Cost of Living Comparison Between Montevideo and Tacuarembo Cost of Living Comparison Between Montevideo and Tacuarembo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,646 per month in Montevideo vs $331 in Tacuarembo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,495 per month in Montevideo vs $399 in Tacuarembo, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,344 per month in Montevideo vs $467 in Tacuarembo, rent included.

Montevideo costs about 398% more than Tacuarembo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Montevideo sits 22% above the global median, while Tacuarembo is 75% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.24 UYU 658

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$56.0 UYU 2,272

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.28 UYU 498

Cappuccino

$4.11 UYU 166

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

$2.26 UYU 91.4

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 UYU 71.5

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.38 UYU 178

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 UYU 152

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 UYU 48.94

$1.31 UYU 53.2

-7.63%

White Bread (500g)

$2.84 UYU 115

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 UYU 67.6

Eggs

$4.80 UYU 195

$3.97 UYU 161

20.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.77 UYU 558

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 UYU 439

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.19 UYU 454

Apples (1kg)

$3.10 UYU 126

Banana (1kg)

$2.39 UYU 97.1

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 UYU 60.8

Tomato (1kg)

$3.75 UYU 152

Potato (1kg)

$2.15 UYU 87.0

Onion (1kg)

$1.94 UYU 78.8

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.33 UYU 53.8

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 UYU 69.3

$1.12 UYU 45.45

52.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.23 UYU 212

Wine (Bottle)

$10.14 UYU 411

$3.74 UYU 152

171.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 UYU 93.4

$1.70 UYU 68.7

35.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 UYU 122

$2.07 UYU 83.9

45.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.29 UYU 52.3

$1.20 UYU 48.70

7.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$56.1 UYU 2,275

$43.33 UYU 1,757

29.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.56 UYU 63.1

$1.45 UYU 58.9

7.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.47 UYU 141

$1.54 UYU 62.6

125.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.35 UYU 501

$10.86 UYU 440

13.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.87 UYU 76.0

$1.93 UYU 78.4

-3.11%

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

$34.0K UYU 1.4M

$39.3K UYU 1.6M

-13.36%

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

$36.9K UYU 1.5M

$38.8K UYU 1.6M

-4.90%

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

$170 UYU 6,873

$173 UYU 7,004

-1.86%

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

$16.98 UYU 688

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.75 UYU 1,976

$39.32 UYU 1,594

23.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.0 UYU 2,512

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.74 UYU 719

Cinema Ticket

$10.40 UYU 422

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

$486 UYU 19.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,923 UYU 361.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$94.4 UYU 3,826

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.75 UYU 1,895

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 UYU 4,531

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 UYU 5,009

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$619 UYU 25.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$487 UYU 19.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,094 UYU 44.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$811 UYU 32.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,553 UYU 144.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,245 UYU 91.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,317 UYU 53.4K

$855 UYU 34.7K

53.96%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Tacuarembo: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 54% higher in Montevideo, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 Tacuarembo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Montevideo is pricier by about 398%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,469 per month in Montevideo and $496 in Tacuarembo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 418% more in Montevideo, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

Public transport costs about 30% less in Tacuarembo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tacuarembo, where all-in costs run around $331, than in Montevideo at $1,646. In Tacuarembo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montevideo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Tacuarembo – 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 Tacuarembo. 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.