๐A single person spends $1,640 per month in Montevideo vs $2,131 in Lawrence, KS, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $2,477 per month in Montevideo vs $3,301 in Lawrence, KS, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $3,314 per month in Montevideo vs $4,472 in Lawrence, KS, rent included.
๐Montevideo is about 23% cheaper than Lawrence, KS, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
๐Both Montevideo and Lawrence, KS sit above the global median โ Montevideo by 22%, Lawrence, KS by 59%.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Montevideo
Lawrence, KS
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.35UYUย 650
$15.27$15.27
7.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.3UYUย 2,161
$74.2$74.2
-26.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.15UYUย 483
$9.92$9.92
22.48%
Cappuccino
$4.06UYUย 162
$5.24$5.24
-22.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27UYUย 90.1
$2.92$2.92
-22.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70UYUย 67.7
$1.92$1.92
-11.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.51UYUย 179
$4.86$4.86
-7.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63UYUย 144
$7.12$7.12
-49.02%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Montevideo
Lawrence, KS
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.26UYUย 50.3
$0.82$0.82
53.66%
White Bread(500g)
$2.87UYUย 114
$2.58$2.58
11.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61UYUย 64.1
$4.46$4.46
-63.90%
Eggs
$4.71UYUย 188
$3.38$3.38
39.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.42UYUย 534
$11.67$11.67
15.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.74UYUย 427
$10.81$10.81
-0.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.19UYUย 445
$15.31$15.31
-26.91%
Apples(1kg)
$3.13UYUย 125
$6.30$6.30
-50.32%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34UYUย 93.3
$2.16$2.16
8.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.55UYUย 61.8
$5.01$5.01
-69.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.63UYUย 144
$3.71$3.71
-2.16%
Potato(1kg)
$2.14UYUย 85.0
$1.76$1.76
21.59%
Onion(1kg)
$1.96UYUย 77.9
$2.82$2.82
-30.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36UYUย 54.2
$1.52$1.52
-10.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.73UYUย 68.9
$2.46$2.46
-29.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.09UYUย 202
$7.72$7.72
-34.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.90UYUย 394
$13.23$13.23
-25.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.33UYUย 92.8
$1.74$1.74
33.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05UYUย 121
$1.58$1.58
93.04%
๐ Getting Around
Montevideo
Lawrence, KS
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.35UYUย 53.9
$0.48$0.48
181.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$55.2UYUย 2,197
$25.16$25.16
119.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.61UYUย 64.0
$3.02$3.02
-46.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.60UYUย 143
$1.40$1.40
157.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.42UYUย 494
$25.25$25.25
-50.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.85UYUย 73.5
$0.78$0.78
137.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8KUYUย 1.4M
$35.1K$35.1K
-0.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.3KUYUย 1.4M
$26.7K$26.7K
36.24%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montevideo
Lawrence, KS
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$175UYUย 6,968
$323$323
-45.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.91UYUย 673
$52.9$52.9
-68.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.0UYUย 1,989
$65.8$65.8
-24.05%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Montevideo
Lawrence, KS
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6UYUย 2,410
$45.49$45.49
33.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.35UYUย 691
$11.97$11.97
44.95%
Cinema Ticket
$10.46UYUย 416
$12.09$12.09
-13.48%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Montevideo
Lawrence, KS
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$494UYUย 19.7K
$931$931
-46.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,985UYUย 357.5K
$25.2K$25.2K
-64.27%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Montevideo
Lawrence, KS
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$96.1UYUย 3,822
$54.4$54.4
76.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.11UYUย 1,914
$35.05$35.05
37.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116UYUย 4,606
$95.9$95.9
20.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125UYUย 4,959
$90.5$90.5
37.76%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Montevideo
Lawrence, KS
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$615UYUย 24.5K
$952$952
-35.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$483UYUย 19.2K
$794$794
-39.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,117UYUย 44.4K
$1,603$1,603
-30.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$818UYUย 32.6K
$1,801$1,801
-54.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,484UYUย 138.6K
$2,345$2,345
48.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,267UYUย 90.2K
$2,068$2,068
9.64%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Montevideo
Lawrence, KS
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,283UYUย 51.0K
$3,826$3,826
-66.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.68
6.45
-11.94%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Montevideo: April 22, 2026
Last update for Lawrence, KS: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $615 in Montevideo versus $952 in Lawrence, KS. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
๐ฐSalaries run about 198% higher in Lawrence, KS, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $54 in Montevideo versus $74 in Lawrence, KS. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $322 vs $368 โ making Montevideo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Lawrence, KS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Montevideo or Lawrence, KS?
Lawrence, KS costs about 30% more than Montevideo, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Montevideo vs Lawrence, KS?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,460 per month in Montevideo and $3,196 in Lawrence, KS. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Montevideo or Lawrence, KS?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Montevideo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Montevideo or Lawrence, KS?
Groceries cost about 14% more in Lawrence, KS, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Montevideo vs Lawrence, KS?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Montevideo and $74.0 in Lawrence, KS. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafรฉ pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Montevideo or Lawrence, KS?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Montevideo, where all-in costs run around $1,640, than in Lawrence, KS at $2,131. In Montevideo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lawrence, KS it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Montevideo or Lawrence, KS?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montevideo costs $1,640 versus $2,131 in Lawrence, KS. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Montevideo compared to Lawrence, KS?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison โ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Montevideo or Lawrence, KS?
If budget matters most, go with Montevideo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lawrence, KS makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Montevideo vs other spots: cost of living compared