Cost of Living Comparison Between Houghton, MI and Montevideo Cost of Living Comparison Between Houghton, MI and Montevideo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,494 in Houghton, MI versus $1,619 in Montevideo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,605 in Houghton, MI versus $2,483 in Montevideo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,716 in Houghton, MI versus $3,348 in Montevideo.

Living in Houghton, MI is roughly 54% more expensive than Montevideo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Houghton, MI 85% above, Montevideo 20% above.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Houghton, MI
Montevideo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.77 $12.77
$16.22 UYUย 646
-21.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.89 $39.89
$54.5 UYUย 2,172
-26.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.17 $10.17
$12.09 UYUย 482
-15.88%
Cappuccino
$4.08 $4.08
$4.11 UYUย 164
-0.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 $2.73
$2.15 UYUย 85.8
26.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 $1.56
$1.70 UYUย 67.9
-8.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.96 $5.96
$4.28 UYUย 171
39.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.88 $6.88
$3.61 UYUย 144
90.58%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Houghton, MI
Montevideo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.26 UYUย 50.4
-13.49%
White Bread (500g)
$3.60 $3.60
$2.76 UYUย 110
30.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.48 $4.48
$1.65 UYUย 65.7
171.52%
Eggs
$4.07 $4.07
$4.76 UYUย 190
-14.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.41 $12.41
$13.47 UYUย 537
-7.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.49 $11.49
$10.87 UYUย 433
5.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.28 $15.28
$11.00 UYUย 438
38.91%
Apples (1kg)
$5.04 $5.04
$3.10 UYUย 123
62.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 $1.56
$2.45 UYUย 97.5
-36.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.36 $4.36
$1.50 UYUย 59.9
190.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.82 $4.82
$3.70 UYUย 148
30.27%
Potato (1kg)
$2.76 $2.76
$2.08 UYUย 82.9
32.69%
Onion (1kg)
$2.80 $2.80
$1.89 UYUย 75.1
48.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.03 $2.03
$1.37 UYUย 54.5
48.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 $2.18
$1.71 UYUย 68.2
27.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.32 $9.32
$5.08 UYUย 202
83.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.07 $15.07
$9.98 UYUย 398
51.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 $1.78
$2.28 UYUย 91.0
-21.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42 $3.42
$3.06 UYUย 122
11.76%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Houghton, MI
Montevideo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.96 $1.96
$1.35 UYUย 53.6
45.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$56.2 UYUย 2,241
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.49 $3.49
$1.55 UYUย 61.9
125.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.59 $1.59
$3.56 UYUย 142
-55.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.62 $28.62
$12.28 UYUย 489
133.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$1.90 UYUย 75.8
-55.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1K $30.1K
$33.6K UYUย 1.3M
-10.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K $26.1K
$36.8K UYUย 1.5M
-29.25%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Houghton, MI
Montevideo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$186 $186
$169 UYUย 6,723
10.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.5 $53.5
$16.96 UYUย 676
215.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.7 $66.7
$49.22 UYUย 1,962
35.55%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Houghton, MI
Montevideo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.63 $42.63
$60.5 UYUย 2,411
-29.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.60 UYUย 701
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.27 $13.27
$10.51 UYUย 419
26.26%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Houghton, MI
Montevideo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,322 $1,322
$493 UYUย 19.6K
168.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.2K $23.2K
$8,991 UYUย 358.4K
158.41%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Houghton, MI
Montevideo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.8 $51.8
$96.0 UYUย 3,827
-46.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.51 $40.51
$47.00 UYUย 1,874
-13.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.0 $87.0
$115 UYUย 4,588
-24.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 $110
$121 UYUย 4,809
-8.93%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Houghton, MI
Montevideo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,612 $1,612
$620 UYUย 24.7K
160.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,340 $1,340
$494 UYUย 19.7K
171.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,600 $2,600
$1,102 UYUย 43.9K
135.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,266 $2,266
$806 UYUย 32.1K
180.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,552 $1,552
$3,532 UYUย 140.8K
-56.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,586 $1,586
$2,258 UYUย 90.0K
-29.76%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Houghton, MI
Montevideo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,606 $2,606
$1,261 UYUย 50.3K
106.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
5.68
14.61%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Houghton, MI: April 12, 2026

Last update for Montevideo: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in Houghton, MI and $620 in Montevideo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Houghton, MI pays 107% 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: $40 in Houghton, MI vs $54 in Montevideo. Groceries flip the comparison at $392 vs $322, with Montevideo cheaper for home cooking.

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
Houghton, MI vs Montevideo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Montevideo cheaper than Houghton, MI?
Montevideo is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 54% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Houghton, MI or Montevideo?
Houghton, MI pays 107% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Houghton, MI and Montevideo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,612 in Houghton, MI versus $620 in Montevideo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Houghton, MI and Montevideo?
Supermarket bills run roughly 22% higher in Houghton, MI. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Houghton, MI vs Montevideo?
All in, you'll spend $2,494 per month in Houghton, MI versus $1,619 in Montevideo โ€“ a 54% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Houghton, MI or Montevideo?
At $1,619 in Montevideo versus $2,494 in Houghton, MI, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Montevideo but tight or insufficient in Houghton, MI. The gap between the two cities makes Montevideo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Houghton, MI or Montevideo more family-friendly?
For families, Montevideo is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Houghton, MI, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Houghton, MI or Montevideo?
Safety-wise, Houghton, MI 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Montevideo gentler on the wallet โ€“ expenses run 54% less than in Houghton, MI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Houghton, MI vs other spots: cost of living compared

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