Cost of Living Comparison Between Ilmenau and Montevideo Cost of Living Comparison Between Ilmenau and Montevideo

Monthly Cost of Living

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: Ilmenau 57% above, Montevideo 22% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ilmenau
Montevideo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.28 €13.16
$15.85 UYU 638
-3.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.5 €60.7
$54.6 UYU 2,197
29.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.95 €6.85
$12.12 UYU 488
-34.41%
Cappuccino
$3.42 €2.94
$4.23 UYU 170
-19.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.65 €3.14
$2.19 UYU 88.1
66.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 €2.45
$1.69 UYU 68.2
68.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.65 €4.00
$4.52 UYU 182
2.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50 €3.01
$3.60 UYU 145
-2.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ilmenau
Montevideo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 €0.91
$1.27 UYU 51.3
-17.32%
White Bread (500g)
$1.13 €0.98
$2.77 UYU 112
-59.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.11 €2.67
$1.58 UYU 63.8
96.84%
Eggs
$3.73 €3.21
$4.79 UYU 193
-22.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.46 €12.45
$13.41 UYU 540
7.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.27 €11.43
$10.67 UYU 430
24.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.33 €15.78
$11.24 UYU 452
63.08%
Apples (1kg)
$2.92 €2.52
$3.00 UYU 121
-2.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 €1.32
$2.43 UYU 98.0
-37.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.63 €2.27
$1.54 UYU 62.2
70.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.12 €4.41
$3.66 UYU 148
39.89%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 €0.73
$2.11 UYU 84.8
-59.72%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 €1.37
$1.89 UYU 75.9
-15.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.82 €1.57
$1.37 UYU 55.0
32.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 €0.79
$1.71 UYU 68.9
-46.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.41 €8.10
$5.10 UYU 205
84.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.37 €5.48
$10.05 UYU 405
-36.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.96 €0.83
$2.36 UYU 94.9
-59.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 €1.34
$2.92 UYU 118
-46.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Ilmenau
Montevideo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.51 €3.02
$1.29 UYU 52.0
172.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$62.0 €53.4
$55.8 UYU 2,247
11.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.58 €4.81
$1.60 UYU 64.3
248.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.18 €1.88
$3.63 UYU 146
-39.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$40.21 €34.62
$12.43 UYU 500
223.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.03 €1.75
$1.81 UYU 73.0
12.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.2K €26.9K
$34.5K UYU 1.4M
-9.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.1K €30.2K
$36.0K UYU 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
$170 UYU 6,864
159.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.12 €25.94
$16.51 UYU 665
82.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.7 €46.23
$49.77 UYU 2,004
7.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ilmenau
Montevideo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.31 €33.85
$61.8 UYU 2,489
-36.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.94 €19.75
$17.67 UYU 711
29.82%
Cinema Ticket
$14.09 €12.13
$10.45 UYU 421
34.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ilmenau
Montevideo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$455 €392
$482 UYU 19.4K
-5.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.8K €10.1K
$8,873 UYU 357.3K
32.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ilmenau
Montevideo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.2 €83.7
$94.9 UYU 3,821
2.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.92 €28.35
$47.22 UYU 1,902
-30.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$124 €107
$112 UYU 4,502
10.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$153 €131
$123 UYU 4,964
23.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ilmenau
Montevideo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$828 €713
$628 UYU 25.3K
31.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$679 €584
$492 UYU 19.8K
37.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,559 €1,342
$1,112 UYU 44.8K
40.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,241 €1,069
$801 UYU 32.2K
55.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,582 UYU 144.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,272 UYU 91.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ilmenau
Montevideo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,410 €2,936
$1,334 UYU 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.

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