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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,677 per month in Montevideo vs $332 in Tacuarembo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,515 per month in Montevideo vs $399 in Tacuarembo, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,353 per month in Montevideo vs $465 in Tacuarembo, rent included.

Montevideo costs about 404% more than Tacuarembo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Montevideo sits 25% above the global median, while Tacuarembo is 75% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.11 UYU 641

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.9 UYU 2,185

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.04 UYU 479

Cappuccino

$4.26 UYU 170

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

$2.20 UYU 87.4

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 UYU 67.4

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.29 UYU 171

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 UYU 143

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 UYU 50.0

$1.32 UYU 52.4

-4.55%

White Bread (500g)

$2.81 UYU 112

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 UYU 65.5

Eggs

$4.92 UYU 196

$3.96 UYU 158

24.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.49 UYU 537

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.73 UYU 427

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.19 UYU 445

Apples (1kg)

$3.12 UYU 124

Banana (1kg)

$2.48 UYU 98.5

Oranges (1kg)

$1.55 UYU 61.7

Tomato (1kg)

$3.74 UYU 149

Potato (1kg)

$2.15 UYU 85.6

Onion (1kg)

$1.89 UYU 75.1

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.36 UYU 54.2

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 UYU 66.1

$1.12 UYU 44.69

48.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.07 UYU 202

Wine (Bottle)

$10.18 UYU 405

$3.75 UYU 149

171.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.36 UYU 93.8

$1.68 UYU 66.9

40.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 UYU 117

$2.02 UYU 80.3

45.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.29 UYU 51.1

$1.24 UYU 49.25

4.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.9 UYU 2,222

$44.56 UYU 1,773

25.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.54 UYU 61.3

$1.44 UYU 57.5

6.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.48 UYU 138

$1.54 UYU 61.4

125.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.29 UYU 489

$11.23 UYU 447

9.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.82 UYU 72.4

$1.92 UYU 76.4

-5.21%

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

$33.7K UYU 1.3M

$38.7K UYU 1.5M

-12.87%

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

$37.0K UYU 1.5M

$38.9K UYU 1.5M

-4.83%

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

$173 UYU 6,863

$172 UYU 6,840

0.34%

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

$16.74 UYU 666

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.89 UYU 1,945

$39.07 UYU 1,554

25.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.4 UYU 2,442

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.46 UYU 695

Cinema Ticket

$10.66 UYU 424

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

$477 UYU 19.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,942 UYU 355.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$93.9 UYU 3,737

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.23 UYU 1,919

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 UYU 4,448

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 UYU 4,978

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$626 UYU 24.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$494 UYU 19.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,085 UYU 43.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$806 UYU 32.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,508 UYU 139.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,251 UYU 89.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,245 UYU 49.5K

$893 UYU 35.5K

39.37%

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 26, 2026

Last update for Tacuarembo: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 39% 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 404%, 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 $2,515 per month in Montevideo and $499 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 25% 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 $332, than in Montevideo at $1,677. 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.