Cost of Living Comparison Between Montevideo and San José Cost of Living Comparison Between Montevideo and San José

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,640 per month in Montevideo vs $995 in San José, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,477 per month in Montevideo vs $1,550 in San José, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,314 per month in Montevideo vs $2,105 in San José, rent included.

Montevideo costs about 65% more than San José, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Montevideo sits 22% above the global median, while San José is 26% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.35 UYU 650

$16.36 UYU 651

-0.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.3 UYU 2,161

$54.5 UYU 2,168

-0.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.15 UYU 483

$11.09 UYU 441

9.56%

Cappuccino

$4.06 UYU 162

$4.30 UYU 171

-5.58%

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

$2.27 UYU 90.1

$2.18 UYU 86.9

4.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 UYU 67.7

$1.70 UYU 67.6

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.51 UYU 179

$4.32 UYU 172

4.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 UYU 144

$3.71 UYU 148

-2.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 UYU 50.3

$1.02 UYU 40.52

23.53%

White Bread (500g)

$2.87 UYU 114

$1.99 UYU 79.3

44.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 UYU 64.1

$1.49 UYU 59.3

8.05%

Eggs

$4.71 UYU 188

$2.47 UYU 98.4

90.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.42 UYU 534

$12.07 UYU 480

11.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.74 UYU 427

$7.50 UYU 299

43.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.19 UYU 445

$10.88 UYU 433

2.85%

Apples (1kg)

$3.13 UYU 125

$1.20 UYU 47.62

160.83%

Banana (1kg)

$2.34 UYU 93.3

$1.43 UYU 56.9

63.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.55 UYU 61.8

$1.19 UYU 47.26

30.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.63 UYU 144

$1.51 UYU 60.0

140.40%

Potato (1kg)

$2.14 UYU 85.0

$0.95 UYU 37.88

125.26%

Onion (1kg)

$1.96 UYU 77.9

$1.25 UYU 49.62

56.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.36 UYU 54.2

$1.31 UYU 52.3

3.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 UYU 68.9

$1.71 UYU 68.1

1.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.09 UYU 202

$5.16 UYU 205

-1.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.90 UYU 394

$10.16 UYU 404

-2.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 UYU 92.8

$2.38 UYU 94.8

-2.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 UYU 121

$2.96 UYU 118

3.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.35 UYU 53.9

$1.20 UYU 47.71

12.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.2 UYU 2,197

$43.91 UYU 1,747

25.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 UYU 64.0

$1.50 UYU 59.9

7.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.60 UYU 143

$1.49 UYU 59.1

141.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.42 UYU 494

$11.15 UYU 443

11.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.85 UYU 73.5

$1.81 UYU 71.9

2.21%

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

$34.8K UYU 1.4M

$34.2K UYU 1.4M

1.99%

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

$36.3K UYU 1.4M

$35.9K UYU 1.4M

1.32%

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

$175 UYU 6,968

$173 UYU 6,871

1.41%

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

$16.91 UYU 673

$16.48 UYU 656

2.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.0 UYU 1,989

$48.92 UYU 1,947

2.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.6 UYU 2,410

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.35 UYU 691

Cinema Ticket

$10.46 UYU 416

$10.32 UYU 410

1.36%

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

$494 UYU 19.7K

$487 UYU 19.4K

1.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,985 UYU 357.5K

$8,833 UYU 351.5K

1.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$96.1 UYU 3,822

$93.6 UYU 3,722

2.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.11 UYU 1,914

$48.14 UYU 1,915

-0.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 UYU 4,606

$113 UYU 4,483

2.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 UYU 4,959

$122 UYU 4,841

2.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$615 UYU 24.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$483 UYU 19.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,117 UYU 44.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$818 UYU 32.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,484 UYU 138.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,267 UYU 90.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,283 UYU 51.0K

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: April 22, 2026

Last update for San José: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $615 in Montevideo versus $0 in San José. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54 in Montevideo versus $54 in San José. Groceries tell a different story – $322 in Montevideo vs $248 in San José – so San José wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 San José: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Montevideo is pricier by about 65%, 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 $2,460 per month in Montevideo and $1,492 in San José. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Kindergarten costs $494 per month in Montevideo and $487 in San José. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 30% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in San José, where all-in costs run around $995, than in Montevideo at $1,640. In San José it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montevideo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward San José – 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 San José. 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.