Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montevideo and Groningen

For one person, living is cheaper in Montevideo: $1,771 a month against $2,348 in Groningen, rent and utilities included – about $6,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Montevideo, Uruguay
Groningen, Netherlands
Montevideo
🇺🇾 Uruguay
$1,771
/mo nomad
Groningen
🇳🇱 Netherlands
$2,348
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montevideo and in Groningen

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,771 in Montevideo versus $2,348 in Groningen.

  • Montevideo $1,771
  • Groningen $2,348

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,784 in Montevideo versus $3,547 in Groningen.

  • Montevideo $2,784
  • Groningen $3,547

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,797 in Montevideo versus $4,745 in Groningen.

  • Montevideo $3,797
  • Groningen $4,745

Living in Montevideo costs roughly 25% less than in Groningen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Montevideo 30% above, Groningen 73% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montevideo
Groningen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.63 UYU 628
$20.31 €18.20
-23.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.9 UYU 2,811
$103 €91.9
-31.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.51 UYU 583
$15.42 €13.82
-5.90%
Cappuccino
$4.43 UYU 178
$4.65 €4.16
-4.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 UYU 100
$3.90 €3.49
-36.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 UYU 78.4
$3.12 €2.80
-37.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.78 UYU 192
$5.54 €4.97
-13.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67 UYU 148
$5.47 €4.90
-32.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montevideo
Groningen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.26 UYU 50.6
$1.46 €1.31
-13.70%
White Bread (500g)
$2.98 UYU 120
$2.51 €2.25
18.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 UYU 70.0
$2.53 €2.27
-31.23%
Eggs
$4.80 UYU 193
$4.56 €4.09
5.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.06 UYU 565
$12.46 €11.16
12.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.35 UYU 456
$13.13 €11.77
-13.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.16 UYU 489
$17.91 €16.05
-32.10%
Apples (1kg)
$2.74 UYU 110
$2.96 €2.65
-7.43%
Banana (1kg)
$2.83 UYU 114
$2.52 €2.26
12.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.63 UYU 65.4
$2.65 €2.37
-38.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.18 UYU 128
$4.82 €4.32
-34.02%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 UYU 81.1
$1.97 €1.77
2.54%
Onion (1kg)
$2.13 UYU 85.5
$1.56 €1.40
36.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.39 UYU 55.9
$1.30 €1.17
6.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.94 UYU 78.2
$1.27 €1.14
52.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.34 UYU 215
$14.28 €12.79
-62.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.31 UYU 334
$6.52 €5.85
27.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 UYU 94.3
$1.45 €1.30
62.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80 UYU 113
$2.45 €2.20
14.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Montevideo
Groningen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.55 UYU 62.4
$4.15 €3.72
-62.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.9 UYU 3,011
$67.2 €60.3
11.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.91 UYU 76.8
$6.65 €5.96
-71.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.41 UYU 16.54
$2.66 €2.38
-84.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.38 UYU 417
$28.78 €25.79
-63.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.23 UYU 89.5
$2.66 €2.39
-16.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.5K UYU 1.1M
$42.1K €37.7K
-36.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.9K UYU 1.4M
$39.2K €35.2K
-8.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montevideo
Groningen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$184 UYU 7,388
$229 €205
-19.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.15 UYU 810
$20.69 €18.54
-2.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.24 UYU 1,738
$50.3 €45.07
-14.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montevideo
Groningen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.47 UYU 1,948
$37.83 €33.90
28.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.71 UYU 792
$15.10 €13.53
30.53%
Cinema Ticket
$12.11 UYU 487
$16.95 €15.19
-28.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montevideo
Groningen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$636 UYU 25.6K
$2,012 €1,803
-68.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.0K UYU 441.9K
$7,714 €6,912
42.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montevideo
Groningen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 UYU 4,048
$108 €96.5
-6.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.9 UYU 2,288
$44.69 €40.05
27.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$123 UYU 4,934
$105 €93.9
17.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130 UYU 5,238
$197 €177
-33.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montevideo
Groningen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$747 UYU 30.0K
$1,382 €1,238
-45.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$581 UYU 23.3K
$993 €890
-41.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,284 UYU 51.6K
$2,110 €1,891
-39.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,125 UYU 45.2K
$1,605 €1,439
-29.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,653 UYU 146.8K
$5,500 €4,929
-33.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,029 UYU 81.5K
$3,905 €3,500
-48.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montevideo
Groningen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,284 UYU 51.6K
$3,026 €2,712
-57.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.65
3.43
64.72%

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

Last update for Montevideo: October 27, 2026

Last update for Groningen: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montevideo
$581
Groningen
$993 71.1% $413
Groceries & Markets
Montevideo
$330
Groningen
$344 4.2% $14
Eating Out
Montevideo
$271
Groningen
$331 22.3% $60
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montevideo
$247
Groningen
$300 21.2% $52
Clothing & Footwear
Montevideo
$185
Groningen
$205 10.7% $20
Getting Around
Montevideo
$85
Groningen
$104 21.9% $19
Sport & Entertainment
Montevideo
$73
Groningen
$72 1.3% $1

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $747 in Montevideo and $1,382 in Groningen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Groningen pays about 2.4 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $70 in Montevideo vs $103 in Groningen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $330 vs $344 per month, with Montevideo cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇾 Montevideo
🇳🇱 Groningen
🕒 Local time
03:08 3:08 AM
07:08 7:08 AM
4 h ahead of Montevideo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,319,108 Capital
201,242
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to UYU – Uruguayan Peso Converter

Uruguayan Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 40.19 UYU (100 UYU = 2.49 USD). 1 EUR = 44.88 UYU (100 UYU = 2.23 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Montevideo Groningen 11,510 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Montevideo
  • Groningen

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 Groningen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Montevideo or Groningen?
Montevideo wins on cost – living expenses run 25% lower than in Groningen. 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 in Groningen?
On paper, salaries run 58% 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Montevideo compared to Groningen?
Rent for a central apartment: $747 in Montevideo versus $1,382 in Groningen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Montevideo or in Groningen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 4% higher in Groningen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Montevideo and in Groningen?
Dining out is cheaper in Montevideo – a meal for two runs $70 versus $103 in Groningen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Montevideo or Groningen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Montevideo delivers better value at $1,771 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 Groningen?
Safety-wise, Montevideo and Groningen are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Should I move to Montevideo or to Groningen?
It comes down to priorities – Montevideo wins on affordability, Groningen on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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