Cost of Living Comparison Between Montevideo and Bloomington, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Montevideo and Bloomington, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,640 per month in Montevideo vs $2,517 in Bloomington, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,477 per month in Montevideo vs $3,494 in Bloomington, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,314 per month in Montevideo vs $4,471 in Bloomington, IL, rent included.

Montevideo is about 35% cheaper than Bloomington, IL, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Montevideo and Bloomington, IL sit above the global median – Montevideo by 22%, Bloomington, IL by 88%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montevideo
Bloomington, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.35 UYU 650
$15.45 $15.45
5.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.3 UYU 2,161
$51.7 $51.7
5.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.15 UYU 483
$10.89 $10.89
11.57%
Cappuccino
$4.06 UYU 162
$2.54 $2.54
59.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 UYU 90.1
$1.99 $1.99
14.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 UYU 67.7
$2.03 $2.03
-16.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.51 UYU 179
$5.86 $5.86
-23.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 UYU 144
$4.90 $4.90
-25.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montevideo
Bloomington, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.26 UYU 50.3
$0.83 $0.83
51.81%
White Bread (500g)
$2.87 UYU 114
$3.06 $3.06
-6.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 UYU 64.1
$4.34 $4.34
-62.90%
Eggs
$4.71 UYU 188
$3.39 $3.39
38.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.42 UYU 534
$9.02 $9.02
48.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.74 UYU 427
$6.42 $6.42
67.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.19 UYU 445
$13.07 $13.07
-14.38%
Apples (1kg)
$3.13 UYU 125
$4.29 $4.29
-27.04%
Banana (1kg)
$2.34 UYU 93.3
$1.29 $1.29
81.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.55 UYU 61.8
$5.53 $5.53
-71.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.63 UYU 144
$3.12 $3.12
16.35%
Potato (1kg)
$2.14 UYU 85.0
$2.07 $2.07
3.38%
Onion (1kg)
$1.96 UYU 77.9
$2.12 $2.12
-7.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.36 UYU 54.2
$1.77 $1.77
-23.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 UYU 68.9
$2.04 $2.04
-15.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.09 UYU 202
$9.18 $9.18
-44.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.90 UYU 394
$15.69 $15.69
-36.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.33 UYU 92.8
$1.72 $1.72
35.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05 UYU 121
$2.23 $2.23
36.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Montevideo
Bloomington, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.35 UYU 53.9
$1.22 $1.22
10.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$55.2 UYU 2,197
$40.17 $40.17
37.44%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.61 UYU 64.0
$2.04 $2.04
-21.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.60 UYU 143
$2.14 $2.14
68.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.42 UYU 494
$33.38 $33.38
-62.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.85 UYU 73.5
$0.89 $0.89
107.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8K UYU 1.4M
$33.3K $33.3K
4.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.3K UYU 1.4M
$25.1K $25.1K
44.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montevideo
Bloomington, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$175 UYU 6,968
$170 $170
2.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.91 UYU 673
$64.8 $64.8
-73.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.0 UYU 1,989
$72.9 $72.9
-31.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montevideo
Bloomington, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.6 UYU 2,410
$59.4 $59.4
1.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.35 UYU 691
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.46 UYU 416
$8.42 $8.42
24.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montevideo
Bloomington, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 UYU 19.7K
$1,768 $1,768
-72.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,985 UYU 357.5K
$27.4K $27.4K
-67.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montevideo
Bloomington, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$96.1 UYU 3,822
$46.75 $46.75
105.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.11 UYU 1,914
$41.81 $41.81
15.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$116 UYU 4,606
$86.2 $86.2
34.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125 UYU 4,959
$129 $129
-3.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montevideo
Bloomington, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$615 UYU 24.5K
$1,091 $1,091
-43.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$483 UYU 19.2K
$1,373 $1,373
-64.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,117 UYU 44.4K
$2,119 $2,119
-47.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$818 UYU 32.6K
$1,970 $1,970
-58.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,484 UYU 138.6K
$1,339 $1,339
160.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,267 UYU 90.2K
$1,355 $1,355
67.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montevideo
Bloomington, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,283 UYU 51.0K
$4,580 $4,580
-72.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.68
6.53
-13.02%

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

Last update for Montevideo: April 22, 2026

Last update for Bloomington, IL: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $615 in Montevideo versus $1,091 in Bloomington, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 257% higher in Bloomington, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54 in Montevideo versus $52 in Bloomington, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $322 vs $321 – making Bloomington, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Bloomington, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Montevideo or Bloomington, IL?
Bloomington, IL costs about 53% more than Montevideo, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Montevideo vs Bloomington, IL?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,460 per month in Montevideo and $3,775 in Bloomington, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Montevideo or Bloomington, IL?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Montevideo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Montevideo and Bloomington, IL?
Kindergarten costs $494 per month in Montevideo and $1,768 in Bloomington, IL. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Montevideo or Bloomington, IL?
Interestingly, groceries are about 0% cheaper in Bloomington, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Montevideo or Bloomington, IL?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Montevideo, where all-in costs run around $1,640, than in Bloomington, IL at $2,517. In Montevideo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bloomington, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Montevideo or Bloomington, IL?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montevideo costs $1,640 versus $2,517 in Bloomington, IL. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Montevideo compared to Bloomington, IL?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Montevideo or Bloomington, IL?
If budget matters most, go with Montevideo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bloomington, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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