😐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, MI90% above, Montevideo25% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Houghton, MI
Montevideo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.16$13.16
$16.30UYU 655
-19.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.31$39.31
$55.4UYU 2,226
-29.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.01$10.01
$12.19UYU 490
-17.88%
Cappuccino
$4.09$4.09
$4.26UYU 171
-3.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67$2.67
$2.19UYU 88.0
21.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56$1.56
$1.71UYU 68.7
-8.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.93$5.93
$4.47UYU 180
32.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.97$6.97
$3.70UYU 149
88.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Houghton, MI
Montevideo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08$1.08
$1.25UYU 50.3
-13.60%
White Bread(500g)
$3.50$3.50
$2.91UYU 117
20.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.29$4.29
$1.63UYU 65.6
163.19%
Eggs
$4.11$4.11
$4.96UYU 199
-17.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.48$12.48
$13.31UYU 535
-6.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.34$11.34
$10.83UYU 435
4.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.62$15.62
$10.96UYU 441
42.52%
Apples(1kg)
$4.94$4.94
$3.08UYU 124
60.39%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57$1.57
$2.36UYU 94.8
-33.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.36$4.36
$1.50UYU 60.3
190.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.64$4.64
$3.58UYU 144
29.61%
Potato(1kg)
$2.87$2.87
$2.08UYU 83.5
37.98%
Onion(1kg)
$2.87$2.87
$1.94UYU 78.1
47.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.02$2.02
$1.31UYU 52.7
54.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.17$2.17
$1.73UYU 69.4
25.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.63$9.63
$5.23UYU 210
84.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.17$15.17
$8.76UYU 352
73.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79$1.79
$2.33UYU 93.8
-23.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40$3.40
$2.90UYU 117
17.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Houghton, MI
Montevideo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.01$2.01
$1.30UYU 52.1
54.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$56.3UYU 2,263
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.48$3.48
$1.54UYU 62.0
125.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.59$1.59
$3.63UYU 146
-56.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.10$29.10
$12.37UYU 497
135.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84$0.84
$1.83UYU 73.4
-54.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.2K$29.2K
$33.7KUYU 1.4M
-13.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K$25.1K
$35.9KUYU 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
$175UYU 7,025
7.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.3$52.3
$16.95UYU 681
208.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.1$69.1
$48.42UYU 1,946
42.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Houghton, MI
Montevideo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.21$43.21
$61.7UYU 2,478
-29.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.76UYU 714
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.77$13.77
$10.42UYU 419
32.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Houghton, MI
Montevideo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,304$1,304
$489UYU 19.6K
166.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.7K$23.7K
$8,967UYU 360.4K
164.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Houghton, MI
Montevideo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.5$51.5
$95.6UYU 3,844
-46.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33$40.33
$47.66UYU 1,915
-15.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.5$85.5
$115UYU 4,603
-25.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113$113
$121UYU 4,853
-6.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Houghton, MI
Montevideo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,585$1,585
$611UYU 24.5K
159.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,360$1,360
$488UYU 19.6K
178.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,594$2,594
$1,107UYU 44.5K
134.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,211$2,211
$818UYU 32.9K
170.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,591$1,591
$3,598UYU 144.6K
-55.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,540$1,540
$2,274UYU 91.4K
-32.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Houghton, MI
Montevideo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,610$2,610
$1,332UYU 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