🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,749 in Montevideo versus $2,317 in Groningen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,666 in Montevideo versus $3,479 in Groningen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,582 in Montevideo versus $4,641 in Groningen.
🌍Living in Montevideo costs roughly 25% less than in Groningen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Montevideo28% above, Groningen69% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montevideo
Groningen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.25UYU 613
$21.03€18.33
-27.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.3UYU 2,503
$106€92.0
-40.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.86UYU 557
$16.22€14.14
-14.55%
Cappuccino
$4.39UYU 176
$4.83€4.21
-9.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77UYU 111
$3.91€3.41
-29.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03UYU 81.4
$3.27€2.85
-37.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.95UYU 199
$5.91€5.16
-16.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.65UYU 147
$5.82€5.07
-37.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montevideo
Groningen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38UYU 55.3
$1.48€1.29
-6.76%
White Bread(500g)
$2.81UYU 113
$2.73€2.38
2.93%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.73UYU 69.3
$2.86€2.49
-39.51%
Eggs
$4.74UYU 191
$4.82€4.20
-1.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.57UYU 545
$13.57€11.83
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.51UYU 463
$13.56€11.82
-15.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.75UYU 472
$21.63€18.85
-45.68%
Apples(1kg)
$2.84UYU 114
$3.23€2.81
-12.07%
Banana(1kg)
$2.76UYU 111
$2.56€2.23
7.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.71UYU 68.9
$2.60€2.27
-34.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.12UYU 126
$5.09€4.44
-38.70%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97UYU 79.3
$2.29€2.00
-13.97%
Onion(1kg)
$2.15UYU 86.5
$1.68€1.47
27.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.35UYU 54.4
$1.32€1.15
2.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.92UYU 77.4
$1.30€1.13
47.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.59UYU 225
$15.00€13.07
-62.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.25UYU 331
$7.08€6.17
16.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.33UYU 93.6
$1.49€1.30
56.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85UYU 115
$2.59€2.26
10.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Montevideo
Groningen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.53UYU 61.7
$4.33€3.78
-64.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$74.6UYU 2,998
$70.3€61.3
6.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.81UYU 72.7
$6.75€5.88
-73.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.44UYU 17.67
$2.79€2.43
-84.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.69UYU 430
$30.32€26.43
-64.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.21UYU 89.0
$2.61€2.28
-15.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KUYU 1.1M
$42.7K€37.2K
-35.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.8KUYU 1.5M
$40.1K€34.9K
-5.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montevideo
Groningen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$192UYU 7,721
$232€202
-17.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.93UYU 761
$21.34€18.60
-11.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.31UYU 1,821
$50.7€44.17
-10.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montevideo
Groningen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6UYU 2,074
$40.62€35.41
27.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.68UYU 791
$15.26€13.30
28.96%
Cinema Ticket
$11.95UYU 480
$17.43€15.19
-31.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montevideo
Groningen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$608UYU 24.4K
$1,787€1,558
-66.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KUYU 429.3K
$8,040€7,008
32.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montevideo
Groningen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$100UYU 4,030
$110€95.6
-8.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.7UYU 2,279
$46.35€40.41
22.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$124UYU 4,994
$106€92.3
17.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133UYU 5,330
$205€178
-35.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montevideo
Groningen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$737UYU 29.6K
$1,380€1,203
-46.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$572UYU 23.0K
$928€809
-38.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,165UYU 46.8K
$1,947€1,697
-40.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$947UYU 38.1K
$1,459€1,272
-35.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,415UYU 137.3K
$5,500€4,794
-37.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,873UYU 75.3K
$4,040€3,521
-53.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montevideo
Groningen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,164UYU 46.8K
$3,090€2,693
-62.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.6
3.62
54.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Montevideo: September 14, 2026
Last update for Groningen: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $737 in Montevideo and $1,380 in Groningen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Groningen pays 165% 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: $62.0 in Montevideo vs $105 in Groningen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $327 vs $371 per month, with Montevideo cheaper across the board.
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 32% 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 165% lower in Groningen. 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: $737 in Montevideo versus $1,380 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 14% 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 $62.0 versus $105 in Groningen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Montevideo or in Groningen?
At $1,749 in Montevideo versus $2,317 in Groningen, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Montevideo but tight or insufficient in Groningen. 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 Groningen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Montevideo delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,749 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 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 32% less than in Groningen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Montevideo vs other spots: cost of living compared