Cost of Living Comparison Between New Bern, NC and Montevideo Cost of Living Comparison Between New Bern, NC and Montevideo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,052 per month in New Bern, NC vs $1,749 in Montevideo, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,325 per month in New Bern, NC vs $2,666 in Montevideo, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,598 per month in New Bern, NC vs $3,582 in Montevideo, rent included.

New Bern, NC costs about 17% more than Montevideo, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both New Bern, NC and Montevideo sit above the global median – New Bern, NC by 50%, Montevideo by 28%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New Bern, NC
Montevideo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.69 $17.69
$15.25 UYU 613
16.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$83.8 $83.8
$62.3 UYU 2,503
34.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.85 $11.85
$13.86 UYU 557
-14.50%
Cappuccino
$5.05 $5.05
$4.39 UYU 176
15.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93 $2.93
$2.77 UYU 111
5.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 $2.38
$2.03 UYU 81.4
17.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.89 $5.89
$4.95 UYU 199
18.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.83 $6.83
$3.65 UYU 147
87.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New Bern, NC
Montevideo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.89 $0.89
$1.38 UYU 55.3
-35.51%
White Bread (500g)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.81 UYU 113
18.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.12 $5.12
$1.73 UYU 69.3
195.95%
Eggs
$3.40 $3.40
$4.74 UYU 191
-28.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.73 $12.73
$13.57 UYU 545
-6.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.69 $10.69
$11.51 UYU 463
-7.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.98 $14.98
$11.75 UYU 472
27.49%
Apples (1kg)
$5.13 $5.13
$2.84 UYU 114
80.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.29 $1.29
$2.76 UYU 111
-53.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.90 $2.90
$1.71 UYU 68.9
69.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.40 $5.40
$3.12 UYU 126
73.08%
Potato (1kg)
$2.82 $2.82
$1.97 UYU 79.3
43.15%
Onion (1kg)
$2.84 $2.84
$2.15 UYU 86.5
32.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.81 $1.81
$1.35 UYU 54.4
34.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.27 $2.27
$1.92 UYU 77.4
18.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.51 $7.51
$5.59 UYU 225
34.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.52 $12.52
$8.25 UYU 331
51.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87 $1.87
$2.33 UYU 93.6
-19.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 $2.10
$2.85 UYU 115
-26.32%
🚌 Getting Around
New Bern, NC
Montevideo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.53 UYU 61.7
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.6 UYU 2,998
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.44 $3.44
$1.81 UYU 72.7
90.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.22 $2.22
$0.44 UYU 17.67
404.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.89 $32.89
$10.69 UYU 430
207.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.78 $0.78
$2.21 UYU 89.0
-64.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1K $28.1K
$27.5K UYU 1.1M
2.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K $23.8K
$37.8K UYU 1.5M
-37.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New Bern, NC
Montevideo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$157 $157
$192 UYU 7,721
-18.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$72.2 $72.2
$18.93 UYU 761
281.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.5 $68.5
$45.31 UYU 1,821
51.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New Bern, NC
Montevideo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.8 $55.8
$51.6 UYU 2,074
8.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.68 UYU 791
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.10 $11.10
$11.95 UYU 480
-7.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New Bern, NC
Montevideo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$608 UYU 24.4K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$10.7K UYU 429.3K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New Bern, NC
Montevideo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.4 $60.4
$100 UYU 4,030
-39.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.50 $34.50
$56.7 UYU 2,279
-39.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.1 $84.1
$124 UYU 4,994
-32.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.7 $88.7
$133 UYU 5,330
-33.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New Bern, NC
Montevideo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,154 $1,154
$737 UYU 29.6K
56.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$891 $891
$572 UYU 23.0K
55.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,163 $2,163
$1,165 UYU 46.8K
85.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,902 $1,902
$947 UYU 38.1K
100.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,050 $2,050
$3,415 UYU 137.3K
-39.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,034 $2,034
$1,873 UYU 75.3K
8.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
New Bern, NC
Montevideo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,657 $3,657
$1,164 UYU 46.8K
214.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.7
5.6
1.79%

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

Last update for New Bern, NC: September 12, 2026

Last update for Montevideo: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,154 in New Bern, NC versus $737 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 214% 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 $84.0 in New Bern, NC versus $62.0 in Montevideo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $372 vs $327 – 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 17%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. 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 $3,079 per month in New Bern, NC and $2,624 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.
How do food prices compare in New Bern, NC and in Montevideo?
Groceries cost about 14% 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 eating out cheaper in New Bern, NC or in Montevideo?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $84.0 in New Bern, NC and $62.0 in Montevideo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
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 $1,749, than in New Bern, NC at $2,052. 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.

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