Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montevideo and Morelia

For one person, living is cheaper in Morelia: $1,157 a month against $1,771 in Montevideo, rent and utilities included – about $7,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Montevideo
🇺🇾 Uruguay
$1,771
/mo nomad
Morelia
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,157
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montevideo and in Morelia

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

A single person spends $1,771 per month in Montevideo vs $1,157 in Morelia, rent included.

  • Montevideo $1,771
  • Morelia $1,157

A couple spends around $2,740 per month in Montevideo vs $1,866 in Morelia, rent included.

  • Montevideo $2,740
  • Morelia $1,866

A family of three spends $3,708 per month in Montevideo vs $2,576 in Morelia, rent included.

  • Montevideo $3,708
  • Morelia $2,576

Montevideo costs about 53% more than Morelia, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Montevideo sits 31% above the global median, while Morelia is 14% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montevideo
Morelia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.16 UYU 609
$6.98 MX$129
117.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2 UYU 2,776
$37.95 MX$701
82.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.65 UYU 588
$6.12 MX$113
139.38%
Cappuccino
$4.46 UYU 179
$3.54 MX$65.5
25.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 UYU 107
$1.24 MX$22.99
115.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00 UYU 80.4
$1.21 MX$22.36
65.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.83 UYU 194
$2.93 MX$54.1
64.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80 UYU 152
$3.93 MX$72.7
-3.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montevideo
Morelia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 UYU 54.8
$1.78 MX$32.95
-23.60%
White Bread (500g)
$2.87 UYU 115
$3.06 MX$56.5
-6.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.75 UYU 70.2
$1.96 MX$36.17
-10.71%
Eggs
$4.68 UYU 188
$2.80 MX$51.8
67.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.88 UYU 557
$11.88 MX$219
16.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.98 UYU 481
$9.36 MX$173
27.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.97 UYU 480
$14.95 MX$276
-19.93%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 UYU 111
$3.05 MX$56.4
-8.85%
Banana (1kg)
$2.74 UYU 110
$1.65 MX$30.54
66.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.77 UYU 71.2
$1.97 MX$36.49
-10.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.24 UYU 130
$2.23 MX$41.16
45.29%
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 UYU 79.2
$1.96 MX$36.26
0.51%
Onion (1kg)
$2.07 UYU 83.1
$1.81 MX$33.53
14.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.37 UYU 55.1
$1.47 MX$27.12
-6.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.88 UYU 75.3
$1.33 MX$24.59
41.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.59 UYU 224
$3.84 MX$71.0
45.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.78 UYU 352
$15.11 MX$279
-41.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 UYU 90.9
$1.89 MX$34.89
19.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 UYU 110
$3.64 MX$67.3
-24.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Montevideo
Morelia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.53 UYU 61.5
$0.61 MX$11.28
150.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.3 UYU 2,980
$24.38 MX$451
204.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.91 UYU 76.7
$1.40 MX$25.96
36.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.40 UYU 16.18
$0.53 MX$9.86
-24.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.33 UYU 415
$5.52 MX$102
87.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.13 UYU 85.6
$1.49 MX$27.52
42.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1K UYU 1.1M
$21.4K MX$394.8K
26.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.3K UYU 1.5M
$23.3K MX$431.0K
55.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montevideo
Morelia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 UYU 7,557
$61.6 MX$1,137
205.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.54 UYU 824
$28.34 MX$524
-27.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.81 UYU 1,798
$34.37 MX$635
30.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montevideo
Morelia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.0 UYU 2,166
$51.9 MX$959
4.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.75 UYU 793
$27.22 MX$503
-27.44%
Cinema Ticket
$11.95 UYU 480
$4.32 MX$79.8
176.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montevideo
Morelia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$634 UYU 25.5K
$223 MX$4,117
184.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.1K UYU 443.6K
$2,837 MX$52.4K
289.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montevideo
Morelia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 UYU 4,099
$55.6 MX$1,027
83.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.5 UYU 2,309
$37.62 MX$695
52.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$127 UYU 5,079
$107 MX$1,985
17.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128 UYU 5,131
$96.9 MX$1,790
31.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montevideo
Morelia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$719 UYU 28.8K
$346 MX$6,402
107.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$568 UYU 22.8K
$341 MX$6,296
66.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,145 UYU 46.0K
$930 MX$17.2K
23.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,023 UYU 41.1K
$706 MX$13.0K
44.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,392 UYU 136.1K
$1,651 MX$30.5K
105.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,949 UYU 78.2K
$653 MX$12.1K
198.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montevideo
Morelia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,245 UYU 50.0K
$668 MX$12.3K
86.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.74
10.53
-45.49%

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

Last update for Montevideo: October 12, 2026

Last update for Morelia: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montevideo
$568
Morelia
$341 40% $227
Groceries & Markets
Montevideo
$332
Morelia
$317 4.3% $14
Eating Out
Montevideo
$269
Morelia
$149 44.6% $120
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montevideo
$254
Morelia
$124 51% $129
Clothing & Footwear
Montevideo
$186
Morelia
$134 28.2% $52
Getting Around
Montevideo
$84
Morelia
$31 63.4% $53
Sport & Entertainment
Montevideo
$78
Morelia
$61 22.3% $17

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $719 in Montevideo versus $346 in Morelia. 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 86% higher in Montevideo, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Montevideo versus $38.00 in Morelia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $332 vs $317 – making Morelia the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇾 Montevideo
🇲🇽 Morelia
🕒 Local time
01:16 1:16 AM
22:16 10:16 PM
3 h behind Montevideo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,319,108 Capital
743,275
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, 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).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Montevideo Morelia 7,710 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Montevideo
  • Morelia

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 Morelia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Morelia cheaper than Montevideo?
Yes – Montevideo is pricier by about 53%, 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 $1,735 in Morelia. 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 Morelia, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $634 per month in Montevideo and $223 in Morelia. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Montevideo and in Morelia?
Groceries cost about 5% 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 $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Montevideo or in Morelia?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Morelia, where all-in costs run around $1,157, than in Montevideo at $1,771. In Morelia it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montevideo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Montevideo or Morelia more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Morelia – 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 Morelia?
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 Morelia. 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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