Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montevideo and Barrie

For one person, living is cheaper in Montevideo: $1,813 a month against $2,516 in Barrie, rent and utilities included – about $8,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Montevideo
🇺🇾 Uruguay
$1,813
/mo nomad
Barrie
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,516
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montevideo and in Barrie

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 Barrie actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,813 in Montevideo versus $2,516 in Barrie.

  • Montevideo $1,813
  • Barrie $2,516

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,782 in Montevideo versus $3,464 in Barrie.

  • Montevideo $2,782
  • Barrie $3,464

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,750 in Montevideo versus $4,413 in Barrie.

  • Montevideo $3,750
  • Barrie $4,413

Living in Montevideo costs roughly 28% less than in Barrie, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Montevideo 35% above, Barrie 88% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montevideo
Barrie
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.26 UYU 613
$14.06 CA$20.05
8.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.4 UYU 2,711
$57.2 CA$81.6
17.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.37 UYU 578
$11.11 CA$15.84
29.34%
Cappuccino
$4.64 UYU 187
$3.66 CA$5.22
26.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 UYU 110
$1.90 CA$2.71
43.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 UYU 84.0
$1.46 CA$2.08
43.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.75 UYU 191
$4.99 CA$7.11
-4.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67 UYU 147
$5.46 CA$7.78
-32.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montevideo
Barrie
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 UYU 55.5
$2.03 CA$2.90
-32.02%
White Bread (500g)
$2.77 UYU 112
$2.48 CA$3.53
11.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.69 UYU 67.8
$2.66 CA$3.79
-36.47%
Eggs
$4.52 UYU 182
$2.91 CA$4.15
55.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.17 UYU 570
$9.70 CA$13.82
46.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.07 UYU 485
$14.10 CA$20.10
-14.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.16 UYU 489
$22.09 CA$31.48
-44.95%
Apples (1kg)
$2.87 UYU 116
$4.04 CA$5.76
-28.96%
Banana (1kg)
$2.75 UYU 110
$1.16 CA$1.66
137.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.73 UYU 69.5
$3.02 CA$4.31
-42.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.24 UYU 130
$3.84 CA$5.47
-15.62%
Potato (1kg)
$2.07 UYU 83.1
$1.08 CA$1.54
91.67%
Onion (1kg)
$2.07 UYU 83.1
$1.34 CA$1.92
54.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.38 UYU 55.4
$2.06 CA$2.93
-33.01%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.85 UYU 74.5
$1.67 CA$2.38
10.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.57 UYU 224
$11.32 CA$16.13
-50.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.89 UYU 357
$10.07 CA$14.36
-11.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.29 UYU 92.2
$2.45 CA$3.49
-6.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70 UYU 109
$2.11 CA$3.01
27.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Montevideo
Barrie
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.52 UYU 61.3
$2.43 CA$3.46
-37.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$73.7 UYU 2,962
$63.9 CA$91.1
15.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.82 UYU 73.4
$3.57 CA$5.08
-49.02%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.40 UYU 16.05
$1.07 CA$1.53
-62.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.66 UYU 429
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.22 UYU 89.2
$1.14 CA$1.63
94.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.7K UYU 1.1M
$27.9K CA$39.8K
-4.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.7K UYU 1.5M
$20.4K CA$29.1K
79.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montevideo
Barrie
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$191 UYU 7,674
$230 CA$328
-16.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.40 UYU 820
$34.39 CA$49.02
-40.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.14 UYU 1,775
$75.8 CA$108
-41.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montevideo
Barrie
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.1 UYU 2,177
$39.44 CA$56.2
37.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.68 UYU 791
$34.99 CA$49.88
-43.76%
Cinema Ticket
$12.33 UYU 496
$12.72 CA$18.13
-3.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montevideo
Barrie
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$613 UYU 24.7K
$1,382 CA$1,970
-55.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.0K UYU 444.3K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montevideo
Barrie
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 UYU 4,134
$63.6 CA$90.6
61.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.1 UYU 2,255
$43.59 CA$62.1
28.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$124 UYU 5,000
$148 CA$211
-15.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130 UYU 5,214
$84.0 CA$120
54.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montevideo
Barrie
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$705 UYU 28.4K
$1,427 CA$2,034
-50.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$575 UYU 23.1K
$1,218 CA$1,736
-52.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,139 UYU 45.8K
$2,051 CA$2,923
-44.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,016 UYU 40.8K
$1,786 CA$2,546
-43.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,349 UYU 134.6K
$4,955 CA$7,062
-32.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,942 UYU 78.1K
$4,122 CA$5,875
-52.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montevideo
Barrie
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,229 UYU 49.4K
$3,020 CA$4,305
-59.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.74
4.68
22.65%

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

Last update for Montevideo: October 5, 2026

Last update for Barrie: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montevideo
$575
Barrie
$1.2K 112% $643
Groceries & Markets
Montevideo
$332
Barrie
$362 9.1% $30
Eating Out
Montevideo
$271
Barrie
$239 11.8% $32
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montevideo
$255
Barrie
$340 33.1% $85
Clothing & Footwear
Montevideo
$186
Barrie
$153 17.9% $33
Getting Around
Montevideo
$84
Barrie
$83 1.2% $1
Sport & Entertainment
Montevideo
$79
Barrie
$65 17.7% $14

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $705 in Montevideo and $1,427 in Barrie. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barrie pays 146% 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: $67.0 in Montevideo vs $57.0 in Barrie. Groceries flip the comparison at $332 vs $362, with Montevideo cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇺🇾 Montevideo
🇨🇦 Barrie
🕒 Local time
05:21 5:21 AM
04:21 4:21 AM
1 h behind Montevideo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,319,108 Capital
141,434
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, 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).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 CAD (1 CAD = 0.702 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 CAD (1 CAD = 0.626 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Montevideo Barrie 9,130 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Montevideo
  • Barrie

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 Barrie: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Montevideo and in Barrie?
Montevideo and Barrie differ by about 39% in total monthly costs ($1,813 vs $2,516 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 146% lower in Barrie. 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 Barrie?
Rent for a central apartment: $705 in Montevideo versus $1,427 in Barrie. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Montevideo and in Barrie?
A monthly transit pass in Montevideo runs roughly 15% less than in Barrie. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Montevideo and Barrie?
Childcare runs $613 in Montevideo versus $1,382 in Barrie. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $1,813 in Montevideo versus $2,516 in Barrie, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Montevideo but tight or insufficient in Barrie. 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 Barrie?
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 Barrie safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Montevideo and Barrie 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 Barrie?
Expats usually find Montevideo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% less than in Barrie. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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