Cost of Living Comparison Between Mercedes and Punta del Este Cost of Living Comparison Between Mercedes and Punta del Este

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,330 per month in Mercedes vs $2,031 in Punta del Este, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,020 per month in Mercedes vs $3,264 in Punta del Este, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,710 per month in Mercedes vs $4,498 in Punta del Este, rent included.

Mercedes is about 34% cheaper than Punta del Este, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Mercedes and Punta del Este sit above the global median – Mercedes by 0%, Punta del Este by 52%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.82 UYU 636

$18.61 UYU 749

-14.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.1 UYU 2,216

$52.2 UYU 2,099

5.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.37 UYU 498

$11.51 UYU 463

7.47%

Cappuccino

$4.27 UYU 172

$4.60 UYU 185

-7.17%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 UYU 90.8

$3.69 UYU 149

-38.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 UYU 68.3

$2.73 UYU 110

-37.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.44 UYU 179

$3.80 UYU 153

16.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.76 UYU 151

$4.83 UYU 194

-22.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 UYU 51.1

$1.36 UYU 54.6

-6.62%

White Bread (500g)

$2.85 UYU 115

$2.35 UYU 94.4

21.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.44 UYU 58.0

$2.21 UYU 88.8

-34.84%

Eggs

$2.62 UYU 105

$3.86 UYU 155

-32.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.76 UYU 554

$14.03 UYU 565

-1.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 UYU 436

$13.00 UYU 523

-16.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.42 UYU 298

$12.70 UYU 511

-41.57%

Apples (1kg)

$1.99 UYU 80.0

$3.10 UYU 125

-35.81%

Banana (1kg)

$2.47 UYU 99.4

$3.55 UYU 143

-30.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.07 UYU 43.20

$2.02 UYU 81.3

-47.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.01 UYU 121

$3.62 UYU 146

-16.85%

Potato (1kg)

$2.11 UYU 84.8

$2.17 UYU 87.4

-2.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.89 UYU 76.2

$2.12 UYU 85.3

-10.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.32 UYU 53.2

$1.32 UYU 52.9

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 UYU 65.5

$1.98 UYU 79.9

-17.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.92 UYU 198

$4.85 UYU 195

1.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.92 UYU 359

$7.87 UYU 317

13.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 UYU 94.4

$3.20 UYU 129

-26.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.01 UYU 121

$5.06 UYU 204

-40.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.19 UYU 47.71

$1.32 UYU 53.3

-9.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.60 UYU 1,754

$49.88 UYU 2,006

-12.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 UYU 59.9

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 UYU 62.3

$3.48 UYU 140

-55.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.85 UYU 436

$13.55 UYU 545

-19.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.84 UYU 73.9

$1.82 UYU 73.4

1.10%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$33.9K UYU 1.4M

$29.1K UYU 1.2M

16.36%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$35.6K UYU 1.4M

$34.3K UYU 1.4M

4.02%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$174 UYU 6,984

$94.9 UYU 3,817

82.99%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$16.81 UYU 676

$16.11 UYU 648

4.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.93 UYU 1,968

$40.50 UYU 1,629

20.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.2 UYU 3,104

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.14 UYU 971

Cinema Ticket

$10.33 UYU 416

$9.61 UYU 387

7.49%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$486 UYU 19.5K

$614 UYU 24.7K

-20.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,853 UYU 356.2K

$7,651 UYU 307.8K

15.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$96.0 UYU 3,862

$125 UYU 5,013

-22.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.96 UYU 1,930

$65.0 UYU 2,614

-26.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 UYU 4,570

$142 UYU 5,696

-19.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 UYU 5,011

$148 UYU 5,943

-15.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$566 UYU 22.8K

$1,126 UYU 45.3K

-49.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 UYU 11.6K

$901 UYU 36.2K

-67.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$620 UYU 24.9K

$2,516 UYU 101.2K

-75.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$441 UYU 17.7K

$1,831 UYU 73.7K

-75.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,790 UYU 152.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,012 UYU 81.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,113 UYU 44.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.68

13.60%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mercedes: July 14, 2026

Last update for Punta del Este: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $566 in Mercedes versus $1,126 in Punta del Este. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $55.0 in Mercedes versus $52.0 in Punta del Este. Groceries tell a different story – $290 in Mercedes vs $351 in Punta del Este – so Mercedes wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Mercedes vs Punta del Este: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Punta del Este costs about 53% more than Mercedes, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,996 per month in Mercedes and $3,047 in Punta del Este. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mercedes, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,330 in Mercedes and $2,031 in Punta del Este. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 14% less in Mercedes. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Mercedes, where all-in costs run around $1,330, than in Punta del Este at $2,031. In Mercedes it covers expenses comfortably, while in Punta del Este it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mercedes – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Mercedes. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Punta del Este makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.