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 $1,632 per month in Montevideo vs $1,003 in San José, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,480 per month in Montevideo vs $1,558 in San José, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Montevideo vs $2,113 in San José, rent included.

Montevideo costs about 63% more than San José, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Montevideo sits 22% above the global median, while San José is 25% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.85 UYU 638

$16.11 UYU 649

-1.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.6 UYU 2,196

$55.2 UYU 2,223

-1.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.12 UYU 488

$10.94 UYU 440

10.79%

Cappuccino

$4.23 UYU 170

$4.14 UYU 167

2.17%

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

$2.19 UYU 88.1

$2.16 UYU 87.0

1.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 UYU 68.2

$1.75 UYU 70.4

-3.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.52 UYU 182

$4.32 UYU 174

4.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 UYU 145

$3.59 UYU 145

0.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 UYU 51.2

$1.02 UYU 41.20

24.51%

White Bread (500g)

$2.77 UYU 112

$1.91 UYU 77.0

45.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 UYU 63.8

$1.43 UYU 57.6

10.49%

Eggs

$4.79 UYU 193

$2.51 UYU 101

90.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.41 UYU 540

$12.05 UYU 485

11.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.67 UYU 429

$7.31 UYU 294

45.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.24 UYU 452

$11.06 UYU 445

1.63%

Apples (1kg)

$3.00 UYU 121

$1.23 UYU 49.70

143.90%

Banana (1kg)

$2.43 UYU 97.9

$1.46 UYU 58.7

66.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.54 UYU 62.2

$1.20 UYU 48.38

28.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.66 UYU 148

$1.49 UYU 59.9

145.64%

Potato (1kg)

$2.11 UYU 84.8

$1.00 UYU 40.10

111.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.89 UYU 75.9

$1.23 UYU 49.62

53.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.37 UYU 55.0

$1.30 UYU 52.5

5.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 UYU 68.9

$1.69 UYU 68.0

1.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.10 UYU 205

$5.11 UYU 206

-0.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.05 UYU 404

$10.15 UYU 409

-0.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.36 UYU 94.9

$2.36 UYU 95.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 UYU 118

$3.05 UYU 123

-4.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.29 UYU 52.0

$1.25 UYU 50.4

3.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.8 UYU 2,247

$44.42 UYU 1,788

25.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.60 UYU 64.2

$1.51 UYU 60.9

5.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.63 UYU 146

$1.56 UYU 62.9

132.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.43 UYU 500

$11.05 UYU 445

12.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.81 UYU 72.9

$1.87 UYU 75.4

-3.21%

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

$34.5K UYU 1.4M

$34.6K UYU 1.4M

-0.41%

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

$36.0K UYU 1.4M

$36.2K UYU 1.5M

-0.57%

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

$170 UYU 6,861

$168 UYU 6,783

1.16%

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

$16.51 UYU 665

$16.39 UYU 660

0.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.77 UYU 2,004

$49.72 UYU 2,002

0.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 UYU 2,488

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.67 UYU 711

Cinema Ticket

$10.45 UYU 421

$10.46 UYU 421

-0.10%

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

$482 UYU 19.4K

0.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,873 UYU 357.2K

$8,892 UYU 357.9K

-0.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$94.9 UYU 3,819

$94.4 UYU 3,798

0.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.22 UYU 1,901

$46.71 UYU 1,880

1.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 UYU 4,500

$116 UYU 4,661

-3.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 UYU 4,962

$123 UYU 4,949

0.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$628 UYU 25.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$492 UYU 19.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,112 UYU 44.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$801 UYU 32.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,582 UYU 144.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,272 UYU 91.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,334 UYU 53.7K

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for San José: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $55.0 in Montevideo versus $55.0 in San José. Groceries tell a different story – $321 in Montevideo vs $247 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 63%, 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 $2,448 per month in Montevideo and $1,505 in San José. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Kindergarten costs $482 per month in Montevideo and $482 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 $1,003, than in Montevideo at $1,632. 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.