🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,806 in Montevideo versus $2,510 in Arlington, WA.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,668 in Montevideo versus $3,945 in Arlington, WA.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,530 in Montevideo versus $5,380 in Arlington, WA.
🌍Living in Montevideo costs roughly 28% less than in Arlington, WA, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Montevideo31% above, Arlington, WA83% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montevideo
Arlington, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.05UYU 605
$24.86$24.86
-39.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.1UYU 2,540
$101$101
-37.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.11UYU 527
$11.79$11.79
11.20%
Cappuccino
$4.56UYU 183
$5.42$5.42
-15.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69UYU 108
$3.08$3.08
-12.66%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96UYU 78.7
$1.99$1.99
-1.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.63UYU 186
$5.12$5.12
-9.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.65UYU 147
$6.04$6.04
-39.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montevideo
Arlington, WA
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.34UYU 54.0
$1.04$1.04
28.85%
White Bread(500g)
$2.87UYU 115
$3.62$3.62
-20.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75UYU 70.6
$4.23$4.23
-58.63%
Eggs
$4.79UYU 193
$6.19$6.19
-22.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.40UYU 579
$10.12$10.12
42.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.94UYU 480
$8.23$8.23
45.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.57UYU 465
$15.69$15.69
-26.26%
Apples(1kg)
$2.83UYU 114
$2.69$2.69
5.20%
Banana(1kg)
$2.78UYU 112
$3.09$3.09
-10.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.76UYU 71.0
$5.46$5.46
-67.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.00UYU 121
$6.71$6.71
-55.29%
Potato(1kg)
$2.14UYU 86.1
$4.46$4.46
-52.02%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17UYU 87.4
$3.58$3.58
-39.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46UYU 58.6
$2.56$2.56
-42.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.98UYU 79.6
$3.08$3.08
-35.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.55UYU 223
$13.20$13.20
-57.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.31UYU 334
$17.92$17.92
-53.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.24UYU 90.2
$1.75$1.75
28.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89UYU 116
$5.76$5.76
-49.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Montevideo
Arlington, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.55UYU 62.3
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$75.6UYU 3,042
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.81UYU 72.7
$10.12$10.12
-82.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.41UYU 16.34
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.35UYU 417
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09UYU 84.2
$1.15$1.15
81.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2KUYU 1.1M
$36.2K$36.2K
-24.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.6KUYU 1.5M
$24.0K$24.0K
56.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montevideo
Arlington, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188UYU 7,548
$216$216
-13.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.86UYU 678
$50.9$50.9
-66.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.26UYU 1,821
$45.22$45.22
0.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montevideo
Arlington, WA
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.88UYU 1,967
$33.16$33.16
47.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.99UYU 764
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.33UYU 496
$16.68$16.68
-26.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montevideo
Arlington, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$640UYU 25.8K
$1,148$1,148
-44.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.8KUYU 433.7K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montevideo
Arlington, WA
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.5UYU 3,804
$37.95$37.95
149.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.7UYU 2,281
$28.98$28.98
95.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$123UYU 4,952
$45.45$45.45
170.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132UYU 5,296
$79.6$79.6
65.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montevideo
Arlington, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$760UYU 30.6K
$1,541$1,541
-50.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$602UYU 24.2K
$1,303$1,303
-53.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,193UYU 48.0K
$2,800$2,800
-57.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$980UYU 39.4K
$2,467$2,467
-60.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,484UYU 140.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,865UYU 75.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montevideo
Arlington, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,211UYU 48.7K
$5,715$5,715
-78.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.49
4.85
13.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Montevideo: August 31, 2026
Last update for Arlington, WA: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $760 in Montevideo and $1,541 in Arlington, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Arlington, WA pays 372% 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: $63.0 in Montevideo vs $101 in Arlington, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $333 vs $418 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
What is the total cost difference between living in Montevideo and in Arlington, WA?
Montevideo and Arlington, WA differ by about 39% in total monthly costs ($1,806 vs $2,510 including rent). Montevideo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 372% lower in Arlington, WA. 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 Montevideo and in Arlington, WA?
Rent for a central apartment: $760 in Montevideo versus $1,541 in Arlington, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 26% higher in Arlington, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Montevideo or Arlington, WA?
All in, you'll spend $1,806 per month in Montevideo versus $2,510 in Arlington, WA – a 39% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $1,806 in Montevideo versus $2,510 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.
How does quality of life compare between Montevideo and Arlington, WA?
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 Montevideo or Arlington, WA safer for residents?
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.
Where should expats move: Montevideo or Arlington, WA?
Expats usually find Montevideo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% less than in Arlington, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Montevideo vs other spots: cost of living compared