Cost of Living Comparison Between Montevideo and Siena Cost of Living Comparison Between Montevideo and Siena

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,667 per month in Montevideo vs $1,926 in Siena, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,511 per month in Montevideo vs $2,859 in Siena, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,354 per month in Montevideo vs $3,791 in Siena, rent included.

Montevideo is about 13% cheaper than Siena, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Montevideo and Siena sit above the global median – Montevideo by 25%, Siena by 44%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.30 UYU 656

$17.70 €15.46

-7.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.4 UYU 2,228

$82.2 €71.9

-32.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.19 UYU 490

$11.79 €10.30

3.39%

Cappuccino

$4.26 UYU 171

$1.87 €1.63

127.81%

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

$2.19 UYU 88.1

$3.14 €2.75

-30.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 UYU 68.8

$1.35 €1.18

26.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.47 UYU 180

$5.81 €5.08

-23.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 UYU 149

$5.73 €5.01

-35.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 UYU 50.4

$1.45 €1.27

-13.79%

White Bread (500g)

$2.91 UYU 117

$2.30 €2.01

26.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 UYU 65.7

$2.19 €1.91

-25.57%

Eggs

$4.96 UYU 199

$4.38 €3.83

13.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.31 UYU 535

$14.20 €12.41

-6.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.83 UYU 436

$12.80 €11.18

-15.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.96 UYU 441

$22.83 €19.94

-51.99%

Apples (1kg)

$3.08 UYU 124

$2.69 €2.35

14.50%

Banana (1kg)

$2.36 UYU 94.9

$2.57 €2.24

-8.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 UYU 60.4

$3.68 €3.22

-59.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.58 UYU 144

$3.62 €3.17

-1.10%

Potato (1kg)

$2.08 UYU 83.6

$2.02 €1.76

2.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.94 UYU 78.1

$1.76 €1.53

10.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.31 UYU 52.7

$1.56 €1.36

-16.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 UYU 69.4

$0.56 €0.49

208.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.23 UYU 210

$6.76 €5.91

-22.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.76 UYU 353

$6.87 €6.00

27.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 UYU 93.9

$1.73 €1.52

34.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 UYU 117

$2.53 €2.21

14.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.30 UYU 52.1

$1.91 €1.67

-31.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$56.3 UYU 2,265

$40.36 €35.26

39.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.54 UYU 62.1

$6.88 €6.01

-77.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.63 UYU 146

$2.06 €1.80

76.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.37 UYU 498

$34.03 €29.73

-63.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.83 UYU 73.5

$2.01 €1.75

-8.96%

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

$33.7K UYU 1.4M

$28.0K €24.5K

20.15%

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

$35.9K UYU 1.4M

$37.3K €32.6K

-3.81%

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

$175 UYU 7,032

$263 €230

-33.47%

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

$16.95 UYU 682

$13.02 €11.37

30.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.42 UYU 1,948

$30.29 €26.47

59.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.7 UYU 2,480

$79.8 €69.7

-22.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.76 UYU 715

$22.97 €20.07

-22.68%

Cinema Ticket

$10.42 UYU 419

$9.48 €8.28

9.92%

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

$489 UYU 19.7K

$116 €101

322.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,967 UYU 360.7K

$11.5K €10.0K

-21.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$95.6 UYU 3,847

$89.0 €77.7

7.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.66 UYU 1,917

$37.87 €33.09

25.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 UYU 4,608

$90.0 €78.6

27.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 UYU 4,858

$127 €111

-4.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$611 UYU 24.6K

$1,073 €938

-43.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$488 UYU 19.6K

$721 €630

-32.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,107 UYU 44.5K

$1,726 €1,508

-35.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$818 UYU 32.9K

$1,064 €930

-23.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,598 UYU 144.7K

$4,615 €4,032

-22.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,274 UYU 91.5K

$4,031 €3,522

-43.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,332 UYU 53.6K

$1,891 €1,652

-29.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.68

4.24

33.96%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Montevideo: July 13, 2026

Last update for Siena: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $611 in Montevideo versus $1,073 in Siena. 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 42% higher in Siena, 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 $82.0 in Siena. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $319 vs $351 – making Montevideo 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 Siena: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Siena is pricier by about 16%, 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 $2,501 per month in Montevideo and $2,890 in Siena. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Montevideo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $489 per month in Montevideo and $116 in Siena. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 10% more in Siena, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Montevideo, where all-in costs run around $1,667, than in Siena at $1,926. In Montevideo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Siena it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Montevideo – 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 Montevideo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Siena makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.