😐A single person spends $2,076 per month in Lawrence, KS vs $1,661 in Montevideo, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,290 per month in Lawrence, KS vs $2,471 in Montevideo, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,504 per month in Lawrence, KS vs $3,281 in Montevideo, rent included.
😐Lawrence, KS costs about 25% more than Montevideo, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both Lawrence, KS and Montevideo sit above the global median – Lawrence, KS by 55%, Montevideo by 24%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lawrence, KS
Montevideo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.80$14.80
$16.41UYU 659
-9.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.2$75.2
$54.5UYU 2,187
38.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.16$10.16
$12.00UYU 482
-15.33%
Cappuccino
$5.20$5.20
$4.13UYU 166
25.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94$2.94
$2.24UYU 89.8
31.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01$2.01
$1.77UYU 70.9
13.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.94$4.94
$4.42UYU 177
11.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.05$7.05
$3.77UYU 151
87.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lawrence, KS
Montevideo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.80$0.80
$1.23UYU 49.31
-34.96%
White Bread(500g)
$2.63$2.63
$2.87UYU 115
-8.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.43$4.43
$1.59UYU 63.9
178.62%
Eggs
$3.38$3.38
$4.91UYU 197
-31.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.43$11.43
$13.33UYU 535
-14.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.74$10.74
$10.90UYU 438
-1.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.57$15.57
$11.12UYU 446
40.02%
Apples(1kg)
$6.35$6.35
$3.01UYU 121
110.96%
Banana(1kg)
$2.16$2.16
$2.47UYU 99.3
-12.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.01$5.01
$1.49UYU 59.6
236.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.83$3.83
$3.73UYU 150
2.68%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84$1.84
$2.10UYU 84.3
-12.38%
Onion(1kg)
$2.74$2.74
$1.87UYU 75.1
46.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47$1.47
$1.37UYU 55.0
7.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.45$2.45
$1.65UYU 66.4
48.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.07$8.07
$5.11UYU 205
57.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.22$13.22
$8.74UYU 351
51.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82$1.82
$2.27UYU 91.1
-19.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67$1.67
$2.99UYU 120
-44.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Lawrence, KS
Montevideo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.48$0.48
$1.29UYU 51.9
-62.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.39$25.39
$56.3UYU 2,259
-54.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.94$2.94
$1.57UYU 62.8
87.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.41$1.41
$3.45UYU 139
-59.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$25.39$25.39
$12.40UYU 498
104.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81$0.81
$1.88UYU 75.7
-56.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K$35.0K
$34.8KUYU 1.4M
0.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K$26.6K
$36.8KUYU 1.5M
-27.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lawrence, KS
Montevideo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$333$333
$170UYU 6,835
95.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.6$53.6
$16.69UYU 670
221.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.3$65.3
$48.56UYU 1,949
34.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lawrence, KS
Montevideo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.36$44.36
$61.2UYU 2,455
-27.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.93$11.93
$17.22UYU 691
-30.72%
Cinema Ticket
$12.02$12.02
$10.35UYU 416
16.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lawrence, KS
Montevideo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$903$903
$478UYU 19.2K
88.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$24.8K$24.8K
$9,037UYU 362.8K
174.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lawrence, KS
Montevideo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1$54.1
$94.2UYU 3,782
-42.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.41$35.41
$47.87UYU 1,921
-26.03%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.5$94.5
$113UYU 4,517
-16.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.0$91.0
$125UYU 5,034
-27.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lawrence, KS
Montevideo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$950$950
$615UYU 24.7K
54.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$807$807
$483UYU 19.4K
67.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,568$1,568
$1,080UYU 43.3K
45.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,763$1,763
$824UYU 33.1K
114.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,396$2,396
$3,631UYU 145.7K
-34.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,122$2,122
$2,309UYU 92.7K
-8.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lawrence, KS
Montevideo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,854$3,854
$1,318UYU 52.9K
192.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.45
5.68
13.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lawrence, KS: July 19, 2026
Last update for Montevideo: July 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $950 in Lawrence, KS versus $615 in Montevideo. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 192% higher in Lawrence, KS, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in Lawrence, KS versus $54.0 in Montevideo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $369 vs $320 – making Montevideo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Lawrence, KS vs Montevideo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lawrence, KS or Montevideo?
Lawrence, KS costs about 25% more than Montevideo, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Lawrence, KS and in Montevideo?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,115 per month in Lawrence, KS and $2,491 in Montevideo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Lawrence, KS or Montevideo?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Montevideo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Lawrence, KS or in Montevideo?
Groceries cost about 16% more in Lawrence, KS, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Lawrence, KS and in Montevideo?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in Lawrence, KS and $54.0 in Montevideo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Lawrence, KS or in Montevideo?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Montevideo, where all-in costs run around $1,661, than in Lawrence, KS at $2,076. In Montevideo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lawrence, KS it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lawrence, KS or Montevideo?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montevideo costs $1,661 versus $2,076 in Lawrence, KS. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Lawrence, KS compared to Montevideo?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Lawrence, KS or to Montevideo?
If budget matters most, go with Montevideo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lawrence, KS makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Lawrence, KS vs other spots: cost of living compared