Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montevideo and Los Alamos, NM

For one person, living is cheaper in Los Alamos, NM: $1,065 a month against $1,771 in Montevideo, rent and utilities included – about $8,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Montevideo
🇺🇾 Uruguay
$1,771
/mo nomad
Los Alamos, NM
🇺🇸 United States
$1,065
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montevideo and in Los Alamos, NM

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 Los Alamos, NM actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,771 per month in Montevideo vs $1,065 in Los Alamos, NM, rent included.

  • Montevideo $1,771
  • Los Alamos, NM $1,065

A couple spends around $2,740 per month in Montevideo vs $1,652 in Los Alamos, NM, rent included.

  • Montevideo $2,740
  • Los Alamos, NM $1,652

A family of three spends $3,708 per month in Montevideo vs $2,240 in Los Alamos, NM, rent included.

  • Montevideo $3,708
  • Los Alamos, NM $2,240

Montevideo costs about 66% more than Los Alamos, NM, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Montevideo sits 31% above the global median, while Los Alamos, NM is 21% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montevideo
Los Alamos, NM
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.16 UYU 609
$17.10 $17.10
-11.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2 UYU 2,776
$40.29 $40.29
71.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.65 UYU 588
$10.04 $10.04
45.92%
Cappuccino
$4.46 UYU 179
$4.95 $4.95
-9.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 UYU 107
$2.46 $2.46
8.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00 UYU 80.4
$1.48 $1.48
35.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.83 UYU 194
$5.94 $5.94
-18.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80 UYU 152
$7.17 $7.17
-47.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montevideo
Los Alamos, NM
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 UYU 54.8
$0.90 $0.90
51.11%
White Bread (500g)
$2.87 UYU 115
$2.26 $2.26
26.99%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.75 UYU 70.2
$4.41 $4.41
-60.32%
Eggs
$4.68 UYU 188
$4.03 $4.03
16.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.88 UYU 557
$11.61 $11.61
19.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.98 UYU 481
$9.55 $9.55
25.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.97 UYU 480
$17.69 $17.69
-32.33%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 UYU 111
$4.80 $4.80
-42.08%
Banana (1kg)
$2.74 UYU 110
$1.42 $1.42
92.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.77 UYU 71.2
$2.85 $2.85
-37.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.24 UYU 130
$4.52 $4.52
-28.32%
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 UYU 79.2
$1.09 $1.09
80.73%
Onion (1kg)
$2.07 UYU 83.1
$3.27 $3.27
-36.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.37 UYU 55.1
$1.97 $1.97
-30.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.88 UYU 75.3
$0.49 $0.49
283.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.59 UYU 224
$10.54 $10.54
-46.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.78 UYU 352
$13.91 $13.91
-36.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 UYU 90.9
$2.38 $2.38
-5.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 UYU 110
$3.54 $3.54
-22.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Montevideo
Los Alamos, NM
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.53 UYU 61.5
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.3 UYU 2,980
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.91 UYU 76.7
$3.51 $3.51
-45.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.40 UYU 16.18
$1.97 $1.97
-79.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.33 UYU 415
$31.94 $31.94
-67.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.13 UYU 85.6
$0.93 $0.93
129.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1K UYU 1.1M
$30.7K $30.7K
-11.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.3K UYU 1.5M
$24.5K $24.5K
47.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montevideo
Los Alamos, NM
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 UYU 7,557
$158 $158
19.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.54 UYU 824
$40.32 $40.32
-49.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.81 UYU 1,798
$72.6 $72.6
-38.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montevideo
Los Alamos, NM
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.0 UYU 2,166
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.75 UYU 793
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.95 UYU 480
$13.21 $13.21
-9.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montevideo
Los Alamos, NM
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$634 UYU 25.5K
$1,490 $1,490
-57.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.1K UYU 443.6K
$25.4K $25.4K
-56.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montevideo
Los Alamos, NM
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 UYU 4,099
$20.08 $20.08
408.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.5 UYU 2,309
$43.91 $43.91
31.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$127 UYU 5,079
$105 $105
20.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128 UYU 5,131
$120 $120
6.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montevideo
Los Alamos, NM
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$719 UYU 28.8K
$1,078 $1,078
-33.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$568 UYU 22.8K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,145 UYU 46.0K
$1,930 $1,930
-40.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,023 UYU 41.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,392 UYU 136.1K
$3,277 $3,277
3.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,949 UYU 78.2K
$3,380 $3,380
-42.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montevideo
Los Alamos, NM
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,245 UYU 50.0K
$8,229 $8,229
-84.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.74
6.57
-12.63%

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

Last update for Montevideo: October 12, 2026

Last update for Los Alamos, NM: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montevideo
$568
Los Alamos, NM
- * 100%
Groceries & Markets
Montevideo
$332
Los Alamos, NM
$338 1.9% $6.3
Eating Out
Montevideo
$269
Los Alamos, NM
$286 6.3% $17
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montevideo
$254
Los Alamos, NM
$271 6.7% $17
Clothing & Footwear
Montevideo
$186
Los Alamos, NM
$130 30% $56
Getting Around
Montevideo
$84
Los Alamos, NM
$13 * 84.1% $71
Sport & Entertainment
Montevideo
$78
Los Alamos, NM
$26 * 66.1% $51

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $719 in Montevideo versus $1,078 in Los Alamos, NM. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 561% higher in Los Alamos, NM, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Montevideo versus $40.00 in Los Alamos, NM. Groceries tell a different story – $332 in Montevideo vs $338 in Los Alamos, NM – so Montevideo wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇺🇾 Montevideo
🇺🇸 Los Alamos, NM
🕒 Local time
12:04 12:04 PM
09:04 9:04 AM
3 h behind Montevideo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,319,108 Capital
13,179
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to UYU – Uruguayan Peso Converter

Uruguayan Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 40.14 UYU (100 UYU = 2.49 USD). 1 EUR = 45.12 UYU (100 UYU = 2.22 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Montevideo Los Alamos, NM 9,430 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Montevideo
  • Los Alamos, NM

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 Los Alamos, NM: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Los Alamos, NM cheaper than Montevideo?
Yes – Montevideo is pricier by about 66%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in transport.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,656 per month in Montevideo and $1,597 in Los Alamos, NM. 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 Los Alamos, NM, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Montevideo and in Los Alamos, NM?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,771 in Montevideo and $1,065 in Los Alamos, NM. That's a gap of about 66%.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $634 per month in Montevideo and $1,490 in Los Alamos, NM. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Montevideo or in Los Alamos, NM?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Los Alamos, NM, where all-in costs run around $1,065, than in Montevideo at $1,771. In Los Alamos, NM it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montevideo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Montevideo or Los Alamos, NM more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Los Alamos, NM – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Montevideo or Los Alamos, NM?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Los Alamos, NM. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Montevideo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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