Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montevideo and Mandeville

For one person, living is cheaper in Mandeville: $804 a month against $1,771 in Montevideo, rent and utilities included – about $11,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Montevideo
🇺🇾 Uruguay
$1,771
/mo nomad
Mandeville
🇯🇲 Jamaica
$804
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montevideo and in Mandeville

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 Mandeville actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,771 in Montevideo versus $804 in Mandeville.

  • Montevideo $1,771
  • Mandeville $804

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,740 in Montevideo versus $1,386 in Mandeville.

  • Montevideo $2,740
  • Mandeville $1,386

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,708 in Montevideo versus $1,969 in Mandeville.

  • Montevideo $3,708
  • Mandeville $1,969

Living in Montevideo is roughly 120% more expensive than in Mandeville, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Montevideo is 31% above, Mandeville is 40% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montevideo
Mandeville
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.16 UYU 609
$6.40 JMD 1,011
136.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2 UYU 2,776
$73.5 JMD 11.6K
-5.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.65 UYU 588
$8.22 JMD 1,298
78.22%
Cappuccino
$4.46 UYU 179
$2.25 JMD 355
98.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 UYU 107
$1.08 JMD 171
147.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00 UYU 80.4
$0.73 JMD 115
173.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.83 UYU 194
$2.17 JMD 344
122.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80 UYU 152
$2.77 JMD 437
37.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montevideo
Mandeville
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 UYU 54.8
$4.11 JMD 649
-66.91%
White Bread (500g)
$2.87 UYU 115
$1.85 JMD 292
55.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.75 UYU 70.2
$1.57 JMD 248
11.46%
Eggs
$4.68 UYU 188
$3.59 JMD 568
30.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.88 UYU 557
$11.32 JMD 1,788
22.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.98 UYU 481
$6.38 JMD 1,007
87.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.97 UYU 480
$10.10 JMD 1,596
18.51%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 UYU 111
$5.87 JMD 927
-52.64%
Banana (1kg)
$2.74 UYU 110
$3.80 JMD 600
-27.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.77 UYU 71.2
$7.25 JMD 1,146
-75.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.24 UYU 130
$3.10 JMD 490
4.52%
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 UYU 79.2
$3.28 JMD 519
-39.94%
Onion (1kg)
$2.07 UYU 83.1
$2.63 JMD 415
-21.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.37 UYU 55.1
$3.08 JMD 487
-55.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.88 UYU 75.3
$1.44 JMD 228
30.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.59 UYU 224
$9.35 JMD 1,477
-40.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.78 UYU 352
$11.47 JMD 1,811
-23.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 UYU 90.9
$2.87 JMD 453
-21.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 UYU 110
$3.95 JMD 625
-30.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Montevideo
Mandeville
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
$1.16 JMD 183
64.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.40 UYU 16.18
$3.07 JMD 484
-86.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.33 UYU 415
$6.33 JMD 1,001
63.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.13 UYU 85.6
$1.46 JMD 230
45.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1K UYU 1.1M
$44.1K JMD 7.0M
-38.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.3K UYU 1.5M
$32.4K JMD 5.1M
12.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montevideo
Mandeville
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 UYU 7,557
$93.3 JMD 14.7K
101.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.54 UYU 824
$21.72 JMD 3,432
-5.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.81 UYU 1,798
$50.5 JMD 7,983
-11.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montevideo
Mandeville
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
$13.35 JMD 2,109
-10.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montevideo
Mandeville
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$634 UYU 25.5K
$356 JMD 56.3K
78.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.1K UYU 443.6K
$8,288 JMD 1.3M
33.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montevideo
Mandeville
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 UYU 4,099
$23.13 JMD 3,655
341.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.5 UYU 2,309
$31.52 JMD 4,981
82.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$127 UYU 5,079
$77.4 JMD 12.2K
63.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128 UYU 5,131
$103 JMD 16.3K
24.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montevideo
Mandeville
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$719 UYU 28.8K
$473 JMD 74.7K
51.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$568 UYU 22.8K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,145 UYU 46.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,023 UYU 41.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,392 UYU 136.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,949 UYU 78.2K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montevideo
Mandeville
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,245 UYU 50.0K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.74
9.45
-39.26%

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

Last update for Montevideo: October 12, 2026

Last update for Mandeville: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montevideo
$568
Mandeville
- * 100%
Groceries & Markets
Montevideo
$332
Mandeville
$363 9.5% $31
Eating Out
Montevideo
$269
Mandeville
$126 53% $143
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montevideo
$254
Mandeville
$166 34.7% $88
Clothing & Footwear
Montevideo
$186
Mandeville
$106 43.2% $81
Getting Around
Montevideo
$84
Mandeville
$16 * 80.4% $68
Sport & Entertainment
Montevideo
$78
Mandeville
$27 * 65.7% $51

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $719 in Montevideo and $473 in Mandeville. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $69.0 in Montevideo vs $73.0 in Mandeville for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $332 vs $363 per month, with Montevideo cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇾 Montevideo
🇯🇲 Mandeville
🕒 Local time
22:27 10:27 PM
20:27 8:27 PM
2 h behind Montevideo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,319,108 Capital
47,115
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

JMD, USD, EUR to UYU – Uruguayan Peso Converter

Uruguayan Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 40.14 UYU (100 UYU = 2.49 USD). 1 EUR = 45.12 UYU (100 UYU = 2.22 EUR).

Jamaican Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JMD (1,000 JMD = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 178 JMD (1,000 JMD = 5.63 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Montevideo Mandeville 6,300 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Montevideo
  • Mandeville

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 Mandeville: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mandeville cheaper than Montevideo?
Mandeville is cheaper overall, especially in eating out, clothing, and transport. The 120% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,656 in Montevideo and $1,206 in Mandeville 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.
What is the rent difference between Montevideo and Mandeville?
Rent for a central apartment: $719 in Montevideo versus $473 in Mandeville. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $634 in Montevideo versus $356 in Mandeville. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Montevideo or in Mandeville?
Dining out is cheaper in Mandeville – a meal for two runs $73.0 versus $69.0 in Montevideo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Montevideo or in Mandeville?
At $804 in Mandeville versus $1,771 in Montevideo, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Mandeville but tight or insufficient in Montevideo. The gap between the two cities makes Mandeville the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Montevideo or Mandeville more family-friendly?
For families, Mandeville is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Montevideo, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Montevideo or Mandeville?
Safety-wise, Montevideo and Mandeville 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 Mandeville gentler on the wallet – expenses run 120% less than in Montevideo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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