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: $2,541 in Houghton, MI versus $1,667 in Montevideo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,613 in Houghton, MI versus $2,511 in Montevideo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,686 in Houghton, MI versus $3,354 in Montevideo.

Living in Houghton, MI is roughly 52% more expensive than in Montevideo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Houghton, MI 90% above, Montevideo 25% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Houghton, MI
Montevideo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.16 $13.16
$16.30 UYU 655
-19.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.31 $39.31
$55.4 UYU 2,226
-29.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.01 $10.01
$12.19 UYU 490
-17.88%
Cappuccino
$4.09 $4.09
$4.26 UYU 171
-3.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 $2.67
$2.19 UYU 88.0
21.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 $1.56
$1.71 UYU 68.7
-8.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.93 $5.93
$4.47 UYU 180
32.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.97 $6.97
$3.70 UYU 149
88.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Houghton, MI
Montevideo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.25 UYU 50.3
-13.60%
White Bread (500g)
$3.50 $3.50
$2.91 UYU 117
20.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.29 $4.29
$1.63 UYU 65.6
163.19%
Eggs
$4.11 $4.11
$4.96 UYU 199
-17.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.48 $12.48
$13.31 UYU 535
-6.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.34 $11.34
$10.83 UYU 435
4.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.62 $15.62
$10.96 UYU 441
42.52%
Apples (1kg)
$4.94 $4.94
$3.08 UYU 124
60.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 $1.57
$2.36 UYU 94.8
-33.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.36 $4.36
$1.50 UYU 60.3
190.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.64 $4.64
$3.58 UYU 144
29.61%
Potato (1kg)
$2.87 $2.87
$2.08 UYU 83.5
37.98%
Onion (1kg)
$2.87 $2.87
$1.94 UYU 78.1
47.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.02 $2.02
$1.31 UYU 52.7
54.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.17 $2.17
$1.73 UYU 69.4
25.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.63 $9.63
$5.23 UYU 210
84.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.17 $15.17
$8.76 UYU 352
73.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 $1.79
$2.33 UYU 93.8
-23.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40 $3.40
$2.90 UYU 117
17.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Houghton, MI
Montevideo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.01 $2.01
$1.30 UYU 52.1
54.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$56.3 UYU 2,263
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.48 $3.48
$1.54 UYU 62.0
125.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.59 $1.59
$3.63 UYU 146
-56.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.10 $29.10
$12.37 UYU 497
135.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$1.83 UYU 73.4
-54.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.2K $29.2K
$33.7K UYU 1.4M
-13.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K $25.1K
$35.9K UYU 1.4M
-29.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Houghton, MI
Montevideo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$175 UYU 7,025
7.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.3 $52.3
$16.95 UYU 681
208.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.1 $69.1
$48.42 UYU 1,946
42.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Houghton, MI
Montevideo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.21 $43.21
$61.7 UYU 2,478
-29.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.76 UYU 714
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.77 $13.77
$10.42 UYU 419
32.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Houghton, MI
Montevideo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,304 $1,304
$489 UYU 19.6K
166.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.7K $23.7K
$8,967 UYU 360.4K
164.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Houghton, MI
Montevideo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.5 $51.5
$95.6 UYU 3,844
-46.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33 $40.33
$47.66 UYU 1,915
-15.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.5 $85.5
$115 UYU 4,603
-25.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 $113
$121 UYU 4,853
-6.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Houghton, MI
Montevideo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,585 $1,585
$611 UYU 24.5K
159.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,360 $1,360
$488 UYU 19.6K
178.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,594 $2,594
$1,107 UYU 44.5K
134.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,211 $2,211
$818 UYU 32.9K
170.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,591 $1,591
$3,598 UYU 144.6K
-55.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,540 $1,540
$2,274 UYU 91.4K
-32.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Houghton, MI
Montevideo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,610 $2,610
$1,332 UYU 53.5K
95.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
5.68
14.61%

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

Last update for Houghton, MI: July 13, 2026

Last update for Montevideo: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,585 in Houghton, MI and $611 in Montevideo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Houghton, MI pays 96% 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: $39.00 in Houghton, MI vs $55.0 in Montevideo. Groceries flip the comparison at $390 vs $319, 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 52% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Houghton, MI or Montevideo?
Average pay runs 96% higher in Houghton, MI, 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: $1,585 in Houghton, MI versus $611 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 in 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 and in Montevideo?
All in, you'll spend $2,541 per month in Houghton, MI versus $1,667 in Montevideo – a 52% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Houghton, MI or in Montevideo?
At $1,667 in Montevideo versus $2,541 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 – expenses run 52% 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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