🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,632 in Montevideo versus $2,351 in Cochrane.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,480 in Montevideo versus $3,160 in Cochrane.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Montevideo versus $3,969 in Cochrane.
🙂Living in Montevideo costs roughly 31% less than in Cochrane, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Montevideo22% above, Cochrane75% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montevideo
Cochrane
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.85UYU 639
$18.21CA$25.22
-12.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.6UYU 2,200
$67.5CA$93.5
-19.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.12UYU 489
$10.21CA$14.13
18.71%
Cappuccino
$4.23UYU 170
$3.74CA$5.18
13.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19UYU 88.2
$2.10CA$2.91
4.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69UYU 68.3
$1.70CA$2.36
-0.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.52UYU 182
$5.75CA$7.97
-21.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60UYU 145
$5.93CA$8.22
-39.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montevideo
Cochrane
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27UYU 51.3
$2.08CA$2.88
-38.94%
White Bread(500g)
$2.77UYU 112
$2.33CA$3.22
18.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58UYU 63.9
$3.14CA$4.35
-49.68%
Eggs
$4.79UYU 193
$3.22CA$4.46
48.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.41UYU 541
$9.00CA$12.46
49.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.67UYU 430
$8.70CA$12.04
22.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.24UYU 453
$8.83CA$12.22
27.29%
Apples(1kg)
$3.00UYU 121
$4.70CA$6.50
-36.17%
Banana(1kg)
$2.43UYU 98.1
$1.33CA$1.84
82.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.54UYU 62.3
$3.78CA$5.23
-59.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.66UYU 148
$1.51CA$2.10
142.38%
Potato(1kg)
$2.11UYU 84.9
$1.50CA$2.08
40.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.89UYU 76.0
$2.18CA$3.02
-13.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.37UYU 55.1
$2.62CA$3.62
-47.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.71UYU 69.0
$1.95CA$2.70
-12.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.10UYU 205
$14.71CA$20.37
-65.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.05UYU 405
$8.62CA$11.93
16.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.36UYU 95.0
$3.08CA$4.27
-23.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92UYU 118
$3.29CA$4.55
-11.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Montevideo
Cochrane
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.29UYU 52.1
$3.64CA$5.05
-64.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$55.8UYU 2,250
$62.7CA$86.9
-11.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.60UYU 64.3
$3.19CA$4.42
-49.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.63UYU 146
$1.65CA$2.29
120.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.43UYU 501
$23.60CA$32.68
-47.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.81UYU 73.1
$1.07CA$1.48
69.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5KUYU 1.4M
$25.4KCA$35.1K
36.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.0KUYU 1.4M
$22.6KCA$31.4K
58.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montevideo
Cochrane
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$170UYU 6,872
$203CA$282
-16.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.51UYU 666
$44.75CA$62.0
-63.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.77UYU 2,007
$64.9CA$89.8
-23.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montevideo
Cochrane
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.8UYU 2,492
$48.65CA$67.4
27.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.67UYU 712
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.45UYU 421
$13.39CA$18.54
-21.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montevideo
Cochrane
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$482UYU 19.4K
$701CA$971
-31.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,873UYU 357.7K
$11.7KCA$16.1K
-23.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montevideo
Cochrane
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.9UYU 3,825
$49.54CA$68.6
91.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.22UYU 1,904
$42.27CA$58.5
11.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112UYU 4,507
$82.7CA$114
35.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123UYU 4,970
$102CA$141
21.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montevideo
Cochrane
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$628UYU 25.3K
$1,260CA$1,744
-50.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$492UYU 19.8K
$1,194CA$1,653
-58.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,112UYU 44.8K
$1,875CA$2,596
-40.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$801UYU 32.3K
$1,403CA$1,942
-42.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,582UYU 144.4K
$23.6KCA$32.7K
-84.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,272UYU 91.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montevideo
Cochrane
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,334UYU 53.8K
$4,201CA$5,817
-68.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.68
5
13.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Montevideo: May 31, 2026
Last update for Cochrane: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $628 in Montevideo and $1,260 in Cochrane. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cochrane pays 215% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $55.0 in Montevideo vs $68.0 in Cochrane. Groceries flip the comparison at $321 vs $303, with Cochrane cheaper for home cooking.
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 Cochrane: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Montevideo or Cochrane?
Montevideo wins on cost – living expenses run 44% lower than in Cochrane. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Montevideo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Montevideo or Cochrane?
On paper, Cochrane earns 215% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Montevideo vs Cochrane?
Rent for a central apartment: $628 in Montevideo versus $1,260 in Cochrane. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Montevideo vs Cochrane?
Dining out is cheaper in Montevideo – a meal for two runs $55.0 versus $68.0 in Cochrane. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Montevideo compared to Cochrane?
All in, you'll spend $1,632 per month in Montevideo versus $2,351 in Cochrane – a 44% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Montevideo or Cochrane?
At $1,632 in Montevideo versus $2,351 in Cochrane, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Montevideo but tight or insufficient in Cochrane. The gap between the two cities makes Montevideo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Montevideo or Cochrane?
Both work as nomad bases, but Montevideo delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,632 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Montevideo hard to pass up.
How safe is Montevideo compared to Cochrane?
Safety-wise, Montevideo and Cochrane 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 Montevideo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Cochrane. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Montevideo vs other spots: cost of living compared