Cost of Living Comparison Between Lawrence, KS and Montevideo Cost of Living Comparison Between Lawrence, KS and Montevideo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,072 per month in Lawrence, KS vs $1,632 in Montevideo, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,285 per month in Lawrence, KS vs $2,480 in Montevideo, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,497 per month in Lawrence, KS vs $3,329 in Montevideo, rent included.

Lawrence, KS costs about 27% 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 22%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lawrence, KS
Montevideo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.91 $14.91
$15.85 UYU 638
-5.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.6 $74.6
$54.6 UYU 2,196
36.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.88 $9.88
$12.12 UYU 488
-18.48%
Cappuccino
$5.02 $5.02
$4.23 UYU 170
18.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$2.19 UYU 88.1
37.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 $1.97
$1.69 UYU 68.2
16.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.93 $4.93
$4.52 UYU 182
9.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.05 $7.05
$3.60 UYU 145
95.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lawrence, KS
Montevideo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.82 $0.82
$1.27 UYU 51.2
-35.43%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 $2.52
$2.77 UYU 112
-9.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.29 $4.29
$1.58 UYU 63.8
171.52%
Eggs
$3.28 $3.28
$4.79 UYU 193
-31.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.54 $11.54
$13.41 UYU 540
-13.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.70 $10.70
$10.67 UYU 429
0.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.80 $15.80
$11.24 UYU 452
40.57%
Apples (1kg)
$6.17 $6.17
$3.00 UYU 121
105.67%
Banana (1kg)
$2.24 $2.24
$2.43 UYU 97.9
-7.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.82 $4.82
$1.54 UYU 62.2
212.99%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.81 $3.81
$3.66 UYU 148
4.10%
Potato (1kg)
$1.83 $1.83
$2.11 UYU 84.8
-13.27%
Onion (1kg)
$2.69 $2.69
$1.89 UYU 75.9
42.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.47 $1.47
$1.37 UYU 55.0
7.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.48 $2.48
$1.71 UYU 68.9
45.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.74 $7.74
$5.10 UYU 205
51.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.07 $13.07
$10.05 UYU 404
30.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.81 $1.81
$2.36 UYU 94.9
-23.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 $1.60
$2.92 UYU 118
-45.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Lawrence, KS
Montevideo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 $0.52
$1.29 UYU 52.0
-59.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.41 $25.41
$55.8 UYU 2,247
-54.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 $3.02
$1.60 UYU 64.2
88.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.40 $1.40
$3.63 UYU 146
-61.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.22 $25.22
$12.43 UYU 500
102.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.80 $0.80
$1.81 UYU 72.9
-55.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5K $35.5K
$34.5K UYU 1.4M
3.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K $26.1K
$36.0K UYU 1.4M
-27.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lawrence, KS
Montevideo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$328 $328
$170 UYU 6,861
92.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.8 $51.8
$16.51 UYU 665
213.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.3 $65.3
$49.77 UYU 2,004
31.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lawrence, KS
Montevideo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.22 $45.22
$61.8 UYU 2,488
-26.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.08 $12.08
$17.67 UYU 711
-31.64%
Cinema Ticket
$12.22 $12.22
$10.45 UYU 421
16.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lawrence, KS
Montevideo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$933 $933
$482 UYU 19.4K
93.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.7K $24.7K
$8,873 UYU 357.2K
178.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lawrence, KS
Montevideo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.2 $53.2
$94.9 UYU 3,819
-43.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.43 $35.43
$47.22 UYU 1,901
-24.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.1 $93.1
$112 UYU 4,500
-16.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.4 $88.4
$123 UYU 4,962
-28.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lawrence, KS
Montevideo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$967 $967
$628 UYU 25.3K
54.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$792 $792
$492 UYU 19.8K
61.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,561 $1,561
$1,112 UYU 44.8K
40.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,790 $1,790
$801 UYU 32.2K
123.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,377 $2,377
$3,582 UYU 144.2K
-33.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,070 $2,070
$2,272 UYU 91.5K
-8.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lawrence, KS
Montevideo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,789 $3,789
$1,334 UYU 53.7K
183.98%
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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Montevideo: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $967 in Lawrence, KS versus $628 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 184% 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 $55.0 in Montevideo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $367 vs $321 – 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 27% 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 vs Montevideo?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,108 per month in Lawrence, KS and $2,448 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 Montevideo?
Groceries cost about 14% 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 vs Montevideo?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in Lawrence, KS and $55.0 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 Montevideo?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Montevideo, where all-in costs run around $1,632, than in Lawrence, KS at $2,072. 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 $1,632 versus $2,072 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 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.

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