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 $1,661 per month in Montevideo vs $993 in San José, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,471 per month in Montevideo vs $1,583 in San José, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,281 per month in Montevideo vs $2,173 in San José, rent included.

Montevideo costs about 67% more than San José, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Montevideo sits 24% above the global median, while San José is 26% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.41 UYU 659

$15.90 UYU 638

3.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.5 UYU 2,187

$55.5 UYU 2,227

-1.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.00 UYU 482

$11.09 UYU 445

8.21%

Cappuccino

$4.13 UYU 166

$4.30 UYU 173

-3.95%

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

$2.24 UYU 89.8

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 UYU 70.9

$1.78 UYU 71.5

-0.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.42 UYU 177

$4.47 UYU 179

-1.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.77 UYU 151

$3.76 UYU 151

0.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 UYU 49.31

$1.03 UYU 41.21

19.42%

White Bread (500g)

$2.87 UYU 115

$2.00 UYU 80.2

43.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 UYU 63.9

$1.45 UYU 58.4

9.66%

Eggs

$4.91 UYU 197

$2.62 UYU 105

87.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.33 UYU 535

$12.31 UYU 494

8.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.90 UYU 438

$7.42 UYU 298

46.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.12 UYU 446

$11.14 UYU 447

-0.18%

Apples (1kg)

$3.01 UYU 121

$1.24 UYU 49.72

142.74%

Banana (1kg)

$2.47 UYU 99.3

$1.43 UYU 57.3

72.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.49 UYU 59.6

$1.21 UYU 48.43

23.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.73 UYU 150

$1.44 UYU 57.7

159.03%

Potato (1kg)

$2.10 UYU 84.3

$1.01 UYU 40.38

107.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.87 UYU 75.1

$1.20 UYU 48.01

55.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.37 UYU 55.0

$1.32 UYU 53.2

3.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 UYU 66.4

$1.74 UYU 69.7

-5.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.11 UYU 205

$5.03 UYU 202

1.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.74 UYU 351

$8.20 UYU 329

6.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.27 UYU 91.1

$2.31 UYU 92.7

-1.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 UYU 120

$3.05 UYU 122

-1.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.29 UYU 51.9

$1.19 UYU 47.90

8.40%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$56.3 UYU 2,259

$43.33 UYU 1,739

29.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.57 UYU 62.8

$1.44 UYU 57.8

9.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.45 UYU 139

$1.54 UYU 62.0

124.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.40 UYU 498

$10.93 UYU 439

13.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.88 UYU 75.7

$1.81 UYU 72.6

3.87%

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

$34.8K UYU 1.4M

$34.5K UYU 1.4M

0.80%

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

$36.8K UYU 1.5M

$35.6K UYU 1.4M

3.31%

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

$170 UYU 6,835

$169 UYU 6,775

0.88%

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

$16.69 UYU 670

$16.47 UYU 661

1.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.56 UYU 1,949

$49.92 UYU 2,004

-2.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.2 UYU 2,455

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.22 UYU 691

Cinema Ticket

$10.35 UYU 416

$10.65 UYU 427

-2.82%

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

$478 UYU 19.2K

$490 UYU 19.7K

-2.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,037 UYU 362.8K

$8,846 UYU 355.1K

2.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$94.2 UYU 3,782

$93.3 UYU 3,745

0.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.87 UYU 1,921

$48.03 UYU 1,928

-0.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 UYU 4,517

$113 UYU 4,553

-0.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 UYU 5,034

$125 UYU 5,007

0.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$615 UYU 24.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$483 UYU 19.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,080 UYU 43.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$824 UYU 33.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,631 UYU 145.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,309 UYU 92.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,318 UYU 52.9K

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 22, 2026

Last update for San José: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Montevideo versus $55.0 in San José. Groceries tell a different story – $320 in Montevideo vs $246 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 67%, 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 $2,491 per month in Montevideo and $1,489 in San José. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Kindergarten costs $478 per month in Montevideo and $490 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 $993, than in Montevideo at $1,661. 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.