🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $1,677 in Montevideo.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $2,515 in Montevideo.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $3,353 in Montevideo.
🙂Living in Mexico City costs roughly 12% less than in Montevideo, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City11% above, Montevideo25% above.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Montevideo
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$226
$16.11UYU 638
-19.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1MX$923
$54.9UYU 2,176
-3.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.72MX$169
$12.04UYU 477
-19.27%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.2
$4.26UYU 169
-11.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.30
$2.20UYU 87.1
-28.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.64
$1.69UYU 67.1
-33.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.3
$4.29UYU 170
-25.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66MX$81.1
$3.60UYU 143
29.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Montevideo
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62MX$28.21
$1.26UYU 49.80
28.57%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.09
$2.81UYU 111
-3.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88MX$32.70
$1.65UYU 65.3
13.94%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.65
$4.92UYU 195
-48.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$175
$13.49UYU 534
-25.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$144
$10.73UYU 425
-22.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$208
$11.19UYU 443
6.70%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$49.77
$3.12UYU 124
-8.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75MX$30.45
$2.48UYU 98.1
-29.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.27
$1.55UYU 61.4
34.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.27
$3.74UYU 148
-47.33%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.58
$2.15UYU 85.3
0.47%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$37.94
$1.89UYU 74.8
15.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.20
$1.36UYU 54.0
2.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.57
$1.66UYU 65.8
-32.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$73.1
$5.07UYU 201
-17.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.25MX$248
$10.18UYU 403
39.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.68
$2.36UYU 93.5
-25.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68MX$64.1
$2.94UYU 117
25.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Montevideo
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.71
$1.29UYU 50.9
-69.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.66MX$325
$55.9UYU 2,213
-66.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.12
$1.54UYU 61.1
-9.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.29
$3.48UYU 138
-91.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$94.3
$12.29UYU 487
-55.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35MX$23.50
$1.82UYU 72.1
-25.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$328.6K
$33.7KUYU 1.3M
-44.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$402.8K
$37.0KUYU 1.5M
-37.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Montevideo
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.82MX$710
$173UYU 6,835
-76.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50MX$479
$16.74UYU 663
64.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$529
$48.89UYU 1,937
-37.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Montevideo
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$930
$61.4UYU 2,432
-12.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30MX$458
$17.46UYU 692
50.63%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$109
$10.66UYU 422
-41.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Montevideo
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,588
$477UYU 18.9K
-8.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$182.1K
$8,942UYU 354.3K
17.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Montevideo
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$988
$93.9UYU 3,722
-39.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79MX$779
$48.23UYU 1,911
-7.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,789
$112UYU 4,430
-8.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,878
$125UYU 4,958
-13.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Montevideo
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.4K
$626UYU 24.8K
59.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$620MX$10.8K
$494UYU 19.6K
25.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,137MX$37.2K
$1,085UYU 43.0K
96.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,235MX$21.5K
$806UYU 31.9K
53.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,865MX$67.3K
$3,508UYU 139.0K
10.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.6K
$2,251UYU 89.2K
3.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Montevideo
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,067MX$18.6K
$1,245UYU 49.3K
-14.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
5.68
99.65%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Montevideo: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $626 in Montevideo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Montevideo pays 17% 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: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $55.0 in Montevideo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $324 per month, with Mexico City cheaper across the board.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Mexico City vs Montevideo: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Montevideo?
Mexico City and Montevideo differ by about 13% in total monthly costs ($1,484 vs $1,677 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Montevideo earns 17% less. 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 Mexico City and Montevideo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $626 in Montevideo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Montevideo?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 199% less than in Montevideo. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Montevideo?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $477 in Montevideo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,484 in Mexico City versus $1,677 in Montevideo, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Montevideo. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City 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 Mexico City or Montevideo safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City 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: Mexico City or Montevideo?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Montevideo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Mexico City vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado