Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montevideo and Queens, NY

For one person, living is cheaper in Montevideo: $1,784 a month against $3,339 in Queens, NY, rent and utilities included – about $18,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Montevideo
🇺🇾 Uruguay
$1,784
/mo nomad
Queens, NY
🇺🇸 United States
$3,339
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montevideo and in Queens, NY

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

A single person spends $1,784 per month in Montevideo vs $3,339 in Queens, NY, rent included.

  • Montevideo $1,784
  • Queens, NY $3,339

A couple spends around $2,756 per month in Montevideo vs $4,831 in Queens, NY, rent included.

  • Montevideo $2,756
  • Queens, NY $4,831

A family of three spends $3,728 per month in Montevideo vs $6,323 in Queens, NY, rent included.

  • Montevideo $3,728
  • Queens, NY $6,323

Montevideo is about 47% cheaper than Queens, NY, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Montevideo and Queens, NY sit above the global median – Montevideo by 32%, Queens, NY by 146%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montevideo
Queens, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.82 UYU 595
$19.16 $19.16
-22.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7 UYU 2,797
$80.1 $80.1
-12.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.68 UYU 589
$13.04 $13.04
12.58%
Cappuccino
$4.65 UYU 186
$6.18 $6.18
-24.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 UYU 110
$2.53 $2.53
8.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 UYU 82.9
$1.49 $1.49
38.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.79 UYU 192
$9.25 $9.25
-48.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 UYU 146
$6.93 $6.93
-47.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montevideo
Queens, NY
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.39 UYU 55.8
$1.27 $1.27
9.45%
White Bread (500g)
$2.89 UYU 116
$4.36 $4.36
-33.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 UYU 68.1
$6.02 $6.02
-71.76%
Eggs
$4.62 UYU 185
$6.88 $6.88
-32.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.22 UYU 571
$13.73 $13.73
3.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.62 UYU 466
$10.31 $10.31
12.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.23 UYU 491
$19.51 $19.51
-37.31%
Apples (1kg)
$2.77 UYU 111
$5.99 $5.99
-53.76%
Banana (1kg)
$2.85 UYU 114
$3.49 $3.49
-18.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.81 UYU 72.5
$4.40 $4.40
-58.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.20 UYU 129
$5.21 $5.21
-38.58%
Potato (1kg)
$1.94 UYU 77.8
$3.02 $3.02
-35.76%
Onion (1kg)
$2.16 UYU 86.5
$3.05 $3.05
-29.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.43 UYU 57.3
$3.11 $3.11
-54.02%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.94 UYU 77.9
$3.09 $3.09
-37.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.47 UYU 219
$14.63 $14.63
-62.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.95 UYU 359
$14.84 $14.84
-39.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 UYU 90.8
$1.85 $1.85
22.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 UYU 113
$3.51 $3.51
-19.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Montevideo
Queens, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.56 UYU 62.6
$2.94 $2.94
-46.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$73.8 UYU 2,962
$131 $131
-43.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.90 UYU 76.2
$2.96 $2.96
-35.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 UYU 17.36
$2.22 $2.22
-80.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.59 UYU 425
$41.49 $41.49
-74.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.12 UYU 85.2
$1.09 $1.09
94.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K UYU 1.1M
$27.9K $27.9K
-3.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.0K UYU 1.5M
$25.5K $25.5K
44.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montevideo
Queens, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$193 UYU 7,727
$175 $175
10.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.91 UYU 839
$49.84 $49.84
-58.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.89 UYU 1,802
$50.7 $50.7
-11.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montevideo
Queens, NY
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.8 UYU 2,038
$45.68 $45.68
11.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.73 UYU 792
$67.6 $67.6
-70.82%
Cinema Ticket
$12.30 UYU 494
$20.43 $20.43
-39.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montevideo
Queens, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$629 UYU 25.2K
$1,979 $1,979
-68.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.9K UYU 437.3K
$16.2K $16.2K
-32.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montevideo
Queens, NY
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 UYU 4,166
$49.52 $49.52
109.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.4 UYU 2,305
$81.0 $81.0
-29.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$125 UYU 5,010
$85.7 $85.7
45.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132 UYU 5,315
$104 $104
27.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montevideo
Queens, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$713 UYU 28.6K
$2,272 $2,272
-68.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$575 UYU 23.1K
$1,870 $1,870
-69.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,164 UYU 46.7K
$5,863 $5,863
-80.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,033 UYU 41.5K
$2,964 $2,964
-65.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,418 UYU 137.2K
$8,775 $8,775
-61.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,760 UYU 70.6K
$6,134 $6,134
-71.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montevideo
Queens, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,244 UYU 49.9K
$3,625 $3,625
-65.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.74
6.8
-15.59%

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

Last update for Montevideo: October 19, 2026

Last update for Queens, NY: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montevideo
$575
Queens, NY
$1.9K 225% $1.3K
Groceries & Markets
Montevideo
$334
Queens, NY
$464 39.2% $131
Eating Out
Montevideo
$269
Queens, NY
$343 27.5% $74
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montevideo
$258
Queens, NY
$275 6.6% $17
Clothing & Footwear
Montevideo
$188
Queens, NY
$144 23.5% $44
Getting Around
Montevideo
$84
Queens, NY
$156 85.9% $72
Sport & Entertainment
Montevideo
$75
Queens, NY
$87 14.8% $11

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $713 in Montevideo versus $2,272 in Queens, NY. 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 191% higher in Queens, NY, 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 $70.0 in Montevideo versus $80.0 in Queens, NY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $334 vs $464 – making Montevideo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇾 Montevideo
🇺🇸 Queens, NY
🕒 Local time
19:55 7:55 PM
18:55 6:55 PM
1 h behind Montevideo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,319,108 Capital
2,405,464
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to UYU – Uruguayan Peso Converter

Uruguayan Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 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 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Montevideo Queens, NY 8,600 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Montevideo
  • Queens, NY

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 Queens, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Queens, NY cheaper than Montevideo?
Yes – Queens, NY is pricier by about 87%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,676 per month in Montevideo and $5,008 in Queens, NY. 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 Montevideo, 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 $629 per month in Montevideo and $1,979 in Queens, NY. 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 Queens, NY?
Groceries cost about 39% more in Queens, NY, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Montevideo or in Queens, NY?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Montevideo, where all-in costs run around $1,784, than in Queens, NY at $3,339. In Montevideo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Queens, NY it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Montevideo or Queens, NY more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Montevideo – 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 Queens, NY?
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 Montevideo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Queens, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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