😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,106 in Ilmenau versus $1,632 in Montevideo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,141 in Ilmenau versus $2,480 in Montevideo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,176 in Ilmenau versus $3,329 in Montevideo.
😐Living in Ilmenau is roughly 29% more expensive than Montevideo, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ilmenau57% above, Montevideo22% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ilmenau
Montevideo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.28€13.16
$15.85UYU 638
-3.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.5€60.7
$54.6UYU 2,197
29.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.95€6.85
$12.12UYU 488
-34.41%
Cappuccino
$3.42€2.94
$4.23UYU 170
-19.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.65€3.14
$2.19UYU 88.1
66.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85€2.45
$1.69UYU 68.2
68.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.65€4.00
$4.52UYU 182
2.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50€3.01
$3.60UYU 145
-2.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ilmenau
Montevideo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05€0.91
$1.27UYU 51.3
-17.32%
White Bread(500g)
$1.13€0.98
$2.77UYU 112
-59.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.11€2.67
$1.58UYU 63.8
96.84%
Eggs
$3.73€3.21
$4.79UYU 193
-22.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.46€12.45
$13.41UYU 540
7.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.27€11.43
$10.67UYU 430
24.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.33€15.78
$11.24UYU 452
63.08%
Apples(1kg)
$2.92€2.52
$3.00UYU 121
-2.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.53€1.32
$2.43UYU 98.0
-37.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.63€2.27
$1.54UYU 62.2
70.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.12€4.41
$3.66UYU 148
39.89%
Potato(1kg)
$0.85€0.73
$2.11UYU 84.8
-59.72%
Onion(1kg)
$1.59€1.37
$1.89UYU 75.9
-15.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.82€1.57
$1.37UYU 55.0
32.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.79
$1.71UYU 68.9
-46.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.41€8.10
$5.10UYU 205
84.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.37€5.48
$10.05UYU 405
-36.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.96€0.83
$2.36UYU 94.9
-59.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56€1.34
$2.92UYU 118
-46.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Ilmenau
Montevideo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.51€3.02
$1.29UYU 52.0
172.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$62.0€53.4
$55.8UYU 2,247
11.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.58€4.81
$1.60UYU 64.3
248.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.18€1.88
$3.63UYU 146
-39.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$40.21€34.62
$12.43UYU 500
223.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.03€1.75
$1.81UYU 73.0
12.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.2K€26.9K
$34.5KUYU 1.4M
-9.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.1K€30.2K
$36.0KUYU 1.4M
-2.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ilmenau
Montevideo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$443€381
$170UYU 6,864
159.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.12€25.94
$16.51UYU 665
82.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.7€46.23
$49.77UYU 2,004
7.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ilmenau
Montevideo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.31€33.85
$61.8UYU 2,489
-36.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.94€19.75
$17.67UYU 711
29.82%
Cinema Ticket
$14.09€12.13
$10.45UYU 421
34.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ilmenau
Montevideo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$455€392
$482UYU 19.4K
-5.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.8K€10.1K
$8,873UYU 357.3K
32.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ilmenau
Montevideo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.2€83.7
$94.9UYU 3,821
2.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.92€28.35
$47.22UYU 1,902
-30.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$124€107
$112UYU 4,502
10.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$153€131
$123UYU 4,964
23.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ilmenau
Montevideo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$828€713
$628UYU 25.3K
31.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$679€584
$492UYU 19.8K
37.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,559€1,342
$1,112UYU 44.8K
40.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,241€1,069
$801UYU 32.2K
55.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,582UYU 144.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,272UYU 91.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ilmenau
Montevideo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,410€2,936
$1,334UYU 53.7K
155.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.87
5.68
-31.87%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ilmenau: June 2, 2026
Last update for Montevideo: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $828 in Ilmenau and $628 in Montevideo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ilmenau pays 156% 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: $71.0 in Ilmenau vs $55.0 in Montevideo. Groceries flip the comparison at $319 vs $321, with Ilmenau 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
Ilmenau vs Montevideo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ilmenau and Montevideo?
Ilmenau and Montevideo differ by about 29% in total monthly costs ($2,106 vs $1,632 including rent). Montevideo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Ilmenau or Montevideo?
Ilmenau pays 156% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Ilmenau and Montevideo?
Rent for a central apartment: $828 in Ilmenau versus $628 in Montevideo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ilmenau or Montevideo?
All in, you'll spend $2,106 per month in Ilmenau versus $1,632 in Montevideo – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Ilmenau and Montevideo?
A monthly transit pass in Montevideo runs roughly 11% less than in Ilmenau. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $1,632 in Montevideo versus $2,106 in Ilmenau, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Montevideo but tight or insufficient in Ilmenau. The gap between the two cities makes Montevideo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ilmenau and Montevideo?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Ilmenau or Montevideo safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ilmenau 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.
Where should expats move: Ilmenau or Montevideo?
Expats usually find Montevideo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Ilmenau. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.