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: $1,806 in Montevideo versus $2,597 in Houghton, MI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,668 in Montevideo versus $3,656 in Houghton, MI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,530 in Montevideo versus $4,716 in Houghton, MI.

Living in Montevideo costs roughly 30% less than in Houghton, MI, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Montevideo 31% above, Houghton, MI 89% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montevideo
Houghton, MI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.05 UYU 605
$13.81 $13.81
8.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.1 UYU 2,541
$39.76 $39.76
58.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.11 UYU 527
$10.70 $10.70
22.52%
Cappuccino
$4.56 UYU 183
$4.09 $4.09
11.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69 UYU 108
$2.77 $2.77
-2.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 UYU 78.7
$1.55 $1.55
26.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.63 UYU 186
$6.05 $6.05
-23.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.65 UYU 147
$6.99 $6.99
-47.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montevideo
Houghton, MI
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 UYU 54.0
$1.04 $1.04
28.85%
White Bread (500g)
$2.87 UYU 115
$4.23 $4.23
-32.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.75 UYU 70.6
$6.58 $6.58
-73.40%
Eggs
$4.79 UYU 193
$4.09 $4.09
17.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.40 UYU 579
$12.19 $12.19
18.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.94 UYU 480
$10.57 $10.57
12.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.57 UYU 465
$10.88 $10.88
6.34%
Apples (1kg)
$2.83 UYU 114
$5.07 $5.07
-44.18%
Banana (1kg)
$2.78 UYU 112
$1.14 $1.14
143.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.76 UYU 71.0
$4.30 $4.30
-59.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.00 UYU 121
$4.69 $4.69
-36.03%
Potato (1kg)
$2.14 UYU 86.1
$2.78 $2.78
-23.02%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 UYU 87.4
$2.94 $2.94
-26.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.46 UYU 58.6
$2.19 $2.19
-33.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.98 UYU 79.6
$1.53 $1.53
29.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.55 UYU 223
$10.07 $10.07
-44.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.31 UYU 334
$15.19 $15.19
-45.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.24 UYU 90.2
$1.92 $1.92
16.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89 UYU 116
$3.51 $3.51
-17.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Montevideo
Houghton, MI
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.55 UYU 62.3
$2.01 $2.01
-22.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$75.6 UYU 3,042
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 UYU 72.7
$3.04 $3.04
-40.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.41 UYU 16.34
$1.76 $1.76
-76.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.35 UYU 417
$29.73 $29.73
-65.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.09 UYU 84.2
$0.81 $0.81
158.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K UYU 1.1M
$36.7K $36.7K
-25.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.6K UYU 1.5M
$25.5K $25.5K
47.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montevideo
Houghton, MI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 UYU 7,548
$273 $273
-31.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.86 UYU 678
$57.8 $57.8
-70.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.26 UYU 1,821
$70.6 $70.6
-35.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montevideo
Houghton, MI
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.88 UYU 1,967
$40.98 $40.98
19.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.99 UYU 764
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.33 UYU 496
$13.78 $13.78
-10.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montevideo
Houghton, MI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$640 UYU 25.8K
$1,421 $1,421
-54.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.8K UYU 433.7K
$23.6K $23.6K
-54.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montevideo
Houghton, MI
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.5 UYU 3,804
$52.5 $52.5
80.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.7 UYU 2,281
$40.32 $40.32
40.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$123 UYU 4,952
$86.9 $86.9
41.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132 UYU 5,296
$119 $119
11.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montevideo
Houghton, MI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$760 UYU 30.6K
$1,576 $1,576
-51.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$602 UYU 24.2K
$1,317 $1,317
-54.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,193 UYU 48.0K
$2,535 $2,535
-52.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$980 UYU 39.4K
$2,124 $2,124
-53.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,484 UYU 140.2K
$1,551 $1,551
124.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,865 UYU 75.0K
$1,535 $1,535
21.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montevideo
Houghton, MI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,211 UYU 48.7K
$2,608 $2,608
-53.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.49
6.12
-10.29%

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

Last update for Montevideo: August 31, 2026

Last update for Houghton, MI: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $760 in Montevideo and $1,576 in Houghton, MI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Houghton, MI pays 115% 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: $63.0 in Montevideo vs $40.00 in Houghton, MI. Groceries flip the comparison at $333 vs $379, 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 44% 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 115% 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: $760 in Montevideo versus $1,576 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 14% 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 $1,806 per month in Montevideo versus $2,597 in Houghton, MI – a 44% 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 $1,806 in Montevideo versus $2,597 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 44% 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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