Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montevideo and Aguilares

For one person, living is cheaper in Aguilares: $806 a month against $1,813 in Montevideo, rent and utilities included – about $12,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Montevideo
🇺🇾 Uruguay
$1,813
/mo nomad
Aguilares
🇸🇻 El Salvador
$806
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montevideo and in Aguilares

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,813 in Montevideo versus $806 in Aguilares.

  • Montevideo $1,813
  • Aguilares $806

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,782 in Montevideo versus $1,292 in Aguilares.

  • Montevideo $2,782
  • Aguilares $1,292

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,750 in Montevideo versus $1,777 in Aguilares.

  • Montevideo $3,750
  • Aguilares $1,777

Living in Montevideo is roughly 125% more expensive than in Aguilares, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Montevideo is 35% above, Aguilares is 40% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montevideo
Aguilares
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.26 UYU 613
$6.90 $6.90
121.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.4 UYU 2,711
$44.21 $44.21
52.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.37 UYU 578
$6.90 $6.90
108.26%
Cappuccino
$4.64 UYU 187
$3.70 $3.70
25.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 UYU 110
$1.15 $1.15
137.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 UYU 84.0
$0.79 $0.79
164.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.75 UYU 191
$1.96 $1.96
142.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67 UYU 147
$3.58 $3.58
2.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montevideo
Aguilares
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 UYU 55.5
$1.85 $1.85
-25.41%
White Bread (500g)
$2.77 UYU 112
$2.77 $2.77
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.69 UYU 67.8
$1.37 $1.37
23.36%
Eggs
$4.52 UYU 182
$3.12 $3.12
44.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.17 UYU 570
$7.51 $7.51
88.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.07 UYU 485
$6.78 $6.78
78.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.16 UYU 489
$10.37 $10.37
17.26%
Apples (1kg)
$2.87 UYU 116
$5.11 $5.11
-43.84%
Banana (1kg)
$2.75 UYU 110
$1.47 $1.47
87.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.73 UYU 69.5
$2.94 $2.94
-41.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.24 UYU 130
$3.52 $3.52
-7.95%
Potato (1kg)
$2.07 UYU 83.1
$2.96 $2.96
-30.07%
Onion (1kg)
$2.07 UYU 83.1
$3.34 $3.34
-38.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.38 UYU 55.4
$0.97 $0.97
42.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.85 UYU 74.5
$0.96 $0.96
92.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.57 UYU 224
$3.96 $3.96
40.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.89 UYU 357
$11.79 $11.79
-24.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.29 UYU 92.2
$2.27 $2.27
0.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70 UYU 109
$2.89 $2.89
-6.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Montevideo
Aguilares
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.52 UYU 61.3
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$73.7 UYU 2,962
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.82 UYU 73.4
$5.90 $5.90
-69.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.40 UYU 16.05
$2.96 $2.96
-86.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.66 UYU 429
$19.87 $19.87
-46.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.22 UYU 89.2
$1.20 $1.20
85.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.7K UYU 1.1M
$25.2K $25.2K
6.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.7K UYU 1.5M
$26.9K $26.9K
36.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montevideo
Aguilares
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$191 UYU 7,674
$128 $128
48.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.40 UYU 820
$21.01 $21.01
-2.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.14 UYU 1,775
$41.77 $41.77
5.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montevideo
Aguilares
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.1 UYU 2,177
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.68 UYU 791
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.33 UYU 496
$5.10 $5.10
141.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montevideo
Aguilares
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$613 UYU 24.7K
$160 $160
281.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.0K UYU 444.3K
$4,767 $4,767
131.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montevideo
Aguilares
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 UYU 4,134
$66.4 $66.4
54.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.1 UYU 2,255
$46.24 $46.24
21.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$124 UYU 5,000
$116 $116
6.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130 UYU 5,214
$117 $117
10.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montevideo
Aguilares
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$705 UYU 28.4K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$575 UYU 23.1K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,139 UYU 45.8K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,016 UYU 40.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,349 UYU 134.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,942 UYU 78.1K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montevideo
Aguilares
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,229 UYU 49.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.74
8.5
-32.47%

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

Last update for Montevideo: October 5, 2026

Last update for Aguilares: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montevideo
$575
Aguilares
- * 100%
Groceries & Markets
Montevideo
$332
Aguilares
$287 13.6% $45
Eating Out
Montevideo
$271
Aguilares
$145 46.5% $126
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montevideo
$255
Aguilares
$191 25.1% $64
Clothing & Footwear
Montevideo
$186
Aguilares
$156 16.2% $30
Getting Around
Montevideo
$84
Aguilares
$21 * 75.3% $63
Sport & Entertainment
Montevideo
$79
Aguilares
$10 * 87.1% $69

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

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $67.0 in Montevideo vs $44.00 in Aguilares for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $332 vs $287 per month, with Aguilares cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇾 Montevideo
🇸🇻 Aguilares
🕒 Local time
05:31 5:31 AM
02:31 2:31 AM
3 h behind Montevideo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,319,108 Capital
21,445
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to UYU – Uruguayan Peso Converter

Uruguayan Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 40.21 UYU (100 UYU = 2.49 USD). 1 EUR = 45.1 UYU (100 UYU = 2.22 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Montevideo Aguilares 6,450 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Montevideo
  • Aguilares

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
Montevideo vs Aguilares: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Montevideo or Aguilares?
Aguilares wins on cost – living expenses run 125% lower than in Montevideo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Aguilares the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Montevideo and in Aguilares?
You'd need roughly $2,720 in Montevideo and $1,209 in Aguilares to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do childcare costs compare in Montevideo and in Aguilares?
Childcare runs $613 in Montevideo versus $160 in Aguilares. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Montevideo and in Aguilares?
Dining out is cheaper in Aguilares – a meal for two runs $44.00 versus $67.0 in Montevideo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Montevideo or in Aguilares?
At $806 in Aguilares versus $1,813 in Montevideo, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Aguilares but tight or insufficient in Montevideo. The gap between the two cities makes Aguilares the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Montevideo or Aguilares?
Both work as nomad bases, but Aguilares delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $806 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Aguilares hard to pass up.
How safe is Montevideo compared to Aguilares?
Safety-wise, Montevideo and Aguilares are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Aguilares gentler on the wallet – expenses run 125% less than in Montevideo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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