🙂A single person spends $1,007 per month in Pando vs $1,816 in Montevideo, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,876 per month in Pando vs $2,663 in Montevideo, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,746 per month in Pando vs $3,510 in Montevideo, rent included.
🙂Pando is about 45% cheaper than Montevideo, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Pando sits 26% below the global median, while Montevideo is 33% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pando
Montevideo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.75UYU 593
$15.21UYU 612
-3.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.53UYU 1,509
$63.2UYU 2,541
-40.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.44UYU 500
$13.76UYU 553
-9.59%
Cappuccino
$4.87UYU 196
$4.74UYU 190
2.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53UYU 102
$2.68UYU 108
-5.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42UYU 97.1
$2.02UYU 81.1
19.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.78UYU 152
$4.98UYU 200
-24.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.63UYU 226
$3.64UYU 146
54.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pando
Montevideo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14UYU 45.74
$1.40UYU 56.4
-18.57%
White Bread(500g)
$2.76UYU 111
$3.19UYU 128
-13.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.66UYU 66.8
$1.83UYU 73.7
-9.29%
Eggs
$4.15UYU 167
$4.90UYU 197
-15.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.02UYU 483
$14.23UYU 572
-15.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.50UYU 462
$11.69UYU 470
-1.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.57UYU 465
$11.93UYU 480
-3.02%
Apples(1kg)
$3.04UYU 122
$2.93UYU 118
3.75%
Banana(1kg)
$3.30UYU 133
$2.86UYU 115
15.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20UYU 88.4
$1.85UYU 74.5
18.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.95UYU 159
$3.19UYU 128
23.82%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06UYU 82.9
$2.23UYU 89.6
-7.62%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10UYU 84.4
$2.16UYU 87.1
-2.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55UYU 62.2
$1.38UYU 55.4
12.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.95UYU 78.3
$1.98UYU 79.7
-1.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.16UYU 409
$5.61UYU 226
81.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.30UYU 334
$8.13UYU 327
2.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.08UYU 124
$2.41UYU 97.0
27.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29UYU 132
$2.90UYU 117
13.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Pando
Montevideo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.48UYU 59.7
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$75.9UYU 3,053
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.51UYU 141
$1.90UYU 76.3
84.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.41UYU 137
$0.41UYU 16.32
731.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.70UYU 390
$10.46UYU 421
-7.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.12UYU 85.1
$2.17UYU 87.2
-2.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.9KUYU 1.4M
$27.4KUYU 1.1M
30.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.1KUYU 1.6M
$37.8KUYU 1.5M
6.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pando
Montevideo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$116UYU 4,662
$185UYU 7,456
-37.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.09UYU 969
$19.67UYU 791
22.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.61UYU 1,914
$45.02UYU 1,810
5.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pando
Montevideo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$49.15UYU 1,976
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.19UYU 772
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.27UYU 493
$12.25UYU 492
0.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pando
Montevideo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$493UYU 19.8K
$640UYU 25.7K
-22.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,653UYU 267.5K
$10.3KUYU 416.2K
-35.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pando
Montevideo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.6UYU 3,564
$93.1UYU 3,745
-4.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.38UYU 1,503
$50.4UYU 2,027
-25.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$168UYU 6,741
$121UYU 4,847
39.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116UYU 4,676
$123UYU 4,929
-5.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pando
Montevideo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$347UYU 13.9K
$731UYU 29.4K
-52.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$584UYU 23.5K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$751UYU 30.2K
$1,218UYU 49.0K
-38.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$588UYU 23.7K
$939UYU 37.7K
-37.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,556UYU 143.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,945UYU 78.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pando
Montevideo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,244UYU 50.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
5.6
-10.71%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Pando: August 18, 2026
Last update for Montevideo: August 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $347 in Pando versus $731 in Montevideo. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Pando versus $63.0 in Montevideo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $333 vs $339 – making Pando 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
Pando vs Montevideo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Montevideo cheaper than Pando?
Yes – Montevideo is pricier by about 80%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $1,511 per month in Pando and $2,725 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 Pando, 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 Pando or in Montevideo?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Pando and $63.0 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 Pando and in Montevideo?
Groceries cost about 2% more in Montevideo, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Pando or in Montevideo?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Pando, where all-in costs run around $1,007, than in Montevideo at $1,816. In Pando it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montevideo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Pando or Montevideo more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Pando – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Pando 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 Pando. 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.