Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Monroe, LA and Montevideo

For one person, living is cheaper in Montevideo: $1,771 a month against $1,884 in Monroe, LA, rent and utilities included – about $1,400 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Monroe, LA outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Monroe, LA
🇺🇸 United States
$1,884
/mo nomad
Montevideo
🇺🇾 Uruguay
$1,771
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Monroe, LA and in Montevideo

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Monroe, LA and in Montevideo actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,884 per month in Monroe, LA vs $1,771 in Montevideo, rent included.

  • Monroe, LA $1,884
  • Montevideo $1,771

A couple spends around $2,866 per month in Monroe, LA vs $2,740 in Montevideo, rent included.

  • Monroe, LA $2,866
  • Montevideo $2,740

A family of three spends $3,848 per month in Monroe, LA vs $3,708 in Montevideo, rent included.

  • Monroe, LA $3,848
  • Montevideo $3,708

Monroe, LA costs about 6% more than Montevideo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Monroe, LA and Montevideo sit above the global median – Monroe, LA by 40%, Montevideo by 31%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Monroe, LA
Montevideo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.96 $16.96
$15.16 UYU 609
11.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.30 $40.30
$69.2 UYU 2,776
-41.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.08 $10.08
$14.65 UYU 588
-31.19%
Cappuccino
$3.02 $3.02
$4.46 UYU 179
-32.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 $1.99
$2.67 UYU 107
-25.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41 $2.41
$2.00 UYU 80.4
20.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.08 $4.08
$4.83 UYU 194
-15.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.86 $5.86
$3.80 UYU 152
54.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Monroe, LA
Montevideo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 $1.11
$1.36 UYU 54.8
-18.38%
White Bread (500g)
$2.73 $2.73
$2.87 UYU 115
-4.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.78 $2.78
$1.75 UYU 70.2
58.86%
Eggs
$3.08 $3.08
$4.68 UYU 188
-34.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.79 $8.79
$13.88 UYU 557
-36.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.94 $7.94
$11.98 UYU 481
-33.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.69 $15.69
$11.97 UYU 480
31.08%
Apples (1kg)
$5.11 $5.11
$2.78 UYU 111
83.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 $1.43
$2.74 UYU 110
-47.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.27 $4.27
$1.77 UYU 71.2
141.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.76 $3.76
$3.24 UYU 130
16.05%
Potato (1kg)
$2.75 $2.75
$1.97 UYU 79.2
39.59%
Onion (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.07 UYU 83.1
22.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.51 $1.51
$1.37 UYU 55.1
10.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.85 $1.85
$1.88 UYU 75.3
-1.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.77 $7.77
$5.59 UYU 224
39.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.70 $13.70
$8.78 UYU 352
56.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 $1.83
$2.26 UYU 90.9
-19.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 $1.75
$2.75 UYU 110
-36.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Monroe, LA
Montevideo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.53 UYU 61.5
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.3 UYU 2,980
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.54 $2.54
$1.91 UYU 76.7
32.98%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.52 $1.52
$0.40 UYU 16.18
280.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.03 $24.03
$10.33 UYU 415
132.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.96 $0.96
$2.13 UYU 85.6
-54.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.1K $37.1K
$27.1K UYU 1.1M
37.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K $25.6K
$36.3K UYU 1.5M
-29.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monroe, LA
Montevideo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$173 $173
$188 UYU 7,557
-8.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.7 $51.7
$20.54 UYU 824
151.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$44.81 UYU 1,798
42.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Monroe, LA
Montevideo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.19 $46.19
$54.0 UYU 2,166
-14.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.75 UYU 793
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.86 $12.86
$11.95 UYU 480
7.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Monroe, LA
Montevideo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$786 $786
$634 UYU 25.5K
23.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.0K $19.0K
$11.1K UYU 443.6K
71.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Monroe, LA
Montevideo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.60 $40.60
$102 UYU 4,099
-60.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.10 $38.10
$57.5 UYU 2,309
-33.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$62.0 $62.0
$127 UYU 5,079
-50.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.3 $97.3
$128 UYU 5,131
-23.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Monroe, LA
Montevideo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$976 $976
$719 UYU 28.8K
35.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$828 $828
$568 UYU 22.8K
45.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,173 $2,173
$1,145 UYU 46.0K
89.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,643 $1,643
$1,023 UYU 41.1K
60.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,022 $2,022
$3,392 UYU 136.1K
-40.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,812 $1,812
$1,949 UYU 78.2K
-7.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Monroe, LA
Montevideo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,697 $3,697
$1,245 UYU 50.0K
197.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.75
5.74
17.60%

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

Last update for Monroe, LA: October 12, 2026

Last update for Montevideo: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Monroe, LA
$828
Montevideo
$568 31.4% $260
Groceries & Markets
Monroe, LA
$327
Montevideo
$332 1.5% $5
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monroe, LA
$288
Montevideo
$254 12.1% $35
Eating Out
Monroe, LA
$252
Montevideo
$269 6.9% $17
Clothing & Footwear
Monroe, LA
$107
Montevideo
$186 74% $79
Sport & Entertainment
Monroe, LA
$72
Montevideo
$78 8.3% $6
Getting Around
Monroe, LA
$10 *
Montevideo
$84 734% $74

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $976 in Monroe, LA versus $719 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 197% higher in Monroe, LA, 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 $40.00 in Monroe, LA versus $69.0 in Montevideo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $327 vs $332 – making Monroe, LA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Monroe, LA
🇺🇾 Montevideo
🕒 Local time
03:41 3:41 AM
05:41 5:41 AM
2 h ahead of Monroe, LA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
47,702
1,319,108 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

UYU, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Uruguayan Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 40.14 UYU (100 UYU = 2.49 USD). 1 EUR = 45.12 UYU (100 UYU = 2.22 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Monroe, LA Montevideo 8,380 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Monroe, LA
  • Montevideo

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Monroe, LA vs Montevideo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Monroe, LA or Montevideo?
Monroe, LA costs about 6% more than Montevideo, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from clothing. 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 Monroe, LA and in Montevideo?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,826 per month in Monroe, LA and $2,656 in Montevideo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Monroe, LA 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.
How do dining costs compare in Monroe, LA and in Montevideo?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Monroe, LA and $69.0 in Montevideo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Monroe, LA or in Montevideo?
Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in Monroe, LA – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Monroe, LA or in Montevideo?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Montevideo, where all-in costs run around $1,771, than in Monroe, LA at $1,884. In Montevideo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Monroe, LA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Monroe, LA or Montevideo?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montevideo costs $1,771 versus $1,884 in Monroe, LA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Monroe, LA 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 Monroe, LA or to Montevideo?
If budget matters most, go with Montevideo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Monroe, LA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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