Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montevideo and La Plata, MD

For one person, living is cheaper in Montevideo: $1,771 a month against $2,441 in La Plata, MD, rent and utilities included – about $8,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Montevideo, Uruguay
La Plata, MD, United States
Montevideo
🇺🇾 Uruguay
$1,771
/mo nomad
La Plata, MD
🇺🇸 United States
$2,441
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montevideo and in La Plata, MD

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Montevideo and in La Plata, MD actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,771 per month in Montevideo vs $2,441 in La Plata, MD, rent included.

  • Montevideo $1,771
  • La Plata, MD $2,441

A couple spends around $2,784 per month in Montevideo vs $3,635 in La Plata, MD, rent included.

  • Montevideo $2,784
  • La Plata, MD $3,635

A family of three spends $3,797 per month in Montevideo vs $4,829 in La Plata, MD, rent included.

  • Montevideo $3,797
  • La Plata, MD $4,829

Montevideo is about 27% cheaper than La Plata, MD, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Montevideo and La Plata, MD sit above the global median – Montevideo by 30%, La Plata, MD by 79%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montevideo
La Plata, MD
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.63 UYU 629
$13.52 $13.52
15.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.9 UYU 2,812
$90.4 $90.4
-22.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.51 UYU 584
$7.62 $7.62
90.42%
Cappuccino
$4.43 UYU 178
$6.29 $6.29
-29.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 UYU 100
$2.82 $2.82
-11.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 UYU 78.5
$2.56 $2.56
-23.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.78 UYU 192
$3.46 $3.46
38.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67 UYU 148
$4.96 $4.96
-26.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montevideo
La Plata, MD
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.26 UYU 50.6
$1.68 $1.68
-25.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.98 UYU 120
$4.42 $4.42
-32.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 UYU 70.1
$6.23 $6.23
-72.07%
Eggs
$4.80 UYU 193
$1.81 $1.81
165.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.06 UYU 565
$12.70 $12.70
10.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.35 UYU 457
$8.81 $8.81
28.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.16 UYU 489
$13.15 $13.15
-7.53%
Apples (1kg)
$2.74 UYU 110
$4.89 $4.89
-43.97%
Banana (1kg)
$2.83 UYU 114
$1.65 $1.65
71.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.63 UYU 65.4
$6.32 $6.32
-74.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.18 UYU 128
$4.44 $4.44
-28.38%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 UYU 81.1
$3.04 $3.04
-33.55%
Onion (1kg)
$2.13 UYU 85.5
$2.08 $2.08
2.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.39 UYU 56.0
$2.10 $2.10
-33.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.94 UYU 78.2
$2.72 $2.72
-28.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.34 UYU 215
$11.85 $11.85
-54.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.31 UYU 334
$14.37 $14.37
-42.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 UYU 94.3
$1.68 $1.68
39.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80 UYU 113
$5.10 $5.10
-45.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Montevideo
La Plata, MD
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.55 UYU 62.4
$1.94 $1.94
-20.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.9 UYU 3,013
$58.1 $58.1
28.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.91 UYU 76.9
$2.73 $2.73
-30.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.41 UYU 16.55
$1.67 $1.67
-75.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.38 UYU 417
$29.72 $29.72
-65.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.23 UYU 89.5
$1.02 $1.02
118.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.5K UYU 1.1M
$32.6K $32.6K
-18.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.9K UYU 1.4M
$30.5K $30.5K
17.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montevideo
La Plata, MD
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$184 UYU 7,392
$97.8 $97.8
87.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.15 UYU 810
$42.02 $42.02
-52.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.24 UYU 1,739
$73.5 $73.5
-41.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montevideo
La Plata, MD
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.47 UYU 1,949
$40.39 $40.39
20.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.71 UYU 792
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.11 UYU 487
$15.14 $15.14
-20.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montevideo
La Plata, MD
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$636 UYU 25.6K
$1,210 $1,210
-47.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.0K UYU 442.1K
$23.0K $23.0K
-52.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montevideo
La Plata, MD
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 UYU 4,050
$47.79 $47.79
110.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.9 UYU 2,289
$36.43 $36.43
56.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$123 UYU 4,937
$112 $112
9.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130 UYU 5,241
$121 $121
8.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montevideo
La Plata, MD
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$747 UYU 30.0K
$1,575 $1,575
-52.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$581 UYU 23.3K
$1,284 $1,284
-54.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,284 UYU 51.6K
$2,492 $2,492
-48.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,125 UYU 45.2K
$2,098 $2,098
-46.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,653 UYU 146.9K
$3,038 $3,038
20.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,029 UYU 81.6K
$2,428 $2,428
-16.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montevideo
La Plata, MD
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,284 UYU 51.6K
$6,502 $6,502
-80.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.65
6.25
-9.60%

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

Last update for Montevideo: October 27, 2026

Last update for La Plata, MD: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montevideo
$581
La Plata, MD
$1.3K 121% $703
Groceries & Markets
Montevideo
$330
La Plata, MD
$398 20.6% $68
Eating Out
Montevideo
$271
La Plata, MD
$255 5.8% $16
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montevideo
$247
La Plata, MD
$213 13.7% $34
Clothing & Footwear
Montevideo
$185
La Plata, MD
$143 22.9% $42
Getting Around
Montevideo
$85
La Plata, MD
$77 9.5% $8.1
Sport & Entertainment
Montevideo
$73
La Plata, MD
$71 2.8% $2

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $747 in Montevideo versus $1,575 in La Plata, MD. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in La Plata, MD are about 5.1 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $70 in Montevideo versus $90 in La Plata, MD. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $330 vs $398 – making Montevideo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇾 Montevideo
🇺🇸 La Plata, MD
🕒 Local time
18:00 6:00 PM
17:00 5:00 PM
1 h behind Montevideo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,319,108 Capital
10,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to UYU – Uruguayan Peso Converter

Uruguayan Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 40.21 UYU (100 UYU = 2.49 USD). 1 EUR = 44.77 UYU (100 UYU = 2.23 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Montevideo La Plata, MD 8,440 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Montevideo
  • La Plata, MD

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 La Plata, MD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Montevideo cheaper than La Plata, MD?
Yes – La Plata, MD is pricier by about 38%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,657 per month in Montevideo and $3,661 in La Plata, MD. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Montevideo, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $747 there versus $1,575 in La Plata, MD.
What are total monthly expenses in Montevideo and in La Plata, MD?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,771 in Montevideo and $2,441 in La Plata, MD. That makes Montevideo about 27% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 22% less in La Plata, MD. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is Montevideo or La Plata, MD more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Montevideo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Montevideo. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, La Plata, MD makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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