Cost of Living Comparison Between Montevideo and Cold Lake Cost of Living Comparison Between Montevideo and Cold Lake

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,632 per month in Montevideo vs $2,029 in Cold Lake, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,480 per month in Montevideo vs $3,036 in Cold Lake, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Montevideo vs $4,044 in Cold Lake, rent included.

Montevideo is about 20% cheaper than Cold Lake, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Montevideo and Cold Lake sit above the global median – Montevideo by 22%, Cold Lake by 51%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.85 UYU 639

$18.59 CA$25.75

-14.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.6 UYU 2,200

$61.6 CA$85.3

-11.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.12 UYU 489

$11.43 CA$15.83

6.04%

Cappuccino

$4.23 UYU 170

$3.83 CA$5.30

10.44%

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

$2.19 UYU 88.2

$2.15 CA$2.97

1.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 UYU 68.3

$1.50 CA$2.08

12.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.52 UYU 182

$5.72 CA$7.92

-20.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 UYU 145

$5.91 CA$8.18

-39.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 UYU 51.3

$1.06 CA$1.47

19.81%

White Bread (500g)

$2.77 UYU 112

$2.05 CA$2.83

35.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 UYU 63.9

$3.16 CA$4.37

-50.00%

Eggs

$4.79 UYU 193

$3.58 CA$4.96

33.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.41 UYU 541

$11.51 CA$15.94

16.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.67 UYU 430

$12.75 CA$17.65

-16.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.24 UYU 453

$16.06 CA$22.24

-30.01%

Apples (1kg)

$3.00 UYU 121

$4.61 CA$6.39

-34.92%

Banana (1kg)

$2.43 UYU 98.1

$1.11 CA$1.54

118.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.54 UYU 62.3

$1.89 CA$2.62

-18.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.66 UYU 148

$2.19 CA$3.03

67.12%

Potato (1kg)

$2.11 UYU 84.9

$2.37 CA$3.28

-10.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.89 UYU 76.0

$1.08 CA$1.49

75.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.37 UYU 55.1

$2.70 CA$3.74

-49.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 UYU 69.0

$1.93 CA$2.67

-11.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.10 UYU 205

$12.43 CA$17.22

-58.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.05 UYU 405

$12.26 CA$16.97

-18.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.36 UYU 95.0

$2.98 CA$4.12

-20.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 UYU 118

$3.27 CA$4.53

-10.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.29 UYU 52.1

$2.42 CA$3.34

-46.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.8 UYU 2,250

$62.9 CA$87.1

-11.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.60 UYU 64.3

$3.24 CA$4.48

-50.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.63 UYU 146

$1.66 CA$2.29

118.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.43 UYU 501

$23.09 CA$31.96

-46.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.81 UYU 73.1

$1.01 CA$1.39

79.21%

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

$34.5K UYU 1.4M

$25.0K CA$34.6K

38.13%

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

$36.0K UYU 1.4M

$22.0K CA$30.5K

63.35%

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

$170 UYU 6,872

$204 CA$283

-16.54%

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

$16.51 UYU 666

$44.18 CA$61.2

-62.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.77 UYU 2,007

$65.3 CA$90.4

-23.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 UYU 2,492

$42.61 CA$59.0

45.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.67 UYU 712

Cinema Ticket

$10.45 UYU 421

$13.46 CA$18.63

-22.36%

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

$482 UYU 19.4K

$708 CA$980

-31.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,873 UYU 357.7K

$11.7K CA$16.2K

-24.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$94.9 UYU 3,825

$29.96 CA$41.48

216.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.22 UYU 1,904

$36.74 CA$50.9

28.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 UYU 4,507

$54.7 CA$75.7

104.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 UYU 4,970

$93.0 CA$129

32.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$628 UYU 25.3K

$899 CA$1,245

-30.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$492 UYU 19.8K

$867 CA$1,200

-43.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,112 UYU 44.8K

$1,614 CA$2,235

-31.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$801 UYU 32.3K

$1,517 CA$2,100

-47.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,582 UYU 144.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,272 UYU 91.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,334 UYU 53.8K

$3,146 CA$4,356

-57.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.68

6.08

-6.58%

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

Last update for Montevideo: May 31, 2026

Last update for Cold Lake: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $628 in Montevideo versus $899 in Cold Lake. 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 136% higher in Cold Lake, 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 $55.0 in Montevideo versus $62.0 in Cold Lake. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $321 vs $342 – making Montevideo 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 Cold Lake: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Cold Lake is pricier by about 24%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,448 per month in Montevideo and $3,043 in Cold Lake. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $55.0 in Montevideo and $62.0 in Cold Lake. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,632 in Montevideo and $2,029 in Cold Lake. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Montevideo, where all-in costs run around $1,632, than in Cold Lake at $2,029. In Montevideo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cold Lake 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, Cold Lake makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.