Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montevideo and Moquegua

For one person, living is cheaper in Moquegua: $446 a month against $1,771 in Montevideo, rent and utilities included – about $15,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Montevideo
🇺🇾 Uruguay
$1,771
/mo nomad
Moquegua
🇵🇪 Peru
$446
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montevideo and in Moquegua

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

A single person spends $1,771 per month in Montevideo vs $446 in Moquegua, rent included.

  • Montevideo $1,771
  • Moquegua $446

A couple spends around $2,740 per month in Montevideo vs $743 in Moquegua, rent included.

  • Montevideo $2,740
  • Moquegua $743

A family of three spends $3,708 per month in Montevideo vs $1,041 in Moquegua, rent included.

  • Montevideo $3,708
  • Moquegua $1,041

Montevideo costs about 297% more than Moquegua, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Montevideo sits 31% above the global median, while Moquegua is 67% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montevideo
Moquegua
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.16 UYU 609
$3.38 PEN 11.61
348.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2 UYU 2,776
$27.26 PEN 93.6
153.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.65 UYU 588
$5.77 PEN 19.81
153.90%
Cappuccino
$4.46 UYU 179
$2.46 PEN 8.44
81.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 UYU 107
$0.83 PEN 2.85
221.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00 UYU 80.4
$0.36 PEN 1.22
455.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.83 UYU 194
$2.16 PEN 7.40
123.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80 UYU 152
$4.47 PEN 15.36
-14.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montevideo
Moquegua
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 UYU 54.8
$1.27 PEN 4.37
7.09%
White Bread (500g)
$2.87 UYU 115
$1.34 PEN 4.60
114.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.75 UYU 70.2
$1.51 PEN 5.18
15.89%
Eggs
$4.68 UYU 188
$2.28 PEN 7.83
105.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.88 UYU 557
$6.39 PEN 21.96
117.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.98 UYU 481
$4.47 PEN 15.36
168.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.97 UYU 480
$7.52 PEN 25.81
59.18%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 UYU 111
$1.77 PEN 6.06
57.06%
Banana (1kg)
$2.74 UYU 110
$1.18 PEN 4.07
132.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.77 UYU 71.2
$1.13 PEN 3.87
56.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.24 UYU 130
$1.00 PEN 3.43
224.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 UYU 79.2
$0.62 PEN 2.13
217.74%
Onion (1kg)
$2.07 UYU 83.1
$0.72 PEN 2.47
187.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.37 UYU 55.1
$0.51 PEN 1.74
168.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.88 UYU 75.3
$0.80 PEN 2.73
135.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.59 UYU 224
$5.12 PEN 17.58
9.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.78 UYU 352
$5.00 PEN 17.18
75.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 UYU 90.9
$2.72 PEN 9.34
-16.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 UYU 110
$2.23 PEN 7.67
23.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Montevideo
Moquegua
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
$2.06 PEN 7.08
-7.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.40 UYU 16.18
$1.99 PEN 6.85
-79.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.33 UYU 415
$12.78 PEN 43.91
-19.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.13 UYU 85.6
$1.57 PEN 5.39
35.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1K UYU 1.1M
$18.7K PEN 64.1K
45.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.3K UYU 1.5M
$25.7K PEN 88.4K
40.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montevideo
Moquegua
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 UYU 7,557
$23.88 PEN 82.0
688.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.54 UYU 824
$10.09 PEN 34.66
103.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.81 UYU 1,798
$23.10 PEN 79.3
93.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montevideo
Moquegua
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
$7.46 PEN 25.64
60.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montevideo
Moquegua
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$634 UYU 25.5K
$74.3 PEN 255
753.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.1K UYU 443.6K
$6,663 PEN 22.9K
65.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montevideo
Moquegua
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 UYU 4,099
$49.04 PEN 168
108.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.5 UYU 2,309
$25.96 PEN 89.1
121.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$127 UYU 5,079
$65.6 PEN 225
93.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128 UYU 5,131
$58.2 PEN 200
119.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montevideo
Moquegua
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$719 UYU 28.8K
-
-
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
Moquegua
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,245 UYU 50.0K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.74
15
-61.73%

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

Last update for Montevideo: October 12, 2026

Last update for Moquegua: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montevideo
$568
Moquegua
- * 100%
Groceries & Markets
Montevideo
$332
Moquegua
$174 47.6% $158
Eating Out
Montevideo
$269
Moquegua
$98 63.5% $171
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montevideo
$254
Moquegua
$57 77.5% $197
Clothing & Footwear
Montevideo
$186
Moquegua
$89 52% $97
Getting Around
Montevideo
$84
Moquegua
$12 * 85.7% $72
Sport & Entertainment
Montevideo
$78
Moquegua
$15 * 80.8% $63

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

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Montevideo versus $27.00 in Moquegua. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $332 vs $174 – making Moquegua the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇾 Montevideo
🇵🇪 Moquegua
🕒 Local time
13:31 1:31 PM
11:31 11:31 AM
2 h behind Montevideo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,319,108 Capital
18,861
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PEN, USD, EUR to UYU – Uruguayan Peso Converter

Uruguayan Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 40.14 UYU (100 UYU = 2.49 USD). 1 EUR = 45.13 UYU (100 UYU = 2.22 EUR).

Peruvian Sol exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 3.43 PEN (1 PEN = 0.291 USD). 1 EUR = 3.86 PEN (1 PEN = 0.259 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Montevideo Moquegua 2,450 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Montevideo
  • Moquegua

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 Moquegua: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Moquegua cheaper than Montevideo?
Yes – Montevideo is pricier by about 297%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,656 per month in Montevideo and $668 in Moquegua. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Montevideo or in Moquegua?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Montevideo and $27.00 in Moquegua. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Montevideo and in Moquegua?
Groceries cost about 91% more in Montevideo, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Montevideo or in Moquegua?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Moquegua, where all-in costs run around $446, than in Montevideo at $1,771. In Moquegua it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montevideo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Montevideo or Moquegua more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Moquegua – 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 Moquegua?
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 Moquegua. 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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