๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,619 in Montevideo versus $2,494 in Houghton, MI.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,483 in Montevideo versus $3,605 in Houghton, MI.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,348 in Montevideo versus $4,716 in Houghton, MI.
๐Living in Montevideo costs roughly 35% less than in Houghton, MI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Montevideo20% above, Houghton, MI85% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Montevideo
Houghton, MI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.22UYUย 646
$12.77$12.77
27.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.5UYUย 2,172
$39.89$39.89
36.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.09UYUย 482
$10.17$10.17
18.88%
Cappuccino
$4.11UYUย 164
$4.08$4.08
0.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15UYUย 85.8
$2.73$2.73
-21.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70UYUย 67.9
$1.56$1.56
8.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.28UYUย 171
$5.96$5.96
-28.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61UYUย 144
$6.88$6.88
-47.53%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Montevideo
Houghton, MI
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.26UYUย 50.4
$1.09$1.09
15.60%
White Bread(500g)
$2.76UYUย 110
$3.60$3.60
-23.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.65UYUย 65.7
$4.48$4.48
-63.17%
Eggs
$4.76UYUย 190
$4.07$4.07
16.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.47UYUย 537
$12.41$12.41
8.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.87UYUย 433
$11.49$11.49
-5.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.00UYUย 438
$15.28$15.28
-28.01%
Apples(1kg)
$3.10UYUย 123
$5.04$5.04
-38.49%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45UYUย 97.5
$1.56$1.56
57.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50UYUย 59.9
$4.36$4.36
-65.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.70UYUย 148
$4.82$4.82
-23.24%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08UYUย 82.9
$2.76$2.76
-24.64%
Onion(1kg)
$1.89UYUย 75.1
$2.80$2.80
-32.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.37UYUย 54.5
$2.03$2.03
-32.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.71UYUย 68.2
$2.18$2.18
-21.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.08UYUย 202
$9.32$9.32
-45.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.98UYUย 398
$15.07$15.07
-33.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.28UYUย 91.0
$1.78$1.78
28.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06UYUย 122
$3.42$3.42
-10.53%
๐ Getting Around
Montevideo
Houghton, MI
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.35UYUย 53.6
$1.96$1.96
-31.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$56.2UYUย 2,241
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.55UYUย 61.9
$3.49$3.49
-55.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.56UYUย 142
$1.59$1.59
123.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.28UYUย 489
$28.62$28.62
-57.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.90UYUย 75.8
$0.84$0.84
126.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.6KUYUย 1.3M
$30.1K$30.1K
11.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.8KUYUย 1.5M
$26.1K$26.1K
41.33%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montevideo
Houghton, MI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169UYUย 6,723
$186$186
-9.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.96UYUย 676
$53.5$53.5
-68.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.22UYUย 1,962
$66.7$66.7
-26.23%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Montevideo
Houghton, MI
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.5UYUย 2,411
$42.63$42.63
41.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.60UYUย 701
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.51UYUย 419
$13.27$13.27
-20.80%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Montevideo
Houghton, MI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$493UYUย 19.6K
$1,322$1,322
-62.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,991UYUย 358.4K
$23.2K$23.2K
-61.30%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Montevideo
Houghton, MI
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$96.0UYUย 3,827
$51.8$51.8
85.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.00UYUย 1,874
$40.51$40.51
16.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115UYUย 4,588
$87.0$87.0
32.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121UYUย 4,809
$110$110
9.80%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Montevideo
Houghton, MI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$620UYUย 24.7K
$1,612$1,612
-61.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$494UYUย 19.7K
$1,340$1,340
-63.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,102UYUย 43.9K
$2,600$2,600
-57.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$806UYUย 32.1K
$2,266$2,266
-64.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,532UYUย 140.8K
$1,552$1,552
127.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,258UYUย 90.0K
$1,586$1,586
42.36%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Montevideo
Houghton, MI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,261UYUย 50.3K
$2,606$2,606
-51.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.68
6.51
-12.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Montevideo: April 12, 2026
Last update for Houghton, MI: April 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $620 in Montevideo and $1,612 in Houghton, MI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐHoughton, MI pays 107% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $54 in Montevideo vs $40 in Houghton, MI. Groceries flip the comparison at $322 vs $392, with Montevideo cheaper for home cooking.
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 Houghton, MI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Houghton, MI cheaper than Montevideo?
Montevideo is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 54% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Montevideo or Houghton, MI?
On paper, Houghton, MI earns 107% less. 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 Houghton, MI?
Rent for a central apartment: $620 in Montevideo versus $1,612 in Houghton, MI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Montevideo and Houghton, MI?
Supermarket bills run roughly 22% higher in Houghton, MI. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Montevideo vs Houghton, MI?
All in, you'll spend $1,619 per month in Montevideo versus $2,494 in Houghton, MI โ a 54% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Montevideo or Houghton, MI?
At $1,619 in Montevideo versus $2,494 in Houghton, MI, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Montevideo but tight or insufficient in Houghton, MI. The gap between the two cities makes Montevideo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Montevideo or Houghton, MI more family-friendly?
For families, Montevideo is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Houghton, MI, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Montevideo or Houghton, MI?
Safety-wise, Montevideo and Houghton, MI 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Montevideo gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 54% less than in Houghton, MI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Montevideo vs other spots: cost of living compared