Cost of Living Comparison Between Montevideo and Canelones Cost of Living Comparison Between Montevideo and Canelones

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,787 per month in Montevideo vs $1,950 in Canelones, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,687 per month in Montevideo vs $2,166 in Canelones, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,588 per month in Montevideo vs $2,383 in Canelones, rent included.

Montevideo is about 8% cheaper than Canelones, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Montevideo and Canelones sit above the global median – Montevideo by 30%, Canelones by 41%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.88 UYU 598

$14.77 UYU 594

0.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.9 UYU 2,448

$49.40 UYU 1,987

23.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.91 UYU 559

$13.07 UYU 526

6.43%

Cappuccino

$4.36 UYU 175

$3.87 UYU 156

12.66%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 UYU 112

$2.67 UYU 107

4.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 UYU 81.7

$2.00 UYU 80.3

1.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.73 UYU 190

$4.72 UYU 190

0.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.76 UYU 151

$2.97 UYU 119

26.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 UYU 53.3

$1.30 UYU 52.3

1.54%

White Bread (500g)

$2.91 UYU 117

$2.81 UYU 113

3.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.74 UYU 69.9

$1.83 UYU 73.6

-4.92%

Eggs

$4.84 UYU 195

$4.70 UYU 189

2.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.19 UYU 571

$14.00 UYU 563

1.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.47 UYU 461

$11.84 UYU 476

-3.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.74 UYU 472

$11.38 UYU 458

3.16%

Apples (1kg)

$2.91 UYU 117

$2.94 UYU 118

-1.02%

Banana (1kg)

$2.79 UYU 112

$2.82 UYU 113

-1.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.73 UYU 69.6

$1.82 UYU 73.3

-4.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.14 UYU 127

$3.04 UYU 122

3.29%

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 UYU 80.4

$2.04 UYU 82.1

-1.96%

Onion (1kg)

$2.15 UYU 86.5

$2.27 UYU 91.3

-5.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.44 UYU 58.0

$1.41 UYU 56.5

2.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.90 UYU 76.5

$1.97 UYU 79.2

-3.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.34 UYU 215

$5.37 UYU 216

-0.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.64 UYU 348

$8.11 UYU 326

6.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.27 UYU 91.2

$2.28 UYU 91.9

-0.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 UYU 114

$2.80 UYU 113

1.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 UYU 61.1

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.2 UYU 2,986

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.85 UYU 74.2

$1.83 UYU 73.8

1.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.41 UYU 16.44

$0.44 UYU 17.59

-6.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.60 UYU 426

$10.37 UYU 417

2.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.17 UYU 87.4

$1.99 UYU 80.1

9.05%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.3K UYU 1.1M

$27.4K UYU 1.1M

-0.53%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$37.3K UYU 1.5M

$38.0K UYU 1.5M

-1.83%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$194 UYU 7,792

$189 UYU 7,617

2.30%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$17.71 UYU 712

$17.48 UYU 703

1.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.14 UYU 1,816

$45.67 UYU 1,837

-1.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.5 UYU 2,152

$67.1 UYU 2,700

-20.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.77 UYU 795

Cinema Ticket

$11.96 UYU 481

$12.26 UYU 493

-2.45%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$622 UYU 25.0K

$621 UYU 25.0K

0.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K UYU 427.7K

$10.5K UYU 421.8K

1.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$97.1 UYU 3,904

$94.8 UYU 3,813

2.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.4 UYU 2,310

$49.24 UYU 1,981

16.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 UYU 4,925

$114 UYU 4,571

7.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$133 UYU 5,335

$127 UYU 5,120

4.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$762 UYU 30.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$598 UYU 24.0K

$885 UYU 35.6K

-32.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,192 UYU 47.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$958 UYU 38.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,581 UYU 144.0K

$4,051 UYU 163.0K

-11.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,916 UYU 77.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,247 UYU 50.2K

$894 UYU 36.0K

39.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.49

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

Last update for Montevideo: September 5, 2026

Last update for Canelones: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 39% higher in Montevideo, 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 $61.0 in Montevideo versus $49.00 in Canelones. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $331 vs $330 – making Canelones 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 Canelones: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Canelones is pricier by about 9%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,680 per month in Montevideo and $2,924 in Canelones. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,787 in Montevideo and $1,950 in Canelones. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $622 per month in Montevideo and $621 in Canelones. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Montevideo, where all-in costs run around $1,787, than in Canelones at $1,950. In Montevideo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Canelones it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Montevideo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Montevideo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Canelones makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.