😐A single person spends $1,677 per month in Montevideo vs $1,267 in Salto, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,515 per month in Montevideo vs $1,876 in Salto, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,353 per month in Montevideo vs $2,485 in Salto, rent included.
😐Montevideo costs about 32% more than Salto, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Montevideo sits 25% above the global median, while Salto is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Montevideo
Salto
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.11UYU 641
$20.05UYU 797
-19.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.9UYU 2,185
$39.86UYU 1,586
37.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.04UYU 479
$9.39UYU 373
28.22%
Cappuccino
$4.26UYU 170
$3.08UYU 123
38.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20UYU 87.4
$2.31UYU 91.7
-4.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69UYU 67.4
$1.50UYU 59.8
12.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.29UYU 171
$4.34UYU 173
-1.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60UYU 143
$3.23UYU 128
11.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montevideo
Salto
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.26UYU 50.0
$1.03UYU 40.91
22.33%
White Bread(500g)
$2.81UYU 112
$1.19UYU 47.25
136.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.65UYU 65.5
$1.44UYU 57.5
14.58%
Eggs
$4.92UYU 196
$3.29UYU 131
49.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49UYU 537
$19.42UYU 773
-30.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.73UYU 427
$7.33UYU 291
46.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.19UYU 445
$10.05UYU 400
11.34%
Apples(1kg)
$3.12UYU 124
-
-
Banana(1kg)
$2.48UYU 98.5
-
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.55UYU 61.7
$0.96UYU 38.37
61.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.74UYU 149
$1.45UYU 57.5
157.93%
Potato(1kg)
$2.15UYU 85.6
-
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.89UYU 75.1
-
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36UYU 54.2
$0.49UYU 19.63
177.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.66UYU 66.1
$1.21UYU 48.13
37.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.07UYU 202
$5.09UYU 202
-0.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.18UYU 405
$7.37UYU 293
38.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.36UYU 93.8
$1.88UYU 74.9
25.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94UYU 117
$2.27UYU 90.1
29.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Montevideo
Salto
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.29UYU 51.1
$1.24UYU 49.14
4.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$55.9UYU 2,222
$44.29UYU 1,762
26.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.54UYU 61.3
$1.48UYU 58.9
4.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.48UYU 138
$1.51UYU 59.9
130.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.29UYU 489
$10.82UYU 431
13.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82UYU 72.4
$1.89UYU 75.1
-3.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.7KUYU 1.3M
$39.5KUYU 1.6M
-14.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.0KUYU 1.5M
$39.5KUYU 1.6M
-6.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montevideo
Salto
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$173UYU 6,863
$183UYU 7,292
-5.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.74UYU 666
$20.35UYU 810
-17.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.89UYU 1,945
$33.98UYU 1,352
43.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montevideo
Salto
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.4UYU 2,442
$31.46UYU 1,252
95.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.46UYU 695
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.66UYU 424
$9.52UYU 379
11.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montevideo
Salto
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$477UYU 19.0K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,942UYU 355.7K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montevideo
Salto
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.9UYU 3,737
$68.5UYU 2,726
37.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.23UYU 1,919
$61.5UYU 2,446
-21.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112UYU 4,448
$111UYU 4,399
1.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125UYU 4,978
$68.0UYU 2,704
84.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montevideo
Salto
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$626UYU 24.9K
$424UYU 16.9K
47.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$494UYU 19.6K
$277UYU 11.0K
78.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,085UYU 43.2K
$752UYU 29.9K
44.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$806UYU 32.1K
$470UYU 18.7K
71.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,508UYU 139.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,251UYU 89.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montevideo
Salto
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,245UYU 49.5K
$640UYU 25.5K
94.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.68
0
-
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Montevideo: April 26, 2026
Última actualización para Salto: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $626 in Montevideo versus $424 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 94% 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 $40.00 in Salto. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $324 vs $222 – making Salto the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Montevideo vs Salto: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Is Salto cheaper than Montevideo?
Yes – Montevideo is pricier by about 32%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,515 per month in Montevideo and $1,901 in Salto. 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 Salto, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 26% less in Salto. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do food prices compare in Montevideo and Salto?
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.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Montevideo or Salto?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Salto, where all-in costs run around $1,267, than in Montevideo at $1,677. In Salto it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montevideo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Montevideo or Salto more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Montevideo or Salto?
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 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.
Montevideo vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado