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: $1,667 in Montevideo versus $2,541 in Houghton, MI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,511 in Montevideo versus $3,613 in Houghton, MI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,354 in Montevideo versus $4,686 in Houghton, MI.

Living in Montevideo costs roughly 34% less than in Houghton, MI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Montevideo 25% above, Houghton, MI 90% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montevideo
Houghton, MI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.30 UYU 655
$13.16 $13.16
23.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.4 UYU 2,226
$39.31 $39.31
40.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.19 UYU 490
$10.01 $10.01
21.78%
Cappuccino
$4.26 UYU 171
$4.09 $4.09
4.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 UYU 88.0
$2.67 $2.67
-17.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71 UYU 68.7
$1.56 $1.56
9.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.47 UYU 180
$5.93 $5.93
-24.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.70 UYU 149
$6.97 $6.97
-46.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montevideo
Houghton, MI
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.25 UYU 50.3
$1.08 $1.08
15.74%
White Bread (500g)
$2.91 UYU 117
$3.50 $3.50
-16.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 UYU 65.6
$4.29 $4.29
-62.00%
Eggs
$4.96 UYU 199
$4.11 $4.11
20.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.31 UYU 535
$12.48 $12.48
6.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.83 UYU 435
$11.34 $11.34
-4.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.96 UYU 441
$15.62 $15.62
-29.83%
Apples (1kg)
$3.08 UYU 124
$4.94 $4.94
-37.65%
Banana (1kg)
$2.36 UYU 94.8
$1.57 $1.57
50.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.50 UYU 60.3
$4.36 $4.36
-65.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.58 UYU 144
$4.64 $4.64
-22.84%
Potato (1kg)
$2.08 UYU 83.5
$2.87 $2.87
-27.53%
Onion (1kg)
$1.94 UYU 78.1
$2.87 $2.87
-32.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.31 UYU 52.7
$2.02 $2.02
-35.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 UYU 69.4
$2.17 $2.17
-20.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.23 UYU 210
$9.63 $9.63
-45.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.76 UYU 352
$15.17 $15.17
-42.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.33 UYU 93.8
$1.79 $1.79
30.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 UYU 117
$3.40 $3.40
-14.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Montevideo
Houghton, MI
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.30 UYU 52.1
$2.01 $2.01
-35.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.3 UYU 2,263
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.54 UYU 62.0
$3.48 $3.48
-55.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.63 UYU 146
$1.59 $1.59
128.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.37 UYU 497
$29.10 $29.10
-57.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.83 UYU 73.4
$0.84 $0.84
117.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.7K UYU 1.4M
$29.2K $29.2K
15.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.9K UYU 1.4M
$25.1K $25.1K
42.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montevideo
Houghton, MI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$175 UYU 7,025
$188 $188
-7.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.95 UYU 681
$52.3 $52.3
-67.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.42 UYU 1,946
$69.1 $69.1
-29.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montevideo
Houghton, MI
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.7 UYU 2,478
$43.21 $43.21
42.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.76 UYU 714
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.42 UYU 419
$13.77 $13.77
-24.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montevideo
Houghton, MI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$489 UYU 19.6K
$1,304 $1,304
-62.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,967 UYU 360.4K
$23.7K $23.7K
-62.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montevideo
Houghton, MI
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.6 UYU 3,844
$51.5 $51.5
85.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.66 UYU 1,915
$40.33 $40.33
18.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 UYU 4,603
$85.5 $85.5
33.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 UYU 4,853
$113 $113
6.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montevideo
Houghton, MI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$611 UYU 24.5K
$1,585 $1,585
-61.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$488 UYU 19.6K
$1,360 $1,360
-64.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,107 UYU 44.5K
$2,594 $2,594
-57.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$818 UYU 32.9K
$2,211 $2,211
-63.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,598 UYU 144.6K
$1,591 $1,591
126.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,274 UYU 91.4K
$1,540 $1,540
47.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montevideo
Houghton, MI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,332 UYU 53.5K
$2,610 $2,610
-48.95%
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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Houghton, MI: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $611 in Montevideo and $1,585 in Houghton, MI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Houghton, MI pays 96% 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 $39.00 in Houghton, MI. Groceries flip the comparison at $319 vs $390, 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 52% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Montevideo or Houghton, MI?
On paper, salaries run 96% lower in Houghton, MI. 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: $611 in Montevideo versus $1,585 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 in 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 and in Houghton, MI?
All in, you'll spend $1,667 per month in Montevideo versus $2,541 in Houghton, MI – a 52% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Montevideo or in Houghton, MI?
At $1,667 in Montevideo versus $2,541 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 52% 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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