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: $1,619 in Montevideo versus $2,494 in Houghton, MI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,483 in Montevideo versus $3,605 in Houghton, MI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,348 in Montevideo versus $4,716 in Houghton, MI.

Living in Montevideo costs roughly 35% less than in Houghton, MI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Montevideo 20% above, Houghton, MI 85% above.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Montevideo
Houghton, MI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.22 UYUย 646
$12.77 $12.77
27.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.5 UYUย 2,172
$39.89 $39.89
36.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.09 UYUย 482
$10.17 $10.17
18.88%
Cappuccino
$4.11 UYUย 164
$4.08 $4.08
0.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 UYUย 85.8
$2.73 $2.73
-21.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 UYUย 67.9
$1.56 $1.56
8.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.28 UYUย 171
$5.96 $5.96
-28.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 UYUย 144
$6.88 $6.88
-47.53%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Montevideo
Houghton, MI
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.26 UYUย 50.4
$1.09 $1.09
15.60%
White Bread (500g)
$2.76 UYUย 110
$3.60 $3.60
-23.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.65 UYUย 65.7
$4.48 $4.48
-63.17%
Eggs
$4.76 UYUย 190
$4.07 $4.07
16.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.47 UYUย 537
$12.41 $12.41
8.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.87 UYUย 433
$11.49 $11.49
-5.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.00 UYUย 438
$15.28 $15.28
-28.01%
Apples (1kg)
$3.10 UYUย 123
$5.04 $5.04
-38.49%
Banana (1kg)
$2.45 UYUย 97.5
$1.56 $1.56
57.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.50 UYUย 59.9
$4.36 $4.36
-65.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.70 UYUย 148
$4.82 $4.82
-23.24%
Potato (1kg)
$2.08 UYUย 82.9
$2.76 $2.76
-24.64%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 UYUย 75.1
$2.80 $2.80
-32.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.37 UYUย 54.5
$2.03 $2.03
-32.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 UYUย 68.2
$2.18 $2.18
-21.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.08 UYUย 202
$9.32 $9.32
-45.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.98 UYUย 398
$15.07 $15.07
-33.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.28 UYUย 91.0
$1.78 $1.78
28.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 UYUย 122
$3.42 $3.42
-10.53%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Montevideo
Houghton, MI
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.35 UYUย 53.6
$1.96 $1.96
-31.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.2 UYUย 2,241
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.55 UYUย 61.9
$3.49 $3.49
-55.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.56 UYUย 142
$1.59 $1.59
123.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.28 UYUย 489
$28.62 $28.62
-57.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.90 UYUย 75.8
$0.84 $0.84
126.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.6K UYUย 1.3M
$30.1K $30.1K
11.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.8K UYUย 1.5M
$26.1K $26.1K
41.33%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montevideo
Houghton, MI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 UYUย 6,723
$186 $186
-9.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.96 UYUย 676
$53.5 $53.5
-68.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.22 UYUย 1,962
$66.7 $66.7
-26.23%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Montevideo
Houghton, MI
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.5 UYUย 2,411
$42.63 $42.63
41.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.60 UYUย 701
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.51 UYUย 419
$13.27 $13.27
-20.80%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Montevideo
Houghton, MI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$493 UYUย 19.6K
$1,322 $1,322
-62.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,991 UYUย 358.4K
$23.2K $23.2K
-61.30%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Montevideo
Houghton, MI
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$96.0 UYUย 3,827
$51.8 $51.8
85.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.00 UYUย 1,874
$40.51 $40.51
16.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 UYUย 4,588
$87.0 $87.0
32.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 UYUย 4,809
$110 $110
9.80%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Montevideo
Houghton, MI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$620 UYUย 24.7K
$1,612 $1,612
-61.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$494 UYUย 19.7K
$1,340 $1,340
-63.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,102 UYUย 43.9K
$2,600 $2,600
-57.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$806 UYUย 32.1K
$2,266 $2,266
-64.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,532 UYUย 140.8K
$1,552 $1,552
127.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,258 UYUย 90.0K
$1,586 $1,586
42.36%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Montevideo
Houghton, MI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,261 UYUย 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

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.

Houghton, 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.

Dining 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.

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