Cost of Living Comparison Between Montevideo and Salto Cost of Living Comparison Between Montevideo and Salto

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,639 per month in Montevideo vs $1,235 in Salto, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,510 per month in Montevideo vs $1,868 in Salto, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,381 per month in Montevideo vs $2,501 in Salto, rent included.

Montevideo costs about 33% more than Salto, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Montevideo sits 23% above the global median, while Salto is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.87 UYU 638

$20.31 UYU 816

-21.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.8 UYU 2,205

$39.31 UYU 1,581

39.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.19 UYU 490

$9.25 UYU 372

31.78%

Cappuccino

$4.14 UYU 167

$2.97 UYU 119

39.39%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 UYU 90.3

$2.20 UYU 88.4

2.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 UYU 71.6

$1.51 UYU 60.7

17.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.48 UYU 180

$4.29 UYU 172

4.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.77 UYU 151

$3.21 UYU 129

17.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 UYU 51.1

$0.94 UYU 37.86

35.11%

White Bread (500g)

$2.87 UYU 116

$1.20 UYU 48.17

139.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 UYU 66.7

$1.45 UYU 58.3

14.48%

Eggs

$4.91 UYU 197

$3.34 UYU 134

47.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.80 UYU 555

$19.71 UYU 793

-29.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.67 UYU 429

$7.30 UYU 294

46.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.88 UYU 437

$9.98 UYU 401

9.02%

Apples (1kg)

$3.12 UYU 125

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 UYU 97.4

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 UYU 60.1

$0.93 UYU 37.57

61.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.69 UYU 148

$1.49 UYU 60.0

147.65%

Potato (1kg)

$2.17 UYU 87.2

Onion (1kg)

$1.96 UYU 78.7

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.32 UYU 53.0

$0.52 UYU 20.92

153.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 UYU 67.8

$1.24 UYU 49.86

36.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.29 UYU 213

$5.12 UYU 206

3.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.82 UYU 355

$7.56 UYU 304

16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 UYU 92.4

$1.88 UYU 75.5

22.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 UYU 119

$2.18 UYU 87.5

35.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.30 UYU 52.3

$1.24 UYU 49.97

4.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.1 UYU 2,217

$44.06 UYU 1,771

25.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.56 UYU 62.7

$1.45 UYU 58.2

7.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.44 UYU 138

$1.56 UYU 62.9

120.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.55 UYU 504

$11.03 UYU 444

13.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.88 UYU 75.6

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.3K UYU 1.4M

$39.9K UYU 1.6M

-14.09%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$36.7K UYU 1.5M

$38.6K UYU 1.6M

-4.98%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$175 UYU 7,043

$183 UYU 7,360

-4.31%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$16.34 UYU 657

$20.52 UYU 825

-20.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.56 UYU 1,993

$33.74 UYU 1,357

46.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.9 UYU 2,449

$31.25 UYU 1,256

94.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.09 UYU 687

Cinema Ticket

$10.39 UYU 418

$10.05 UYU 404

3.38%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$487 UYU 19.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,026 UYU 362.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$94.4 UYU 3,796

$68.2 UYU 2,741

38.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.73 UYU 1,919

$60.3 UYU 2,422

-20.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 UYU 4,583

$111 UYU 4,479

2.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 UYU 4,887

$67.1 UYU 2,696

81.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$614 UYU 24.7K

$441 UYU 17.7K

39.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$483 UYU 19.4K

$274 UYU 11.0K

76.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,095 UYU 44.0K

$764 UYU 30.7K

43.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$828 UYU 33.3K

$468 UYU 18.8K

76.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,586 UYU 144.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,284 UYU 91.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,283 UYU 51.6K

$632 UYU 25.4K

102.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.68

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

Last update for Montevideo: July 27, 2026

Last update for Salto: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $614 in Montevideo versus $441 in Salto. 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 103% 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 $55.0 in Montevideo versus $39.00 in Salto. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $321 vs $223 – making Salto the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Salto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Montevideo is pricier by about 33%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,459 per month in Montevideo and $1,853 in Salto. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Salto, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 25% less in Salto. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 44% more in Montevideo, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Salto, where all-in costs run around $1,235, than in Montevideo at $1,639. In Salto it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montevideo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Salto – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Salto. 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.