYU 111
-2.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 MX$30.31
$2.74 UYU 110
-40.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.03 MX$37.59
$1.77 UYU 71.2
14.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 MX$28.73
$3.24 UYU 130
-52.16%
Potato (1kg)
$1.98 MX$36.64
$1.97 UYU 79.2
0.51%
Onion (1kg)
$1.83 MX$33.75
$2.07 UYU 83.1
-11.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.52 MX$28.00
$1.37 UYU 55.1
10.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.06 MX$19.65
$1.88 UYU 75.3
-43.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.83 MX$89.3
$5.59 UYU 224
-13.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.74 MX$198
$8.78 UYU 352
22.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.88 MX$34.77
$2.26 UYU 90.9
-16.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 MX$64.0
$2.75 UYU 110
25.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Guanajuato
Montevideo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.58 MX$10.64
$1.53 UYU 61.5
-62.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.18 MX$502
$74.3 UYU 2,980
-63.40%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.17 MX$40.16
$1.91 UYU 76.7
13.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.38 MX$25.53
$0.40 UYU 16.18
245.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.94 MX$165
$10.33 UYU 415
-13.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.48 MX$27.33
$2.13 UYU 85.6
-30.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.4K MX$376.1K
$27.1K UYU 1.1M
-24.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.0K MX$443.1K
$36.3K UYU 1.5M
-33.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guanajuato
Montevideo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$50.7 MX$937
$188 UYU 7,557
-73.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.05 MX$371
$20.54 UYU 824
-2.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.98 MX$517
$44.81 UYU 1,798
-37.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guanajuato
Montevideo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.52 MX$582
$54.0 UYU 2,166
-41.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.44 MX$507
$19.75 UYU 793
38.94%
Cinema Ticket
$6.63 MX$122
$11.95 UYU 480
-44.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guanajuato
Montevideo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$209 MX$3,862
$634 UYU 25.5K
-67.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,492 MX$101.5K
$11.1K UYU 443.6K
-50.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guanajuato
Montevideo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3 MX$1,096
$102 UYU 4,099
-41.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.24 MX$688
$57.5 UYU 2,309
-35.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.5 MX$1,432
$127 UYU 5,079
-38.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.3 MX$1,058
$128 UYU 5,131
-55.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guanajuato
Montevideo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$518 MX$9,579
$719 UYU 28.8K
-27.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$295 MX$5,460
$568 UYU 22.8K
-47.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$779 MX$14.4K
$1,145 UYU 46.0K
-31.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$388 MX$7,179
$1,023 UYU 41.1K
-62.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,346 MX$24.9K
$3,392 UYU 136.1K
-60.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,086 MX$20.1K
$1,949 UYU 78.2K
-44.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guanajuato
Montevideo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$712 MX$13.1K
$1,245 UYU 50.0K
-42.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.3
5.74
96.86%

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

Last update for Guanajuato: October 11, 2026

Last update for Montevideo: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Guanajuato
$295
Montevideo
$568 92.2% $272
Groceries & Markets
Guanajuato
$261
Montevideo
$332 27.1% $71
Eating Out
Guanajuato
$212
Montevideo
$269 27.2% $58
Clothing & Footwear
Guanajuato
$104
Montevideo
$186 79% $82
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guanajuato
$99
Montevideo
$254 157% $155
Sport & Entertainment
Guanajuato
$45
Montevideo
$78 73.9% $33
Getting Around
Guanajuato
$39
Montevideo
$84 119% $46

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $518 in Guanajuato and $719 in Montevideo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Montevideo pays 75% 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: $44.00 in Guanajuato vs $69.0 in Montevideo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $261 vs $332 per month, with Guanajuato cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Guanajuato
🇺🇾 Montevideo
🕒 Local time
20:33 8:33 PM
23:33 11:33 PM
3 h ahead of Guanajuato
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
70,068
1,319,108 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

UYU, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

Uruguayan Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 40.14 UYU (100 UYU = 2.49 USD). 1 EUR = 45.12 UYU (100 UYU = 2.22 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Guanajuato Montevideo 7,830 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Guanajuato
  • 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
Guanajuato vs Montevideo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Guanajuato or Montevideo?
Guanajuato wins on cost – living expenses run 68% lower than in Montevideo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Guanajuato the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Guanajuato or in Montevideo?
On paper, salaries run 75% lower in Montevideo. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Guanajuato compared to Montevideo?
Rent for a central apartment: $518 in Guanajuato versus $719 in Montevideo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Guanajuato or in Montevideo?
Supermarket bills run roughly 27% higher in Montevideo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Guanajuato and in Montevideo?
Dining out is cheaper in Guanajuato – a meal for two runs $44.00 versus $69.0 in Montevideo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Guanajuato or in Montevideo?
At $1,054 in Guanajuato versus $1,771 in Montevideo, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Guanajuato but tight or insufficient in Montevideo. The gap between the two cities makes Guanajuato the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Guanajuato or Montevideo?
Both work as nomad bases, but Guanajuato delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,054 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Guanajuato hard to pass up.
How safe is Guanajuato compared to Montevideo?
Safety-wise, Guanajuato 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 Guanajuato gentler on the wallet – expenses run 68% less than in Montevideo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Guanajuato vs other spots: cost of living compared

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