😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,677 in Montevideo versus $309 in Artigas.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,515 in Montevideo versus $364 in Artigas.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,353 in Montevideo versus $419 in Artigas.
😐Living in Montevideo is roughly 443% more expensive than Artigas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Montevideo is 25% above, Artigas is 77% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montevideo
Artigas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.11UYU 641
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.9UYU 2,185
-
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.04UYU 479
-
-
Cappuccino
$4.26UYU 170
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20UYU 87.4
-
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69UYU 67.4
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.29UYU 171
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60UYU 143
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montevideo
Artigas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.26UYU 50.0
-
-
White Bread(500g)
$2.81UYU 112
-
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.65UYU 65.5
-
-
Eggs
$4.92UYU 196
-
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49UYU 537
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.73UYU 427
-
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.19UYU 445
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.12UYU 124
-
-
Banana(1kg)
$2.48UYU 98.5
-
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.55UYU 61.7
-
-
Tomato(1kg)
$3.74UYU 149
-
-
Potato(1kg)
$2.15UYU 85.6
-
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.89UYU 75.1
-
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36UYU 54.2
-
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.66UYU 66.1
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.07UYU 202
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$10.18UYU 405
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.36UYU 93.8
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94UYU 117
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Montevideo
Artigas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.29UYU 51.1
$1.23UYU 49.00
4.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$55.9UYU 2,222
$43.94UYU 1,748
27.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.54UYU 61.3
$1.46UYU 58.1
5.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.48UYU 138
$1.57UYU 62.5
121.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.29UYU 489
$11.18UYU 445
9.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82UYU 72.4
$2.38UYU 94.9
-23.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.7KUYU 1.3M
$38.6KUYU 1.5M
-12.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.0KUYU 1.5M
$39.8KUYU 1.6M
-6.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montevideo
Artigas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$173UYU 6,863
$169UYU 6,742
1.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.74UYU 666
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.89UYU 1,945
$39.30UYU 1,563
24.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montevideo
Artigas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.4UYU 2,442
$29.71UYU 1,182
106.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.46UYU 695
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.66UYU 424
$8.36UYU 332
27.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montevideo
Artigas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$477UYU 19.0K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,942UYU 355.7K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montevideo
Artigas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.9UYU 3,737
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.23UYU 1,919
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112UYU 4,448
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125UYU 4,978
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montevideo
Artigas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$626UYU 24.9K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$494UYU 19.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,085UYU 43.2K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$806UYU 32.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,508UYU 139.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,251UYU 89.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montevideo
Artigas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,245UYU 49.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.68
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Montevideo: April 26, 2026
Last update for Artigas: April 28, 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
Which city is more expensive, Montevideo or Artigas?
Artigas wins on cost – living expenses run 443% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Montevideo vs Artigas?
You'd need roughly $2,515 in Montevideo and $463 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.
How expensive is transport in Montevideo vs Artigas?
A monthly transit pass in Artigas runs roughly 27% less than in Montevideo. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How much does it cost to live in Montevideo compared to Artigas?
All in, you'll spend $1,677 per month in Montevideo versus $309 in Artigas – a 443% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Montevideo or Artigas?
At $309 in Artigas versus $1,677 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.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Montevideo or Artigas?
Both work as nomad bases, but Artigas delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $309 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Artigas hard to pass up.
How safe is Montevideo compared to Artigas?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Artigas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 443% less than in Montevideo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Montevideo vs other spots: cost of living compared