🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,366 in Maldonado versus $1,697 in Urbana, IL.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,190 in Maldonado versus $2,688 in Urbana, IL.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,015 in Maldonado versus $3,679 in Urbana, IL.
🌍Living in Maldonado costs roughly 20% less than in Urbana, IL, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Maldonado is 1% below, Urbana, IL is 23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Maldonado
Urbana, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.65UYU 590
$19.70$19.70
-25.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.9UYU 2,211
$64.0$64.0
-14.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.30UYU 455
$9.82$9.82
15.07%
Cappuccino
$4.58UYU 184
$5.59$5.59
-18.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66UYU 107
$2.16$2.16
23.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00UYU 80.3
$1.57$1.57
27.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.65UYU 147
$5.28$5.28
-30.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66UYU 147
$5.84$5.84
-37.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maldonado
Urbana, IL
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17UYU 47.26
$0.69$0.69
69.57%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72UYU 109
$2.34$2.34
16.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.82UYU 73.5
$3.05$3.05
-40.33%
Eggs
$3.97UYU 160
$2.95$2.95
34.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.98UYU 563
$6.55$6.55
113.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.46UYU 461
$9.00$9.00
27.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.75UYU 473
$14.58$14.58
-19.41%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86UYU 115
$3.86$3.86
-25.91%
Banana(1kg)
$2.16UYU 86.8
$1.28$1.28
68.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.76UYU 70.9
$2.68$2.68
-34.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.04UYU 123
$2.26$2.26
34.51%
Potato(1kg)
$2.02UYU 81.4
$2.18$2.18
-7.34%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00UYU 80.7
$2.92$2.92
-31.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46UYU 58.8
$2.92$2.92
-50.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.94UYU 78.2
$1.38$1.38
40.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.52UYU 222
$7.19$7.19
-23.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.14UYU 328
$8.53$8.53
-4.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.32UYU 93.6
$1.81$1.81
28.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90UYU 117
$1.33$1.33
118.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Maldonado
Urbana, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.35UYU 54.5
$1.01$1.01
33.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$49.76UYU 2,003
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.58UYU 144
$3.04$3.04
17.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.43UYU 17.41
$0.64$0.64
-32.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.73UYU 392
$18.19$18.19
-46.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.96UYU 78.7
$0.87$0.87
125.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1KUYU 1.1M
$36.4K$36.4K
-25.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.9KUYU 1.5M
$26.4K$26.4K
43.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maldonado
Urbana, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$114UYU 4,595
$203$203
-43.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.48UYU 704
$99.5$99.5
-82.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.31UYU 1,824
$60.4$60.4
-25.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maldonado
Urbana, IL
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.40UYU 1,948
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.39UYU 1,223
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.26UYU 493
$12.84$12.84
-4.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maldonado
Urbana, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$505UYU 20.3K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,616UYU 266.3K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maldonado
Urbana, IL
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.2UYU 3,552
$75.6$75.6
16.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.62UYU 1,515
$42.31$42.31
-11.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$121UYU 4,866
$66.9$66.9
80.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119UYU 4,781
$89.9$89.9
32.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maldonado
Urbana, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$424UYU 17.1K
$751$751
-43.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$313UYU 12.6K
$586$586
-46.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$923UYU 37.2K
$1,492$1,492
-38.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$588UYU 23.7K
$1,345$1,345
-56.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,639$1,639
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,662$1,662
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maldonado
Urbana, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$986UYU 39.7K
$6,746$6,746
-85.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
6.3
-20.63%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Maldonado: September 7, 2026
Last update for Urbana, IL: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $424 in Maldonado and $751 in Urbana, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Urbana, IL pays 584% 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: $55.0 in Maldonado vs $64.0 in Urbana, IL. Groceries flip the comparison at $319 vs $281, with Urbana, IL 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
Maldonado vs Urbana, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Maldonado and in Urbana, IL?
Maldonado and Urbana, IL differ by about 24% in total monthly costs ($1,366 vs $1,697 including rent). Maldonado is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 584% lower in Urbana, IL. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Maldonado and in Urbana, IL?
Rent for a central apartment: $424 in Maldonado versus $751 in Urbana, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Maldonado – a meal for two runs $55.0 versus $64.0 in Urbana, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Maldonado or Urbana, IL?
All in, you'll spend $1,366 per month in Maldonado versus $1,697 in Urbana, IL – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,366 in Maldonado versus $1,697 in Urbana, IL, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Maldonado but tight or insufficient in Urbana, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Maldonado the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Maldonado and Urbana, IL?
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 Maldonado or Urbana, IL safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Maldonado and Urbana, IL 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: Maldonado or Urbana, IL?
Expats usually find Maldonado gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Urbana, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.