Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montevideo and Taos, NM

For one person, living is cheaper in Montevideo: $1,771 a month against $2,793 in Taos, NM, rent and utilities included – about $12,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Montevideo
🇺🇾 Uruguay
$1,771
/mo nomad
Taos, NM
🇺🇸 United States
$2,793
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montevideo and in Taos, NM

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Montevideo and in Taos, NM actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,771 per month in Montevideo vs $2,793 in Taos, NM, rent included.

  • Montevideo $1,771
  • Taos, NM $2,793

A couple spends around $2,740 per month in Montevideo vs $4,132 in Taos, NM, rent included.

  • Montevideo $2,740
  • Taos, NM $4,132

A family of three spends $3,708 per month in Montevideo vs $5,471 in Taos, NM, rent included.

  • Montevideo $3,708
  • Taos, NM $5,471

Montevideo is about 37% cheaper than Taos, NM, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Montevideo and Taos, NM sit above the global median – Montevideo by 31%, Taos, NM by 107%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montevideo
Taos, NM
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.16 UYU 609
$16.74 $16.74
-9.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2 UYU 2,776
$67.1 $67.1
3.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.65 UYU 588
$9.52 $9.52
53.89%
Cappuccino
$4.46 UYU 179
$3.98 $3.98
12.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 UYU 107
$2.20 $2.20
21.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00 UYU 80.4
$2.20 $2.20
-9.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.83 UYU 194
$5.06 $5.06
-4.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80 UYU 152
$5.44 $5.44
-30.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montevideo
Taos, NM
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 UYU 54.8
$0.83 $0.83
63.86%
White Bread (500g)
$2.87 UYU 115
$3.08 $3.08
-6.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.75 UYU 70.2
$4.34 $4.34
-59.68%
Eggs
$4.68 UYU 188
$3.99 $3.99
17.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.88 UYU 557
$11.87 $11.87
16.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.98 UYU 481
$9.69 $9.69
23.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.97 UYU 480
$11.10 $11.10
7.84%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 UYU 111
$4.75 $4.75
-41.47%
Banana (1kg)
$2.74 UYU 110
$1.46 $1.46
87.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.77 UYU 71.2
$4.25 $4.25
-58.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.24 UYU 130
$5.07 $5.07
-36.09%
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 UYU 79.2
$3.10 $3.10
-36.45%
Onion (1kg)
$2.07 UYU 83.1
$3.27 $3.27
-36.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.37 UYU 55.1
$2.06 $2.06
-33.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.88 UYU 75.3
$2.49 $2.49
-24.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.59 UYU 224
$10.52 $10.52
-46.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.78 UYU 352
$13.72 $13.72
-36.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 UYU 90.9
$2.51 $2.51
-9.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 UYU 110
$3.18 $3.18
-13.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Montevideo
Taos, NM
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.53 UYU 61.5
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.3 UYU 2,980
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.91 UYU 76.7
$3.69 $3.69
-48.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.40 UYU 16.18
$2.04 $2.04
-80.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.33 UYU 415
$32.20 $32.20
-67.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.13 UYU 85.6
$0.95 $0.95
124.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1K UYU 1.1M
$30.6K $30.6K
-11.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.3K UYU 1.5M
$24.4K $24.4K
48.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montevideo
Taos, NM
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 UYU 7,557
$161 $161
17.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.54 UYU 824
$62.8 $62.8
-67.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.81 UYU 1,798
$61.6 $61.6
-27.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montevideo
Taos, NM
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.0 UYU 2,166
$95.3 $95.3
-43.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.75 UYU 793
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.95 UYU 480
$8.63 $8.63
38.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montevideo
Taos, NM
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$634 UYU 25.5K
$1,509 $1,509
-57.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.1K UYU 443.6K
$25.2K $25.2K
-56.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montevideo
Taos, NM
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 UYU 4,099
$54.6 $54.6
87.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.5 UYU 2,309
$43.88 $43.88
31.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$127 UYU 5,079
$104 $104
22.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128 UYU 5,131
$120 $120
6.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montevideo
Taos, NM
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$719 UYU 28.8K
$1,806 $1,806
-60.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$568 UYU 22.8K
$1,608 $1,608
-64.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,145 UYU 46.0K
$3,497 $3,497
-67.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,023 UYU 41.1K
$2,853 $2,853
-64.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,392 UYU 136.1K
$4,366 $4,366
-22.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,949 UYU 78.2K
$4,376 $4,376
-55.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montevideo
Taos, NM
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,245 UYU 50.0K
$2,687 $2,687
-53.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.74
6.3
-8.89%

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

Last update for Montevideo: October 12, 2026

Last update for Taos, NM: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montevideo
$568
Taos, NM
$1.6K 183% $1K
Groceries & Markets
Montevideo
$332
Taos, NM
$365 10.1% $33
Eating Out
Montevideo
$269
Taos, NM
$264 1.9% $5.1
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montevideo
$254
Taos, NM
$285 12.3% $31
Clothing & Footwear
Montevideo
$186
Taos, NM
$145 22.3% $41
Getting Around
Montevideo
$84
Taos, NM
$14 * 83.5% $70
Sport & Entertainment
Montevideo
$78
Taos, NM
$113 44.6% $35

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $719 in Montevideo versus $1,806 in Taos, NM. 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 116% higher in Taos, NM, 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 $69.0 in Montevideo versus $67.0 in Taos, NM. Groceries tell a different story – $332 in Montevideo vs $365 in Taos, NM – so Montevideo wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇺🇾 Montevideo
🇺🇸 Taos, NM
🕒 Local time
20:27 8:27 PM
17:27 5:27 PM
3 h behind Montevideo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,319,108 Capital
6,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to UYU – Uruguayan Peso Converter

Uruguayan Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 40.14 UYU (100 UYU = 2.49 USD). 1 EUR = 45.12 UYU (100 UYU = 2.22 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Montevideo Taos, NM 9,430 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Montevideo
  • Taos, NM

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Taos, NM: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Taos, NM cheaper than Montevideo?
Yes – Taos, NM is pricier by about 58%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in transport.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,656 per month in Montevideo and $4,190 in Taos, NM. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Is eating out cheaper in Montevideo or in Taos, NM?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Montevideo and $67.0 in Taos, NM. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Montevideo and in Taos, NM?
Groceries cost about 10% more in Taos, NM, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Montevideo or in Taos, NM?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Montevideo, where all-in costs run around $1,771, than in Taos, NM at $2,793. In Montevideo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Taos, NM it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Montevideo or Taos, NM more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Montevideo or Taos, NM?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Montevideo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Taos, NM makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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