😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,787 in Montevideo versus $1,049 in Libertad.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,687 in Montevideo versus $1,712 in Libertad.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,588 in Montevideo versus $2,375 in Libertad.
🌍Living in Montevideo is roughly 70% more expensive than in Libertad, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Montevideo is 30% above, Libertad is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montevideo
Libertad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.88UYU 599
$14.91UYU 600
-0.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.9UYU 2,450
$61.5UYU 2,476
-1.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.91UYU 560
$13.37UYU 538
4.04%
Cappuccino
$4.36UYU 175
$4.35UYU 175
0.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78UYU 112
$2.59UYU 104
7.34%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03UYU 81.8
$1.91UYU 76.9
6.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.73UYU 190
$4.75UYU 191
-0.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76UYU 151
$3.81UYU 154
-1.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montevideo
Libertad
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32UYU 53.3
$1.28UYU 51.7
3.13%
White Bread(500g)
$2.91UYU 117
$2.86UYU 115
1.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74UYU 69.9
$1.79UYU 71.9
-2.79%
Eggs
$4.84UYU 195
$4.88UYU 196
-0.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.19UYU 571
$14.26UYU 574
-0.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.47UYU 462
$11.67UYU 470
-1.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.74UYU 472
$11.51UYU 463
2.00%
Apples(1kg)
$2.91UYU 117
$2.83UYU 114
2.83%
Banana(1kg)
$2.79UYU 112
$2.89UYU 116
-3.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.73UYU 69.7
$1.79UYU 72.2
-3.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.14UYU 127
$3.02UYU 122
3.97%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00UYU 80.5
$2.13UYU 85.6
-6.10%
Onion(1kg)
$2.15UYU 86.6
$2.26UYU 91.1
-4.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44UYU 58.0
$1.46UYU 58.9
-1.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.90UYU 76.5
$1.98UYU 79.7
-4.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.34UYU 215
$5.43UYU 218
-1.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.64UYU 348
$8.06UYU 325
7.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27UYU 91.3
$2.27UYU 91.4
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85UYU 115
$2.78UYU 112
2.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Montevideo
Libertad
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.52UYU 61.1
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$74.2UYU 2,988
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.85UYU 74.3
$1.84UYU 74.1
0.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.41UYU 16.45
$0.44UYU 17.64
-6.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.60UYU 427
$10.62UYU 428
-0.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.17UYU 87.5
$2.08UYU 83.8
4.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.3KUYU 1.1M
$27.2KUYU 1.1M
0.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.3KUYU 1.5M
$37.0KUYU 1.5M
0.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montevideo
Libertad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$194UYU 7,799
$189UYU 7,628
2.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.71UYU 713
$17.42UYU 701
1.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.14UYU 1,817
$45.31UYU 1,824
-0.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montevideo
Libertad
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.5UYU 2,154
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.77UYU 796
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.96UYU 482
$11.97UYU 482
-0.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montevideo
Libertad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$622UYU 25.0K
$625UYU 25.2K
-0.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.6KUYU 428.1K
$10.5KUYU 421.4K
1.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montevideo
Libertad
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.1UYU 3,907
$95.6UYU 3,849
1.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.4UYU 2,312
$55.8UYU 2,248
2.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$122UYU 4,930
$121UYU 4,881
1.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133UYU 5,340
$131UYU 5,274
1.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montevideo
Libertad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$762UYU 30.7K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$598UYU 24.1K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,192UYU 48.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$958UYU 38.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,581UYU 144.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,916UYU 77.1K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montevideo
Libertad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,247UYU 50.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.49
5.49
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Montevideo: September 5, 2026
Last update for Libertad: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $61.0 in Montevideo vs $61.0 in Libertad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $331 vs $331 per month, with Montevideo cheaper across the board.
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 Libertad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Montevideo and in Libertad?
Montevideo and Libertad differ by about 70% in total monthly costs ($1,787 vs $1,049 including rent). Libertad is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Montevideo compared to Libertad?
You'd need roughly $2,680 in Montevideo and $1,573 in Libertad to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Montevideo pay roughly 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: Montevideo or Libertad?
All in, you'll spend $1,787 per month in Montevideo versus $1,049 in Libertad – a 70% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,049 in Libertad versus $1,787 in Montevideo, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Libertad but tight or insufficient in Montevideo. The gap between the two cities makes Libertad the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Montevideo and Libertad?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Montevideo or Libertad safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Montevideo and Libertad are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Montevideo or Libertad?
Expats usually find Libertad gentler on the wallet – expenses run 70% less than in Montevideo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Montevideo vs other spots: cost of living compared