Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montevideo and Big Rapids, MI

For one person, living is cheaper in Montevideo: $1,813 a month against $1,938 in Big Rapids, MI, rent and utilities included – about $1,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Montevideo
🇺🇾 Uruguay
$1,813
/mo nomad
Big Rapids, MI
🇺🇸 United States
$1,938
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montevideo and in Big Rapids, MI

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 Big Rapids, MI actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,813 in Montevideo versus $1,938 in Big Rapids, MI.

  • Montevideo $1,813
  • Big Rapids, MI $1,938

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,782 in Montevideo versus $2,811 in Big Rapids, MI.

  • Montevideo $2,782
  • Big Rapids, MI $2,811

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,750 in Montevideo versus $3,684 in Big Rapids, MI.

  • Montevideo $3,750
  • Big Rapids, MI $3,684

Living in Montevideo costs roughly 6% less than in Big Rapids, MI, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Montevideo 35% above, Big Rapids, MI 45% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montevideo
Big Rapids, MI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.26 UYU 613
$18.18 $18.18
-16.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.4 UYU 2,711
$58.9 $58.9
14.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.37 UYU 578
$8.20 $8.20
75.24%
Cappuccino
$4.64 UYU 187
$5.12 $5.12
-9.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 UYU 110
$2.98 $2.98
-8.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 UYU 84.0
$2.17 $2.17
-3.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.75 UYU 191
$6.68 $6.68
-28.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67 UYU 147
$7.88 $7.88
-53.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montevideo
Big Rapids, MI
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 UYU 55.5
$0.90 $0.90
53.33%
White Bread (500g)
$2.77 UYU 112
$3.35 $3.35
-17.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.69 UYU 67.8
$2.14 $2.14
-21.03%
Eggs
$4.52 UYU 182
$3.70 $3.70
22.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.17 UYU 570
$16.36 $16.36
-13.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.07 UYU 485
$13.25 $13.25
-8.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.16 UYU 489
$14.59 $14.59
-16.66%
Apples (1kg)
$2.87 UYU 116
$3.38 $3.38
-15.09%
Banana (1kg)
$2.75 UYU 110
$0.62 $0.62
343.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.73 UYU 69.5
$3.71 $3.71
-53.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.24 UYU 130
$4.34 $4.34
-25.35%
Potato (1kg)
$2.07 UYU 83.1
$2.31 $2.31
-10.39%
Onion (1kg)
$2.07 UYU 83.1
$2.73 $2.73
-24.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.38 UYU 55.4
$2.29 $2.29
-39.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.85 UYU 74.5
$1.96 $1.96
-5.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.57 UYU 224
$10.21 $10.21
-45.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.89 UYU 357
$13.35 $13.35
-33.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.29 UYU 92.2
$2.17 $2.17
5.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70 UYU 109
$2.88 $2.88
-6.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Montevideo
Big Rapids, MI
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.52 UYU 61.3
$2.05 $2.05
-25.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$73.7 UYU 2,962
$23.63 $23.63
211.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.82 UYU 73.4
$3.03 $3.03
-39.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.40 UYU 16.05
$1.53 $1.53
-73.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.66 UYU 429
$26.52 $26.52
-59.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.22 UYU 89.2
$1.06 $1.06
109.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.7K UYU 1.1M
$35.3K $35.3K
-24.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.7K UYU 1.5M
$23.6K $23.6K
55.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montevideo
Big Rapids, MI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$191 UYU 7,674
$198 $198
-3.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.40 UYU 820
$57.7 $57.7
-64.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.14 UYU 1,775
$71.1 $71.1
-37.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montevideo
Big Rapids, MI
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.1 UYU 2,177
$40.00 $40.00
35.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.68 UYU 791
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.33 UYU 496
$12.75 $12.75
-3.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montevideo
Big Rapids, MI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$613 UYU 24.7K
$2,059 $2,059
-70.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.0K UYU 444.3K
$20.0K $20.0K
-44.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montevideo
Big Rapids, MI
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 UYU 4,134
$56.7 $56.7
81.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.1 UYU 2,255
$35.03 $35.03
60.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$124 UYU 5,000
$85.7 $85.7
45.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130 UYU 5,214
$106 $106
22.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montevideo
Big Rapids, MI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$705 UYU 28.4K
$882 $882
-20.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$575 UYU 23.1K
$678 $678
-15.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,139 UYU 45.8K
$1,552 $1,552
-26.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,016 UYU 40.8K
$1,061 $1,061
-4.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,349 UYU 134.6K
$3,020 $3,020
10.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,942 UYU 78.1K
$2,732 $2,732
-28.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montevideo
Big Rapids, MI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,229 UYU 49.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.74
5.68
1.06%

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

Last update for Montevideo: October 5, 2026

Last update for Big Rapids, MI: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montevideo
$575
Big Rapids, MI
$678 17.8% $102
Groceries & Markets
Montevideo
$332
Big Rapids, MI
$370 11.4% $38
Eating Out
Montevideo
$271
Big Rapids, MI
$301 11.1% $30
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montevideo
$255
Big Rapids, MI
$327 28% $72
Clothing & Footwear
Montevideo
$186
Big Rapids, MI
$128 31.4% $58
Getting Around
Montevideo
$84
Big Rapids, MI
$43 49.1% $41
Sport & Entertainment
Montevideo
$79
Big Rapids, MI
$66 16.9% $13

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $705 in Montevideo and $882 in Big Rapids, MI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $67.0 in Montevideo vs $59.0 in Big Rapids, MI. Groceries flip the comparison at $332 vs $370, with Montevideo cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇺🇾 Montevideo
🇺🇸 Big Rapids, MI
🕒 Local time
09:58 9:58 AM
08:58 8:58 AM
1 h behind Montevideo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,319,108 Capital
10,565
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

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 = 45.06 UYU (100 UYU = 2.22 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Montevideo Big Rapids, MI 9,230 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Montevideo
  • Big Rapids, MI

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 Big Rapids, MI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Big Rapids, MI cheaper than Montevideo?
Montevideo is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and utilities. The 7% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,720 in Montevideo and $2,907 in Big Rapids, MI 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.
What is the rent difference between Montevideo and Big Rapids, MI?
Rent for a central apartment: $705 in Montevideo versus $882 in Big Rapids, MI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Montevideo and in Big Rapids, MI?
Supermarket bills run roughly 11% higher in Big Rapids, MI. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Montevideo or in Big Rapids, MI?
Dining out is cheaper in Montevideo – a meal for two runs $67.0 versus $59.0 in Big Rapids, MI. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Montevideo or in Big Rapids, MI?
At $1,813 in Montevideo versus $1,938 in Big Rapids, MI, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Montevideo but tight or insufficient in Big Rapids, MI. The gap between the two cities makes Montevideo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Montevideo or Big Rapids, MI more family-friendly?
For families, Montevideo is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Big Rapids, MI, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Montevideo or Big Rapids, MI?
Safety-wise, Montevideo and Big Rapids, MI 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Montevideo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Big Rapids, MI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Montevideo vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?