Cost of Living Comparison Between Montevideo and Artigas Cost of Living Comparison Between Montevideo and Artigas

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,658 in Montevideo versus $319 in Artigas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,468 in Montevideo versus $366 in Artigas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Montevideo versus $414 in Artigas.

Living in Montevideo is roughly 420% more expensive than in Artigas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Montevideo is 24% above, Artigas is 76% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.26 UYU 650

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.2 UYU 2,206

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.07 UYU 483

Cappuccino

$4.28 UYU 171

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

$2.25 UYU 90.0

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 UYU 67.1

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.35 UYU 174

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 UYU 143

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 UYU 49.99

White Bread (500g)

$2.77 UYU 111

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 UYU 63.6

Eggs

$4.81 UYU 192

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.54 UYU 541

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.64 UYU 425

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 UYU 432

Apples (1kg)

$3.12 UYU 125

Banana (1kg)

$2.39 UYU 95.5

Oranges (1kg)

$1.49 UYU 59.4

Tomato (1kg)

$3.68 UYU 147

Potato (1kg)

$2.07 UYU 82.9

Onion (1kg)

$1.94 UYU 77.5

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.32 UYU 52.6

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 UYU 69.3

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.22 UYU 209

Wine (Bottle)

$10.00 UYU 400

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.36 UYU 94.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 UYU 122

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.29 UYU 51.4

$1.23 UYU 49.32

4.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.5 UYU 2,217

$44.77 UYU 1,789

23.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 UYU 64.4

$1.49 UYU 59.4

8.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.57 UYU 143

$1.50 UYU 60.1

138.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.36 UYU 494

$10.87 UYU 434

13.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.89 UYU 75.4

$2.39 UYU 95.7

-20.92%

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

$33.8K UYU 1.3M

$38.9K UYU 1.6M

-13.25%

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

$37.0K UYU 1.5M

$39.6K UYU 1.6M

-6.60%

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

$169 UYU 6,765

$174 UYU 6,973

-3.00%

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

$16.93 UYU 677

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.74 UYU 1,988

$38.64 UYU 1,544

28.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.6 UYU 2,503

$29.77 UYU 1,190

110.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.25 UYU 690

Cinema Ticket

$10.41 UYU 416

$8.49 UYU 339

22.61%

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

$491 UYU 19.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,762 UYU 350.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$95.0 UYU 3,797

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.36 UYU 1,933

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 UYU 4,536

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 UYU 4,874

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$611 UYU 24.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$486 UYU 19.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,122 UYU 44.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$811 UYU 32.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,589 UYU 143.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,318 UYU 92.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,310 UYU 52.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.68

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

Last update for Montevideo: June 15, 2026

Last update for Artigas: June 16, 2026

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 Artigas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Artigas wins on cost – living expenses run 420% lower than in Montevideo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Artigas the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $2,487 in Montevideo and $478 in Artigas 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.

A monthly transit pass in Artigas runs roughly 24% less than in Montevideo. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

All in, you'll spend $1,658 per month in Montevideo versus $319 in Artigas – a 420% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $319 in Artigas versus $1,658 in Montevideo, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Artigas but tight or insufficient in Montevideo. The gap between the two cities makes Artigas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Artigas delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $319 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Artigas hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Montevideo and Artigas 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 Artigas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 420% less than in Montevideo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.