Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montevideo and Dourados

For one person, living is cheaper in Dourados: $834 a month against $1,813 in Montevideo, rent and utilities included – about $11,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Montevideo
🇺🇾 Uruguay
$1,813
/mo nomad
Dourados
🇧🇷 Brazil
$834
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montevideo and in Dourados

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,813 in Montevideo versus $834 in Dourados.

  • Montevideo $1,813
  • Dourados $834

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,782 in Montevideo versus $1,332 in Dourados.

  • Montevideo $2,782
  • Dourados $1,332

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,750 in Montevideo versus $1,830 in Dourados.

  • Montevideo $3,750
  • Dourados $1,830

Living in Montevideo is roughly 117% more expensive than in Dourados, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Montevideo is 35% above, Dourados is 38% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montevideo
Dourados
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.26 UYU 613
$5.71 R$28.50
167.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.4 UYU 2,711
$30.70 R$153
119.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.37 UYU 578
$7.07 R$35.31
103.25%
Cappuccino
$4.64 UYU 187
$1.94 R$9.68
139.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 UYU 110
$1.22 R$6.11
123.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 UYU 84.0
$0.72 R$3.58
190.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.75 UYU 191
$1.94 R$9.69
144.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67 UYU 147
$2.85 R$14.24
28.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montevideo
Dourados
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 UYU 55.5
$1.00 R$4.98
38.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.77 UYU 112
$1.59 R$7.94
74.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.69 UYU 67.8
$1.21 R$6.02
39.67%
Eggs
$4.52 UYU 182
$2.10 R$10.50
115.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.17 UYU 570
$9.26 R$46.21
53.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.07 UYU 485
$4.06 R$20.25
197.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.16 UYU 489
$8.23 R$41.08
47.75%
Apples (1kg)
$2.87 UYU 116
$2.11 R$10.54
36.02%
Banana (1kg)
$2.75 UYU 110
$1.27 R$6.35
116.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.73 UYU 69.5
$1.12 R$5.59
54.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.24 UYU 130
$1.54 R$7.66
110.39%
Potato (1kg)
$2.07 UYU 83.1
$1.19 R$5.96
73.95%
Onion (1kg)
$2.07 UYU 83.1
$1.03 R$5.13
100.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.38 UYU 55.4
$0.74 R$3.70
86.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.85 UYU 74.5
$0.79 R$3.95
134.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.57 UYU 224
$2.44 R$12.20
128.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.89 UYU 357
$7.71 R$38.51
15.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.29 UYU 92.2
$1.20 R$6.00
90.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70 UYU 109
$2.01 R$10.06
34.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Montevideo
Dourados
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.52 UYU 61.3
$0.99 R$4.93
53.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$73.7 UYU 2,962
$42.47 R$212
73.44%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.82 UYU 73.4
$1.21 R$6.02
50.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.40 UYU 16.05
$0.86 R$4.31
-53.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.66 UYU 429
$7.62 R$38.04
39.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.22 UYU 89.2
$1.25 R$6.24
77.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.7K UYU 1.1M
$23.2K R$115.7K
15.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.7K UYU 1.5M
$31.4K R$156.9K
16.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montevideo
Dourados
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$191 UYU 7,674
$71.4 R$356
167.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.40 UYU 820
$12.18 R$60.8
67.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.14 UYU 1,775
$20.18 R$101
118.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montevideo
Dourados
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.1 UYU 2,177
$24.67 R$123
119.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.68 UYU 791
$26.16 R$131
-24.77%
Cinema Ticket
$12.33 UYU 496
$6.95 R$34.71
77.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montevideo
Dourados
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$613 UYU 24.7K
$283 R$1,413
116.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.0K UYU 444.3K
$6,853 R$34.2K
61.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montevideo
Dourados
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 UYU 4,134
$52.9 R$264
94.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.1 UYU 2,255
$48.31 R$241
16.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$124 UYU 5,000
$90.1 R$450
38.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130 UYU 5,214
$69.2 R$346
87.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montevideo
Dourados
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$705 UYU 28.4K
$343 R$1,712
105.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$575 UYU 23.1K
$233 R$1,163
146.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,139 UYU 45.8K
$656 R$3,273
73.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,016 UYU 40.8K
$458 R$2,288
121.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,349 UYU 134.6K
$1,626 R$8,117
105.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,942 UYU 78.1K
$1,112 R$5,553
74.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montevideo
Dourados
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,229 UYU 49.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.74
11
-47.82%

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

Last update for Montevideo: October 5, 2026

Last update for Dourados: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montevideo
$575
Dourados
$233 59.5% $342
Groceries & Markets
Montevideo
$332
Dourados
$186 44.1% $147
Eating Out
Montevideo
$271
Dourados
$113 58.2% $158
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montevideo
$255
Dourados
$104 59.4% $152
Clothing & Footwear
Montevideo
$186
Dourados
$117 36.9% $69
Getting Around
Montevideo
$84
Dourados
$52 37.8% $32
Sport & Entertainment
Montevideo
$79
Dourados
$39 51.1% $40

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $705 in Montevideo and $343 in Dourados. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $67.0 in Montevideo vs $31.00 in Dourados for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $332 vs $186 per month, with Dourados cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇾 Montevideo
🇧🇷 Dourados
🕒 Local time
08:18 8:18 AM
07:18 7:18 AM
1 h behind Montevideo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,319,108 Capital
243,367
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, USD, EUR to UYU – Uruguayan Peso Converter

Uruguayan Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 40.21 UYU (100 UYU = 2.49 USD). 1 EUR = 45.06 UYU (100 UYU = 2.22 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 4.99 BRL (1 BRL = 0.2 USD). 1 EUR = 5.59 BRL (1 BRL = 0.179 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Montevideo Dourados 1,420 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Montevideo
  • Dourados

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 Dourados: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Montevideo or Dourados?
Dourados wins on cost – living expenses run 117% lower than in Montevideo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Dourados the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Montevideo and in Dourados?
You'd need roughly $2,720 in Montevideo and $1,252 in Dourados 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 Dourados?
Rent for a central apartment: $705 in Montevideo versus $343 in Dourados. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Montevideo or in Dourados?
Supermarket bills run roughly 79% higher in Montevideo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Montevideo and in Dourados?
Dining out is cheaper in Dourados – a meal for two runs $31.00 versus $67.0 in Montevideo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Montevideo or in Dourados?
At $834 in Dourados versus $1,813 in Montevideo, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Dourados but tight or insufficient in Montevideo. The gap between the two cities makes Dourados the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Montevideo or Dourados?
Both work as nomad bases, but Dourados delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $834 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Dourados hard to pass up.
How safe is Montevideo compared to Dourados?
Safety-wise, Montevideo and Dourados 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 Dourados gentler on the wallet – expenses run 117% less than in Montevideo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Montevideo vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?