😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,597 in Houghton, MI versus $1,806 in Montevideo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,656 in Houghton, MI versus $2,668 in Montevideo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,716 in Houghton, MI versus $3,530 in Montevideo.
🌍Living in Houghton, MI is roughly 44% more expensive than in Montevideo, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Houghton, MI89% above, Montevideo31% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Houghton, MI
Montevideo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.81$13.81
$15.05UYU 605
-8.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.76$39.76
$63.1UYU 2,541
-37.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.70$10.70
$13.11UYU 527
-18.38%
Cappuccino
$4.09$4.09
$4.56UYU 183
-10.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77$2.77
$2.69UYU 108
2.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55$1.55
$1.96UYU 78.7
-20.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.05$6.05
$4.63UYU 186
30.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.99$6.99
$3.65UYU 147
91.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Houghton, MI
Montevideo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.04$1.04
$1.34UYU 54.0
-22.39%
White Bread(500g)
$4.23$4.23
$2.87UYU 115
47.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$6.58$6.58
$1.75UYU 70.6
276.00%
Eggs
$4.09$4.09
$4.79UYU 193
-14.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.19$12.19
$14.40UYU 579
-15.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.57$10.57
$11.94UYU 480
-11.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.88$10.88
$11.57UYU 465
-5.96%
Apples(1kg)
$5.07$5.07
$2.83UYU 114
79.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.14$1.14
$2.78UYU 112
-58.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.30$4.30
$1.76UYU 71.0
144.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.69$4.69
$3.00UYU 121
56.33%
Potato(1kg)
$2.78$2.78
$2.14UYU 86.1
29.91%
Onion(1kg)
$2.94$2.94
$2.17UYU 87.4
35.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.19$2.19
$1.46UYU 58.6
50.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.53$1.53
$1.98UYU 79.6
-22.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.07$10.07
$5.55UYU 223
81.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.19$15.19
$8.31UYU 334
82.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.92$1.92
$2.24UYU 90.2
-14.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.51$3.51
$2.89UYU 116
21.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Houghton, MI
Montevideo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.01$2.01
$1.55UYU 62.3
29.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$75.6UYU 3,042
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.04$3.04
$1.81UYU 72.7
67.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.76$1.76
$0.41UYU 16.34
329.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.73$29.73
$10.35UYU 417
187.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81$0.81
$2.09UYU 84.2
-61.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K$36.7K
$27.2KUYU 1.1M
35.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K$25.5K
$37.6KUYU 1.5M
-32.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Houghton, MI
Montevideo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$273$273
$188UYU 7,548
45.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.8$57.8
$16.86UYU 678
242.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.6$70.6
$45.26UYU 1,821
55.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Houghton, MI
Montevideo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.98$40.98
$48.88UYU 1,967
-16.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.99UYU 764
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.78$13.78
$12.33UYU 496
11.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Houghton, MI
Montevideo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,421$1,421
$640UYU 25.8K
121.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.6K$23.6K
$10.8KUYU 433.7K
118.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Houghton, MI
Montevideo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.5$52.5
$94.5UYU 3,804
-44.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.32$40.32
$56.7UYU 2,281
-28.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.9$86.9
$123UYU 4,952
-29.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119$119
$132UYU 5,296
-9.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Houghton, MI
Montevideo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,576$1,576
$760UYU 30.6K
107.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,317$1,317
$602UYU 24.2K
118.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,535$2,535
$1,193UYU 48.0K
112.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,124$2,124
$980UYU 39.4K
116.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,551$1,551
$3,484UYU 140.2K
-55.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,535$1,535
$1,865UYU 75.0K
-17.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Houghton, MI
Montevideo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,608$2,608
$1,211UYU 48.7K
115.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.12
5.49
11.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Houghton, MI: August 31, 2026
Last update for Montevideo: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,576 in Houghton, MI and $760 in Montevideo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Houghton, MI pays 115% 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: $40.00 in Houghton, MI vs $63.0 in Montevideo. Groceries flip the comparison at $379 vs $333, 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 44% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Houghton, MI or Montevideo?
Average pay runs 115% 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: $1,576 in Houghton, MI versus $760 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 14% 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 $2,597 per month in Houghton, MI versus $1,806 in Montevideo – a 44% 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 $1,806 in Montevideo versus $2,597 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 44% 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