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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,646 per month in Montevideo vs $1,240 in Salto, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,495 per month in Montevideo vs $1,849 in Salto, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,344 per month in Montevideo vs $2,458 in Salto, rent included.

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

Montevideo sits 22% above the global median, while Salto is 8% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.24 UYU 658

$20.08 UYU 814

-19.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$56.0 UYU 2,272

$38.39 UYU 1,556

45.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.28 UYU 498

$8.90 UYU 361

37.98%

Cappuccino

$4.11 UYU 166

$3.12 UYU 127

31.73%

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

$2.26 UYU 91.4

$2.29 UYU 92.7

-1.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 UYU 71.5

$1.55 UYU 62.8

13.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.38 UYU 178

$4.32 UYU 175

1.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 UYU 152

$3.24 UYU 131

15.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 UYU 48.94

$0.96 UYU 39.00

26.04%

White Bread (500g)

$2.84 UYU 115

$1.19 UYU 48.37

138.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 UYU 67.6

$1.44 UYU 58.3

15.97%

Eggs

$4.80 UYU 195

$3.40 UYU 138

41.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.77 UYU 558

$19.86 UYU 805

-30.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 UYU 439

$7.32 UYU 297

48.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.19 UYU 454

$9.52 UYU 386

17.54%

Apples (1kg)

$3.10 UYU 126

Banana (1kg)

$2.39 UYU 97.1

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 UYU 60.8

$1.00 UYU 40.45

50.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.75 UYU 152

$1.50 UYU 61.0

150.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.15 UYU 87.0

Onion (1kg)

$1.94 UYU 78.8

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.33 UYU 53.8

$0.50 UYU 20.16

166.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 UYU 69.3

$1.24 UYU 50.1

37.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.23 UYU 212

$4.98 UYU 202

5.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.14 UYU 411

$7.53 UYU 305

34.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 UYU 93.4

$1.86 UYU 75.3

23.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 UYU 122

$2.24 UYU 90.9

34.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.29 UYU 52.3

$1.19 UYU 48.37

8.40%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$56.1 UYU 2,275

$44.60 UYU 1,808

25.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.56 UYU 63.1

$1.48 UYU 60.1

5.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.47 UYU 141

$1.57 UYU 63.5

121.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.35 UYU 501

$11.21 UYU 454

10.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.87 UYU 76.0

$1.90 UYU 77.1

-1.58%

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

$34.0K UYU 1.4M

$38.8K UYU 1.6M

-12.33%

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

$36.9K UYU 1.5M

$38.9K UYU 1.6M

-4.98%

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

$170 UYU 6,873

$180 UYU 7,309

-5.95%

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

$16.98 UYU 688

$20.36 UYU 826

-16.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.75 UYU 1,976

$34.87 UYU 1,414

39.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.0 UYU 2,512

$31.80 UYU 1,289

94.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.74 UYU 719

Cinema Ticket

$10.40 UYU 422

$9.52 UYU 386

9.24%

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

$486 UYU 19.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,923 UYU 361.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$94.4 UYU 3,826

$66.1 UYU 2,679

42.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.75 UYU 1,895

$61.9 UYU 2,509

-24.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 UYU 4,531

$109 UYU 4,412

2.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 UYU 5,009

$66.6 UYU 2,698

85.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$619 UYU 25.1K

$433 UYU 17.6K

42.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$487 UYU 19.7K

$282 UYU 11.4K

72.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,094 UYU 44.4K

$749 UYU 30.4K

46.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$811 UYU 32.9K

$460 UYU 18.6K

76.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,553 UYU 144.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,245 UYU 91.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,317 UYU 53.4K

$627 UYU 25.4K

109.87%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Salto: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $619 in Montevideo versus $433 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 110% 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 $56.0 in Montevideo versus $38.00 in Salto. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $324 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 $2,469 per month in Montevideo and $1,860 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 26% less in Salto. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 45% 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 $1,240, than in Montevideo at $1,646. 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.