Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montevideo and Chone

For one person, living is cheaper in Chone: $732 a month against $1,771 in Montevideo, rent and utilities included – about $12,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Montevideo
🇺🇾 Uruguay
$1,771
/mo nomad
Chone
🇪🇨 Ecuador
$732
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montevideo and in Chone

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,771 in Montevideo versus $732 in Chone.

  • Montevideo $1,771
  • Chone $732

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,740 in Montevideo versus $1,240 in Chone.

  • Montevideo $2,740
  • Chone $1,240

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,708 in Montevideo versus $1,748 in Chone.

  • Montevideo $3,708
  • Chone $1,748

Living in Montevideo is roughly 142% more expensive than in Chone, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Montevideo is 31% above, Chone is 46% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montevideo
Chone
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.16 UYU 609
$3.77 $3.77
302.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2 UYU 2,776
$31.29 $31.29
121.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.65 UYU 588
$5.91 $5.91
147.88%
Cappuccino
$4.46 UYU 179
$2.48 $2.48
79.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 UYU 107
$0.86 $0.86
210.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00 UYU 80.4
$0.69 $0.69
189.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.83 UYU 194
$2.07 $2.07
133.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80 UYU 152
$4.08 $4.08
-6.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montevideo
Chone
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 UYU 54.8
$1.12 $1.12
21.43%
White Bread (500g)
$2.87 UYU 115
$1.52 $1.52
88.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.75 UYU 70.2
$1.57 $1.57
11.46%
Eggs
$4.68 UYU 188
$2.00 $2.00
134.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.88 UYU 557
$6.64 $6.64
109.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.98 UYU 481
$4.55 $4.55
163.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.97 UYU 480
$6.32 $6.32
89.40%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 UYU 111
$1.55 $1.55
79.35%
Banana (1kg)
$2.74 UYU 110
$0.97 $0.97
182.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.77 UYU 71.2
$1.04 $1.04
70.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.24 UYU 130
$1.03 $1.03
214.56%
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 UYU 79.2
$1.13 $1.13
74.34%
Onion (1kg)
$2.07 UYU 83.1
$1.03 $1.03
100.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.37 UYU 55.1
$0.71 $0.71
92.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.88 UYU 75.3
$1.08 $1.08
74.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.59 UYU 224
$5.01 $5.01
11.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.78 UYU 352
$8.56 $8.56
2.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 UYU 90.9
$1.63 $1.63
38.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 UYU 110
$2.76 $2.76
-0.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Montevideo
Chone
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.53 UYU 61.5
$0.31 $0.31
393.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.3 UYU 2,980
$17.28 $17.28
329.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.91 UYU 76.7
$1.32 $1.32
44.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.40 UYU 16.18
$1.23 $1.23
-67.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.33 UYU 415
$8.58 $8.58
20.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.13 UYU 85.6
$0.86 $0.86
147.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1K UYU 1.1M
$21.7K $21.7K
25.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.3K UYU 1.5M
$33.0K $33.0K
9.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montevideo
Chone
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 UYU 7,557
$41.43 $41.43
354.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.54 UYU 824
$13.59 $13.59
51.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.81 UYU 1,798
$25.32 $25.32
76.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montevideo
Chone
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.0 UYU 2,166
$33.32 $33.32
61.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.75 UYU 793
$15.43 $15.43
28.00%
Cinema Ticket
$11.95 UYU 480
$6.33 $6.33
88.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montevideo
Chone
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$634 UYU 25.5K
$207 $207
206.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.1K UYU 443.6K
$5,025 $5,025
119.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montevideo
Chone
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 UYU 4,099
$55.5 $55.5
83.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.5 UYU 2,309
$47.21 $47.21
21.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$127 UYU 5,079
$109 $109
16.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128 UYU 5,131
$79.7 $79.7
60.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montevideo
Chone
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$719 UYU 28.8K
$319 $319
125.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$568 UYU 22.8K
$169 $169
236.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,145 UYU 46.0K
$788 $788
45.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,023 UYU 41.1K
$451 $451
126.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,392 UYU 136.1K
$1,272 $1,272
166.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,949 UYU 78.2K
$807 $807
141.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montevideo
Chone
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,245 UYU 50.0K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.74
10.05
-42.89%

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

Last update for Montevideo: October 12, 2026

Last update for Chone: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montevideo
$568
Chone
$169 70.3% $399
Groceries & Markets
Montevideo
$332
Chone
$177 46.6% $154
Eating Out
Montevideo
$269
Chone
$102 62% $167
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montevideo
$254
Chone
$80 68.3% $173
Clothing & Footwear
Montevideo
$186
Chone
$131 29.6% $55
Getting Around
Montevideo
$84
Chone
$26 69.2% $58
Sport & Entertainment
Montevideo
$78
Chone
$46 41% $32

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $719 in Montevideo and $319 in Chone. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $69.0 in Montevideo vs $31.00 in Chone for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $332 vs $177 per month, with Chone cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇾 Montevideo
🇪🇨 Chone
🕒 Local time
21:21 9:21 PM
19:21 7:21 PM
2 h behind Montevideo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,319,108 Capital
44,751
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to UYU – Uruguayan Peso Converter

Uruguayan Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 40.14 UYU (100 UYU = 2.49 USD). 1 EUR = 45.12 UYU (100 UYU = 2.22 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Montevideo Chone 4,540 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Montevideo
  • Chone

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 Chone: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Montevideo or Chone?
Chone wins on cost – living expenses run 142% lower than in Montevideo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Chone the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Montevideo and in Chone?
You'd need roughly $2,656 in Montevideo and $1,097 in Chone 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Montevideo compared to Chone?
Rent for a central apartment: $719 in Montevideo versus $319 in Chone. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Montevideo compared to Chone?
All in, you'll spend $1,771 per month in Montevideo versus $732 in Chone – a 142% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Montevideo compared to Chone?
A monthly transit pass in Chone runs roughly 330% less than in Montevideo. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Montevideo or in Chone?
At $732 in Chone versus $1,771 in Montevideo, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chone but tight or insufficient in Montevideo. The gap between the two cities makes Chone the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Montevideo or Chone?
Both work as nomad bases, but Chone delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $732 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Chone hard to pass up.
How safe is Montevideo compared to Chone?
Safety-wise, Montevideo and Chone 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Chone gentler on the wallet – expenses run 142% less than in Montevideo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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