Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montevideo and Rio Rancho, NM

For one person, living is cheaper in Montevideo: $1,813 a month against $2,655 in Rio Rancho, NM, rent and utilities included – about $10,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Montevideo
🇺🇾 Uruguay
$1,813
/mo nomad
Rio Rancho, NM
🇺🇸 United States
$2,655
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montevideo and in Rio Rancho, 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 Rio Rancho, NM actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,813 per month in Montevideo vs $2,655 in Rio Rancho, NM, rent included.

  • Montevideo $1,813
  • Rio Rancho, NM $2,655

A couple spends around $2,782 per month in Montevideo vs $3,845 in Rio Rancho, NM, rent included.

  • Montevideo $2,782
  • Rio Rancho, NM $3,845

A family of three spends $3,750 per month in Montevideo vs $5,035 in Rio Rancho, NM, rent included.

  • Montevideo $3,750
  • Rio Rancho, NM $5,035

Montevideo is about 32% cheaper than Rio Rancho, NM, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Montevideo and Rio Rancho, NM sit above the global median – Montevideo by 35%, Rio Rancho, NM by 98%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montevideo
Rio Rancho, NM
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.26 UYU 613
$17.11 $17.11
-10.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.4 UYU 2,711
$78.8 $78.8
-14.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.37 UYU 578
$11.95 $11.95
20.25%
Cappuccino
$4.64 UYU 187
$5.71 $5.71
-18.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 UYU 110
$2.85 $2.85
-4.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 UYU 84.0
$2.35 $2.35
-11.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.75 UYU 191
$5.96 $5.96
-20.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67 UYU 147
$6.92 $6.92
-46.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montevideo
Rio Rancho, NM
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 UYU 55.5
$1.03 $1.03
33.98%
White Bread (500g)
$2.77 UYU 112
$3.29 $3.29
-15.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.69 UYU 67.8
$4.38 $4.38
-61.42%
Eggs
$4.52 UYU 182
$4.21 $4.21
7.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.17 UYU 570
$12.03 $12.03
17.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.07 UYU 485
$20.04 $20.04
-39.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.16 UYU 489
$18.53 $18.53
-34.38%
Apples (1kg)
$2.87 UYU 116
$5.35 $5.35
-46.36%
Banana (1kg)
$2.75 UYU 110
$1.70 $1.70
61.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.73 UYU 69.5
$3.98 $3.98
-56.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.24 UYU 130
$4.18 $4.18
-22.49%
Potato (1kg)
$2.07 UYU 83.1
$1.09 $1.09
89.91%
Onion (1kg)
$2.07 UYU 83.1
$3.36 $3.36
-38.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.38 UYU 55.4
$1.98 $1.98
-30.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.85 UYU 74.5
$2.57 $2.57
-28.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.57 UYU 224
$10.46 $10.46
-46.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.89 UYU 357
$16.01 $16.01
-44.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.29 UYU 92.2
$2.06 $2.06
11.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70 UYU 109
$3.66 $3.66
-26.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Montevideo
Rio Rancho, NM
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.52 UYU 61.3
$1.88 $1.88
-19.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$73.7 UYU 2,962
$50.4 $50.4
46.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.82 UYU 73.4
$3.04 $3.04
-40.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.40 UYU 16.05
$0.71 $0.71
-43.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.66 UYU 429
$31.87 $31.87
-66.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.22 UYU 89.2
$1.02 $1.02
117.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.7K UYU 1.1M
$30.3K $30.3K
-11.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.7K UYU 1.5M
$24.4K $24.4K
50.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montevideo
Rio Rancho, NM
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$191 UYU 7,674
$166 $166
14.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.40 UYU 820
$44.09 $44.09
-53.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.14 UYU 1,775
$73.0 $73.0
-39.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montevideo
Rio Rancho, NM
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.1 UYU 2,177
$41.16 $41.16
31.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.68 UYU 791
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.33 UYU 496
$17.88 $17.88
-31.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montevideo
Rio Rancho, NM
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$613 UYU 24.7K
$1,331 $1,331
-53.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.0K UYU 444.3K
$11.2K $11.2K
-1.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montevideo
Rio Rancho, NM
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 UYU 4,134
$53.8 $53.8
91.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.1 UYU 2,255
$58.1 $58.1
-3.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$124 UYU 5,000
$78.6 $78.6
58.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130 UYU 5,214
$117 $117
10.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montevideo
Rio Rancho, NM
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$705 UYU 28.4K
$1,590 $1,590
-55.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$575 UYU 23.1K
$1,295 $1,295
-55.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,139 UYU 45.8K
$2,476 $2,476
-54.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,016 UYU 40.8K
$2,172 $2,172
-53.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,349 UYU 134.6K
$2,539 $2,539
31.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,942 UYU 78.1K
$2,407 $2,407
-19.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montevideo
Rio Rancho, NM
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,229 UYU 49.4K
$6,376 $6,376
-80.72%
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 5, 2026

Last update for Rio Rancho, NM: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montevideo
$575
Rio Rancho, NM
$1.3K 125% $720
Groceries & Markets
Montevideo
$332
Rio Rancho, NM
$442 32.9% $109
Eating Out
Montevideo
$271
Rio Rancho, NM
$306 12.7% $34
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montevideo
$255
Rio Rancho, NM
$283 10.9% $28
Clothing & Footwear
Montevideo
$186
Rio Rancho, NM
$138 25.6% $47
Getting Around
Montevideo
$84
Rio Rancho, NM
$65 22.7% $19
Sport & Entertainment
Montevideo
$79
Rio Rancho, NM
$77 2.4% $1.9

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $705 in Montevideo versus $1,590 in Rio Rancho, 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 419% higher in Rio Rancho, NM, 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 $67.0 in Montevideo versus $79.0 in Rio Rancho, NM. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $332 vs $442 – making Montevideo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇾 Montevideo
🇺🇸 Rio Rancho, NM
🕒 Local time
23:08 11:08 PM
20:08 8:08 PM
3 h behind Montevideo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,319,108 Capital
110,660
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to UYU – Uruguayan Peso Converter

Uruguayan Peso exchange rates as of October 12, 2026: 1 USD = 40.21 UYU (100 UYU = 2.49 USD). 1 EUR = 45.06 UYU (100 UYU = 2.22 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 12, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Montevideo Rio Rancho, NM 9,400 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Montevideo
  • Rio Rancho, 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 Rio Rancho, NM: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rio Rancho, NM cheaper than Montevideo?
Yes – Rio Rancho, NM is pricier by about 46%, 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 $2,720 per month in Montevideo and $3,982 in Rio Rancho, 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 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 $613 per month in Montevideo and $1,331 in Rio Rancho, NM. 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 Rio Rancho, NM?
Groceries cost about 33% more in Rio Rancho, NM, 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 Rio Rancho, NM?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Montevideo, where all-in costs run around $1,813, than in Rio Rancho, NM at $2,655. In Montevideo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rio Rancho, NM it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Montevideo or Rio Rancho, NM 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 Rio Rancho, 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 Montevideo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Rio Rancho, NM makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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