Cost of Living Comparison Between Montevideo and Arlington, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Montevideo and Arlington, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,632 in Montevideo versus $2,364 in Arlington, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,480 in Montevideo versus $3,507 in Arlington, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Montevideo versus $4,651 in Arlington, WA.

Living in Montevideo costs roughly 31% less than in Arlington, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Montevideo 22% above, Arlington, WA 76% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.85 UYU 638

$16.57 $16.57

-4.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.6 UYU 2,197

$71.6 $71.6

-23.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.12 UYU 488

$12.42 $12.42

-2.42%

Cappuccino

$4.23 UYU 170

$5.28 $5.28

-19.89%

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

$2.19 UYU 88.1

$2.86 $2.86

-23.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 UYU 68.2

$1.97 $1.97

-14.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.52 UYU 182

$4.98 $4.98

-9.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 UYU 145

$12.02 $12.02

-70.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 UYU 51.3

$1.11 $1.11

14.41%

White Bread (500g)

$2.77 UYU 112

$4.27 $4.27

-35.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 UYU 63.8

$4.85 $4.85

-67.42%

Eggs

$4.79 UYU 193

$4.98 $4.98

-3.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.41 UYU 540

$9.75 $9.75

37.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.67 UYU 430

$8.06 $8.06

32.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.24 UYU 452

$15.65 $15.65

-28.18%

Apples (1kg)

$3.00 UYU 121

$2.68 $2.68

11.94%

Banana (1kg)

$2.43 UYU 98.0

$1.69 $1.69

43.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.54 UYU 62.2

$5.14 $5.14

-70.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.66 UYU 148

$5.13 $5.13

-28.65%

Potato (1kg)

$2.11 UYU 84.8

$3.27 $3.27

-35.47%

Onion (1kg)

$1.89 UYU 75.9

$2.85 $2.85

-33.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.37 UYU 55.0

$1.95 $1.95

-29.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 UYU 68.9

$2.98 $2.98

-42.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.10 UYU 205

$10.81 $10.81

-52.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.05 UYU 405

$18.64 $18.64

-46.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.36 UYU 94.9

$1.76 $1.76

34.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 UYU 118

$6.39 $6.39

-54.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.29 UYU 52.0

$1.95 $1.95

-33.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.8 UYU 2,247

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.60 UYU 64.3

$2.67 $2.67

-40.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.63 UYU 146

$0.72 $0.72

404.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.43 UYU 500

$30.02 $30.02

-58.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.81 UYU 73.0

$1.06 $1.06

70.75%

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

$34.5K UYU 1.4M

$36.4K $36.4K

-5.20%

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

$36.0K UYU 1.4M

$23.6K $23.6K

52.21%

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

$170 UYU 6,864

$213 $213

-19.91%

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

$16.51 UYU 665

$50.8 $50.8

-67.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.77 UYU 2,004

$44.74 $44.74

11.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 UYU 2,489

$33.49 $33.49

84.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.67 UYU 711

Cinema Ticket

$10.45 UYU 421

$15.03 $15.03

-30.47%

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

$482 UYU 19.4K

$2,083 $2,083

-76.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,873 UYU 357.3K

$31.1K $31.1K

-71.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$94.9 UYU 3,821

$37.38 $37.38

153.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.22 UYU 1,902

$40.69 $40.69

16.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 UYU 4,502

$71.9 $71.9

55.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 UYU 4,964

$102 $102

21.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$628 UYU 25.3K

$1,304 $1,304

-51.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$492 UYU 19.8K

$1,217 $1,217

-59.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,112 UYU 44.8K

$2,497 $2,497

-55.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$801 UYU 32.2K

$2,021 $2,021

-60.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,582 UYU 144.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,272 UYU 91.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,334 UYU 53.7K

$5,830 $5,830

-77.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.68

4.85

17.11%

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

Last update for Montevideo: May 31, 2026

Last update for Arlington, WA: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $628 in Montevideo and $1,304 in Arlington, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Arlington, WA pays 337% 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 Montevideo vs $72.0 in Arlington, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $321 vs $397 per month, with Montevideo cheaper across the board.

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 Arlington, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Montevideo and Arlington, WA differ by about 45% in total monthly costs ($1,632 vs $2,364 including rent). Montevideo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Arlington, WA earns 337% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $628 in Montevideo versus $1,304 in Arlington, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 24% higher in Arlington, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,632 per month in Montevideo versus $2,364 in Arlington, WA – a 45% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,632 in Montevideo versus $2,364 in Arlington, WA, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Montevideo but tight or insufficient in Arlington, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Montevideo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Montevideo and Arlington, WA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Montevideo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 45% less than in Arlington, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.