Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montevideo and Dundalk

For one person, living is cheaper in Montevideo: $1,771 a month against $2,531 in Dundalk, rent and utilities included – about $9,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Montevideo, Uruguay
Dundalk, Ireland
Montevideo
🇺🇾 Uruguay
$1,771
/mo nomad
Dundalk
🇮🇪 Ireland
$2,531
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montevideo and in Dundalk

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,771 in Montevideo versus $2,531 in Dundalk.

  • Montevideo $1,771
  • Dundalk $2,531

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,784 in Montevideo versus $3,726 in Dundalk.

  • Montevideo $2,784
  • Dundalk $3,726

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,797 in Montevideo versus $4,922 in Dundalk.

  • Montevideo $3,797
  • Dundalk $4,922

Living in Montevideo costs roughly 30% less than in Dundalk, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Montevideo 30% above, Dundalk 86% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montevideo
Dundalk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.63 UYU 629
$18.08 €16.20
-13.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.9 UYU 2,812
$89.8 €80.4
-22.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.51 UYU 583
$12.31 €11.03
17.87%
Cappuccino
$4.43 UYU 178
$3.88 €3.48
14.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 UYU 100
$2.06 €1.84
20.87%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 UYU 78.4
$1.27 €1.14
53.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.78 UYU 192
$6.78 €6.07
-29.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67 UYU 148
$5.43 €4.87
-32.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montevideo
Dundalk
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.26 UYU 50.6
$1.39 €1.25
-9.35%
White Bread (500g)
$2.98 UYU 120
$0.93 €0.83
220.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 UYU 70.0
$1.35 €1.21
28.89%
Eggs
$4.80 UYU 193
$4.54 €4.07
5.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.06 UYU 565
$13.92 €12.47
1.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.35 UYU 456
$13.20 €11.83
-14.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.16 UYU 489
$16.55 €14.83
-26.53%
Apples (1kg)
$2.74 UYU 110
$2.18 €1.96
25.69%
Banana (1kg)
$2.83 UYU 114
$2.25 €2.02
25.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.63 UYU 65.4
$2.26 €2.03
-27.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.18 UYU 128
$4.87 €4.37
-34.70%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 UYU 81.1
$1.10 €0.99
83.64%
Onion (1kg)
$2.13 UYU 85.5
$1.80 €1.61
18.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.39 UYU 56.0
$1.41 €1.26
-1.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.94 UYU 78.2
$2.16 €1.93
-10.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.34 UYU 215
$19.78 €17.72
-73.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.31 UYU 334
$13.50 €12.09
-38.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 UYU 94.3
$4.15 €3.72
-43.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80 UYU 113
$3.50 €3.13
-20.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Montevideo
Dundalk
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.55 UYU 62.4
$2.28 €2.04
-32.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.9 UYU 3,013
$112 €101
-33.35%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.91 UYU 76.9
$5.21 €4.67
-63.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.41 UYU 16.55
$1.42 €1.28
-71.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.38 UYU 417
$18.55 €16.62
-44.04%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.23 UYU 89.5
$2.06 €1.85
8.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.5K UYU 1.1M
$38.4K €34.4K
-30.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.9K UYU 1.4M
$33.2K €29.7K
8.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montevideo
Dundalk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$184 UYU 7,391
$235 €211
-21.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.15 UYU 810
$21.48 €19.25
-6.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.24 UYU 1,739
$55.5 €49.76
-22.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montevideo
Dundalk
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.47 UYU 1,949
$48.91 €43.83
-0.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.71 UYU 792
$25.01 €22.41
-21.19%
Cinema Ticket
$12.11 UYU 487
$13.18 €11.81
-8.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montevideo
Dundalk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$636 UYU 25.6K
$1,092 €978
-41.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.0K UYU 442.1K
$5,208 €4,667
111.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montevideo
Dundalk
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 UYU 4,050
$96.4 €86.4
4.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.9 UYU 2,289
$27.90 €25.00
104.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$123 UYU 4,936
$66.5 €59.6
84.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130 UYU 5,241
$121 €108
8.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montevideo
Dundalk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$747 UYU 30.0K
$1,734 €1,553
-56.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$581 UYU 23.3K
$1,228 €1,100
-52.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,284 UYU 51.6K
$2,466 €2,210
-47.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,125 UYU 45.2K
$1,993 €1,786
-43.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,653 UYU 146.9K
$5,598 €5,016
-34.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,029 UYU 81.6K
$5,128 €4,595
-60.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montevideo
Dundalk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,284 UYU 51.6K
$2,477 €2,219
-48.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.65
4.14
36.47%

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

Last update for Montevideo: October 27, 2026

Last update for Dundalk: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montevideo
$581
Dundalk
$1.2K 112% $647
Groceries & Markets
Montevideo
$330
Dundalk
$355 7.6% $25
Eating Out
Montevideo
$271
Dundalk
$286 5.7% $15
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montevideo
$247
Dundalk
$312 26.4% $65
Clothing & Footwear
Montevideo
$185
Dundalk
$140 24.2% $45
Getting Around
Montevideo
$85
Dundalk
$134 57.3% $49
Sport & Entertainment
Montevideo
$73
Dundalk
$75 3.6% $2.6

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $747 in Montevideo and $1,734 in Dundalk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dundalk pays 93% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $70 in Montevideo vs $90 in Dundalk for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $330 vs $355 per month, with Montevideo cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇾 Montevideo
🇮🇪 Dundalk
🕒 Local time
04:31 4:31 AM
07:31 7:31 AM
3 h ahead of Montevideo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,319,108 Capital
43,112
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to UYU – Uruguayan Peso Converter

Uruguayan Peso exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 40.21 UYU (100 UYU = 2.49 USD). 1 EUR = 44.87 UYU (100 UYU = 2.23 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Montevideo Dundalk 10,980 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Montevideo
  • Dundalk

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 Dundalk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Montevideo cheaper than Dundalk?
Montevideo is about 30% cheaper overall, especially in transport, groceries, and eating out. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Montevideo or Dundalk?
On paper, salaries run 48% lower in Montevideo. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Montevideo and Dundalk?
Rent for a central apartment: $747 in Montevideo versus $1,734 in Dundalk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Montevideo or in Dundalk?
Dining out is cheaper in Montevideo – a meal for two runs $70 versus $90 in Dundalk. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Montevideo and in Dundalk?
All in, you’ll spend $1,771 per month in Montevideo versus $2,531 in Dundalk – Montevideo is about 30% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Montevideo or in Dundalk?
At $1,771 in Montevideo versus $2,531 in Dundalk, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Montevideo but tight or insufficient in Dundalk. The gap between the two cities makes Montevideo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Montevideo or in Dundalk?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Montevideo or Dundalk?
Safety-wise, Montevideo and Dundalk are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Montevideo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Dundalk. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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