😐A single person spends $2,024 per month in New Bern, NC vs $1,639 in Montevideo, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,398 per month in New Bern, NC vs $2,510 in Montevideo, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,773 per month in New Bern, NC vs $3,381 in Montevideo, rent included.
😐New Bern, NC costs about 23% more than Montevideo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both New Bern, NC and Montevideo sit above the global median – New Bern, NC by 52%, Montevideo by 23%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New Bern, NC
Montevideo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.57$16.57
$15.87UYU 638
4.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$92.4$92.4
$54.8UYU 2,205
68.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.28$11.28
$12.19UYU 490
-7.47%
Cappuccino
$4.59$4.59
$4.14UYU 167
10.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82$2.82
$2.25UYU 90.3
25.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22$2.22
$1.78UYU 71.6
24.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.48$4.48
$4.48UYU 180
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.09$8.09
$3.77UYU 151
114.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New Bern, NC
Montevideo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.99$0.99
$1.27UYU 51.1
-22.05%
White Bread(500g)
$3.29$3.29
$2.87UYU 116
14.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.59$4.59
$1.66UYU 66.7
176.51%
Eggs
$3.48$3.48
$4.91UYU 197
-29.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.77$13.77
$13.80UYU 555
-0.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.61$8.61
$10.67UYU 429
-19.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.96$14.96
$10.88UYU 437
37.50%
Apples(1kg)
$5.07$5.07
$3.12UYU 125
62.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.27$1.27
$2.42UYU 97.4
-47.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.34$3.34
$1.50UYU 60.1
122.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.37$5.37
$3.69UYU 148
45.53%
Potato(1kg)
$2.28$2.28
$2.17UYU 87.2
5.07%
Onion(1kg)
$2.81$2.81
$1.96UYU 78.7
43.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.89$1.89
$1.32UYU 53.0
43.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.22$2.22
$1.69UYU 67.8
31.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.17$10.17
$5.29UYU 213
92.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.69$12.69
$8.82UYU 355
43.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.99$1.99
$2.30UYU 92.4
-13.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88$1.88
$2.96UYU 119
-36.49%
🚌 Getting Around
New Bern, NC
Montevideo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.94$1.94
$1.30UYU 52.3
49.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$55.1UYU 2,217
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.55$3.55
$1.56UYU 62.7
127.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.27$2.27
$3.44UYU 138
-34.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$32.64$32.64
$12.55UYU 504
160.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.79$0.79
$1.88UYU 75.6
-57.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.1K$20.1K
$34.3KUYU 1.4M
-41.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K$21.8K
$36.7KUYU 1.5M
-40.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New Bern, NC
Montevideo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145$145
$175UYU 7,043
-17.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$64.5$64.5
$16.34UYU 657
294.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.6$69.6
$49.56UYU 1,993
40.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New Bern, NC
Montevideo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.5$55.5
$60.9UYU 2,449
-8.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.09UYU 687
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.12$10.12
$10.39UYU 418
-2.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New Bern, NC
Montevideo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,322$1,322
$487UYU 19.6K
171.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.9K$23.9K
$9,026UYU 362.9K
164.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New Bern, NC
Montevideo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.31$34.31
$94.4UYU 3,796
-63.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.91$24.91
$47.73UYU 1,919
-47.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.9$68.9
$114UYU 4,583
-39.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.6$96.6
$122UYU 4,887
-20.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New Bern, NC
Montevideo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,096$1,096
$614UYU 24.7K
78.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$906$906
$483UYU 19.4K
87.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,455$2,455
$1,095UYU 44.0K
124.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,092$2,092
$828UYU 33.3K
152.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,045$2,045
$3,586UYU 144.2K
-42.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,023$2,023
$2,284UYU 91.8K
-11.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
New Bern, NC
Montevideo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,668$3,668
$1,283UYU 51.6K
185.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.36
5.68
11.97%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for New Bern, NC: July 26, 2026
Last update for Montevideo: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,096 in New Bern, NC versus $614 in Montevideo. 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 186% higher in New Bern, NC, 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 $92.0 in New Bern, NC versus $55.0 in Montevideo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $363 vs $321 – 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
New Bern, NC vs Montevideo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Montevideo cheaper than New Bern, NC?
Yes – New Bern, NC is pricier by about 23%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,036 per month in New Bern, NC and $2,459 in Montevideo. 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 New Bern, NC or in Montevideo?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $92.0 in New Bern, NC and $55.0 in Montevideo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in New Bern, NC and in Montevideo?
Groceries cost about 13% more in New Bern, NC, 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 New Bern, NC or in Montevideo?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Montevideo, where all-in costs run around $1,639, than in New Bern, NC at $2,024. In Montevideo it covers expenses comfortably, while in New Bern, NC it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is New Bern, NC or Montevideo 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, New Bern, NC or Montevideo?
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, New Bern, NC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
New Bern, NC vs other spots: cost of living compared