Cost of Living Comparison Between Montevideo and Houghton, MI Cost of Living Comparison Between Montevideo and Houghton, MI

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,632 in Montevideo versus $2,548 in Houghton, MI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,480 in Montevideo versus $3,554 in Houghton, MI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Montevideo versus $4,560 in Houghton, MI.

Living in Montevideo costs roughly 36% less than in Houghton, MI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Montevideo 22% above, Houghton, MI 90% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montevideo
Houghton, MI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.85 UYU 640
$12.82 $12.82
23.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.6 UYU 2,202
$40.42 $40.42
34.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.12 UYU 489
$9.88 $9.88
22.67%
Cappuccino
$4.23 UYU 171
$4.20 $4.20
0.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 UYU 88.3
$2.81 $2.81
-22.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 UYU 68.4
$1.62 $1.62
4.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.52 UYU 183
$6.04 $6.04
-25.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60 UYU 145
$7.17 $7.17
-49.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montevideo
Houghton, MI
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.27 UYU 51.4
$1.09 $1.09
16.51%
White Bread (500g)
$2.77 UYU 112
$3.54 $3.54
-21.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.58 UYU 64.0
$4.30 $4.30
-63.26%
Eggs
$4.79 UYU 193
$4.01 $4.01
19.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.41 UYU 541
$12.42 $12.42
7.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.67 UYU 431
$11.39 $11.39
-6.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.24 UYU 453
$15.24 $15.24
-26.25%
Apples (1kg)
$3.00 UYU 121
$4.99 $4.99
-39.88%
Banana (1kg)
$2.43 UYU 98.2
$1.63 $1.63
49.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.54 UYU 62.4
$4.17 $4.17
-63.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.66 UYU 148
$4.75 $4.75
-22.95%
Potato (1kg)
$2.11 UYU 85.0
$2.78 $2.78
-24.10%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 UYU 76.1
$2.91 $2.91
-35.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.37 UYU 55.2
$2.01 $2.01
-31.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 UYU 69.1
$2.10 $2.10
-18.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.10 UYU 206
$9.61 $9.61
-46.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.05 UYU 406
$14.96 $14.96
-32.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.36 UYU 95.1
$1.79 $1.79
31.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 UYU 118
$3.29 $3.29
-11.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Montevideo
Houghton, MI
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.29 UYU 52.2
$1.98 $1.98
-34.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$55.8 UYU 2,253
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.60 UYU 64.4
$3.46 $3.46
-53.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.63 UYU 147
$1.63 $1.63
122.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.43 UYU 502
$28.71 $28.71
-56.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.81 UYU 73.1
$0.86 $0.86
110.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K UYU 1.4M
$29.7K $29.7K
16.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.0K UYU 1.5M
$25.8K $25.8K
39.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montevideo
Houghton, MI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 UYU 6,880
$184 $184
-7.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.51 UYU 666
$52.7 $52.7
-68.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.77 UYU 2,009
$68.2 $68.2
-27.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montevideo
Houghton, MI
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.8 UYU 2,494
$43.57 $43.57
41.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.67 UYU 713
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.45 UYU 422
$13.24 $13.24
-21.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montevideo
Houghton, MI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$482 UYU 19.5K
$1,321 $1,321
-63.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,873 UYU 358.1K
$23.1K $23.1K
-61.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montevideo
Houghton, MI
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.9 UYU 3,830
$51.4 $51.4
84.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.22 UYU 1,906
$39.70 $39.70
18.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 UYU 4,512
$85.1 $85.1
31.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 UYU 4,975
$114 $114
8.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montevideo
Houghton, MI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$628 UYU 25.3K
$1,574 $1,574
-60.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$492 UYU 19.8K
$1,340 $1,340
-63.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,112 UYU 44.9K
$2,632 $2,632
-57.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$801 UYU 32.3K
$2,201 $2,201
-63.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,582 UYU 144.6K
$1,556 $1,556
130.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,272 UYU 91.7K
$1,587 $1,587
43.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montevideo
Houghton, MI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,334 UYU 53.9K
$2,568 $2,568
-48.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.68
6.51
-12.75%

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

Last update for Montevideo: May 31, 2026

Last update for Houghton, MI: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $628 in Montevideo and $1,574 in Houghton, MI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Houghton, MI pays 92% 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: $55.0 in Montevideo vs $40.00 in Houghton, MI. Groceries flip the comparison at $321 vs $388, 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 56% 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 92% 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: $628 in Montevideo versus $1,574 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 21% 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 $1,632 per month in Montevideo versus $2,548 in Houghton, MI – a 56% 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 $1,632 in Montevideo versus $2,548 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 – expenses run 56% less than in Houghton, MI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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