Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montevideo and Cabo Rojo

For one person, living is cheaper in Cabo Rojo: $1,233 a month against $1,771 in Montevideo, rent and utilities included – about $6,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Montevideo
🇺🇾 Uruguay
$1,771
/mo nomad
Cabo Rojo
🇵🇷 Puerto Rico
$1,233
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montevideo and in Cabo Rojo

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

A single person spends $1,771 per month in Montevideo vs $1,233 in Cabo Rojo, rent included.

  • Montevideo $1,771
  • Cabo Rojo $1,233

A couple spends around $2,740 per month in Montevideo vs $1,944 in Cabo Rojo, rent included.

  • Montevideo $2,740
  • Cabo Rojo $1,944

A family of three spends $3,708 per month in Montevideo vs $2,655 in Cabo Rojo, rent included.

  • Montevideo $3,708
  • Cabo Rojo $2,655

Montevideo costs about 44% more than Cabo Rojo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Montevideo sits 31% above the global median, while Cabo Rojo is 9% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montevideo
Cabo Rojo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.16 UYU 609
$10.13 $10.13
49.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2 UYU 2,776
$82.8 $82.8
-16.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.65 UYU 588
$8.98 $8.98
63.14%
Cappuccino
$4.46 UYU 179
$3.56 $3.56
25.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 UYU 107
$1.84 $1.84
45.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00 UYU 80.4
$1.47 $1.47
36.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.83 UYU 194
$1.49 $1.49
224.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80 UYU 152
$3.55 $3.55
7.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montevideo
Cabo Rojo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 UYU 54.8
$2.22 $2.22
-38.74%
White Bread (500g)
$2.87 UYU 115
$3.56 $3.56
-19.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.75 UYU 70.2
$2.45 $2.45
-28.57%
Eggs
$4.68 UYU 188
$7.42 $7.42
-36.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.88 UYU 557
$12.58 $12.58
10.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.98 UYU 481
$9.54 $9.54
25.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.97 UYU 480
$13.49 $13.49
-11.27%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 UYU 111
$5.02 $5.02
-44.62%
Banana (1kg)
$2.74 UYU 110
$2.62 $2.62
4.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.77 UYU 71.2
$4.89 $4.89
-63.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.24 UYU 130
$4.91 $4.91
-34.01%
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 UYU 79.2
$3.87 $3.87
-49.10%
Onion (1kg)
$2.07 UYU 83.1
$3.89 $3.89
-46.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.37 UYU 55.1
$3.54 $3.54
-61.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.88 UYU 75.3
$1.60 $1.60
17.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.59 UYU 224
$11.98 $11.98
-53.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.78 UYU 352
$15.45 $15.45
-43.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 UYU 90.9
$3.07 $3.07
-26.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 UYU 110
$4.10 $4.10
-32.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Montevideo
Cabo Rojo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.53 UYU 61.5
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.3 UYU 2,980
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.91 UYU 76.7
$2.51 $2.51
-23.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.40 UYU 16.18
$1.48 $1.48
-72.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.33 UYU 415
$41.21 $41.21
-74.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.13 UYU 85.6
$0.80 $0.80
166.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1K UYU 1.1M
$40.1K $40.1K
-32.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.3K UYU 1.5M
$28.2K $28.2K
28.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montevideo
Cabo Rojo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 UYU 7,557
$322 $322
-41.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.54 UYU 824
$65.3 $65.3
-68.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.81 UYU 1,798
$69.2 $69.2
-35.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montevideo
Cabo Rojo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.0 UYU 2,166
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.75 UYU 793
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.95 UYU 480
$10.35 $10.35
15.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montevideo
Cabo Rojo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$634 UYU 25.5K
$817 $817
-22.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.1K UYU 443.6K
$12.7K $12.7K
-13.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montevideo
Cabo Rojo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 UYU 4,099
$57.3 $57.3
78.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.5 UYU 2,309
$60.5 $60.5
-4.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$127 UYU 5,079
$109 $109
16.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128 UYU 5,131
$112 $112
13.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montevideo
Cabo Rojo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$719 UYU 28.8K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$568 UYU 22.8K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,145 UYU 46.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,023 UYU 41.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,392 UYU 136.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,949 UYU 78.2K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montevideo
Cabo Rojo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,245 UYU 50.0K
$4,204 $4,204
-70.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.74
6.55
-12.37%

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

Last update for Montevideo: October 12, 2026

Last update for Cabo Rojo: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montevideo
$568
Cabo Rojo
- * 100%
Groceries & Markets
Montevideo
$332
Cabo Rojo
$415 25.3% $84
Eating Out
Montevideo
$269
Cabo Rojo
$178 33.7% $91
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montevideo
$254
Cabo Rojo
$456 79.8% $202
Clothing & Footwear
Montevideo
$186
Cabo Rojo
$152 18.2% $34
Getting Around
Montevideo
$84
Cabo Rojo
$9.9 * 88.2% $74
Sport & Entertainment
Montevideo
$78
Cabo Rojo
$21 * 73.4% $57

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 238% higher in Cabo Rojo, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Montevideo versus $83.0 in Cabo Rojo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $332 vs $415 – making Montevideo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇾 Montevideo
🇵🇷 Cabo Rojo
🕒 Local time
16:02 4:02 PM
15:02 3:02 PM
1 h behind Montevideo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,319,108 Capital
50,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to UYU – Uruguayan Peso Converter

Uruguayan Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 40.14 UYU (100 UYU = 2.49 USD). 1 EUR = 45.13 UYU (100 UYU = 2.22 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.889 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Montevideo Cabo Rojo 6,010 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Montevideo
  • Cabo Rojo

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 Cabo Rojo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Montevideo or Cabo Rojo?
Montevideo costs about 44% more than Cabo Rojo, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. 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 and in Cabo Rojo?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,656 per month in Montevideo and $1,849 in Cabo Rojo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does it cost to live in Montevideo compared to Cabo Rojo?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,771 in Montevideo and $1,233 in Cabo Rojo. That's a gap of about 44%.
How do childcare costs compare in Montevideo and in Cabo Rojo?
Kindergarten costs $634 per month in Montevideo and $817 in Cabo Rojo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Montevideo or in Cabo Rojo?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Cabo Rojo, where all-in costs run around $1,233, than in Montevideo at $1,771. In Cabo Rojo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montevideo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Montevideo or Cabo Rojo?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Cabo Rojo costs $1,233 versus $1,771 in Montevideo. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Montevideo compared to Cabo Rojo?
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 to Cabo Rojo?
If budget matters most, go with Cabo Rojo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Montevideo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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