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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,749 per month in Montevideo vs $1,295 in Salto, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,666 per month in Montevideo vs $1,914 in Salto, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,582 per month in Montevideo vs $2,532 in Salto, rent included.

Montevideo costs about 35% more than Salto, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Montevideo sits 28% above the global median, while Salto is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.25 UYU 613

$16.00 UYU 643

-4.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.3 UYU 2,503

$37.50 UYU 1,507

66.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.86 UYU 557

$11.90 UYU 478

16.47%

Cappuccino

$4.39 UYU 176

$3.39 UYU 136

29.50%

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

$2.77 UYU 111

$2.14 UYU 85.8

29.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 UYU 81.4

$1.59 UYU 63.8

27.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.95 UYU 199

$4.55 UYU 183

8.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.65 UYU 147

$3.16 UYU 127

15.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 UYU 55.3

$1.45 UYU 58.1

-4.83%

White Bread (500g)

$2.81 UYU 113

$2.12 UYU 85.3

32.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.73 UYU 69.3

$1.46 UYU 58.8

18.49%

Eggs

$4.74 UYU 191

$5.38 UYU 216

-11.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.57 UYU 545

$14.62 UYU 587

-7.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.51 UYU 463

$8.46 UYU 340

36.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.75 UYU 472

$9.65 UYU 388

21.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.84 UYU 114

$1.23 UYU 49.26

130.89%

Banana (1kg)

$2.76 UYU 111

$2.20 UYU 88.3

25.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 UYU 68.9

$1.26 UYU 50.5

35.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.12 UYU 126

$1.83 UYU 73.5

70.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.97 UYU 79.3

$0.85 UYU 34.27

131.76%

Onion (1kg)

$2.15 UYU 86.5

$1.75 UYU 70.4

22.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.35 UYU 54.4

$0.89 UYU 35.81

51.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 UYU 77.4

$1.52 UYU 61.0

26.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.59 UYU 225

$5.27 UYU 212

6.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.25 UYU 331

$7.56 UYU 304

9.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 UYU 93.6

$1.82 UYU 73.1

28.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 UYU 115

$2.59 UYU 104

10.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.53 UYU 61.7

$0.61 UYU 24.48

150.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.6 UYU 2,998

$30.41 UYU 1,222

145.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 UYU 72.7

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 UYU 17.67

$3.76 UYU 151

-88.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.69 UYU 430

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.21 UYU 89.0

$1.87 UYU 75.2

18.18%

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

$27.5K UYU 1.1M

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

$37.8K UYU 1.5M

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

$192 UYU 7,721

$200 UYU 8,020

-3.73%

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

$18.93 UYU 761

$21.51 UYU 864

-11.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.31 UYU 1,821

$29.40 UYU 1,182

54.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 UYU 2,074

$36.77 UYU 1,478

40.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.68 UYU 791

$12.25 UYU 492

60.65%

Cinema Ticket

$11.95 UYU 480

$9.88 UYU 397

20.95%

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

$608 UYU 24.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K UYU 429.3K

$4,410 UYU 177.3K

142.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$100 UYU 4,030

$85.5 UYU 3,437

17.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.7 UYU 2,279

$55.9 UYU 2,245

1.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$124 UYU 4,994

$113 UYU 4,550

9.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$133 UYU 5,330

$67.1 UYU 2,695

97.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$737 UYU 29.6K

$445 UYU 17.9K

65.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$572 UYU 23.0K

$299 UYU 12.0K

90.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,165 UYU 46.8K

$750 UYU 30.2K

55.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$947 UYU 38.1K

$418 UYU 16.8K

126.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,415 UYU 137.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,873 UYU 75.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,164 UYU 46.8K

$620 UYU 24.9K

87.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.6

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

Last update for Montevideo: September 14, 2026

Last update for Salto: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $737 in Montevideo versus $445 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 88% 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 $62.0 in Montevideo versus $37.00 in Salto. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $327 vs $269 – 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 35%, 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 $2,624 per month in Montevideo and $1,943 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 145% less in Salto. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 22% 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 $1,295, than in Montevideo at $1,749. 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.