Cost of Living Comparison Between Pando and Montevideo Cost of Living Comparison Between Pando and Montevideo

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$14.75 UYU 593
$15.21 UYU 612
-3.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.53 UYU 1,509
$63.2 UYU 2,541
-40.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.44 UYU 500
$13.76 UYU 553
-9.59%
Cappuccino
$4.87 UYU 196
$4.74 UYU 190
2.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 UYU 102
$2.68 UYU 108
-5.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 UYU 97.1
$2.02 UYU 81.1
19.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.78 UYU 152
$4.98 UYU 200
-24.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.63 UYU 226
$3.64 UYU 146
54.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pando
Montevideo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 UYU 45.74
$1.40 UYU 56.4
-18.57%
White Bread (500g)
$2.76 UYU 111
$3.19 UYU 128
-13.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.66 UYU 66.8
$1.83 UYU 73.7
-9.29%
Eggs
$4.15 UYU 167
$4.90 UYU 197
-15.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.02 UYU 483
$14.23 UYU 572
-15.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.50 UYU 462
$11.69 UYU 470
-1.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.57 UYU 465
$11.93 UYU 480
-3.02%
Apples (1kg)
$3.04 UYU 122
$2.93 UYU 118
3.75%
Banana (1kg)
$3.30 UYU 133
$2.86 UYU 115
15.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.20 UYU 88.4
$1.85 UYU 74.5
18.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.95 UYU 159
$3.19 UYU 128
23.82%
Potato (1kg)
$2.06 UYU 82.9
$2.23 UYU 89.6
-7.62%
Onion (1kg)
$2.10 UYU 84.4
$2.16 UYU 87.1
-2.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.55 UYU 62.2
$1.38 UYU 55.4
12.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 UYU 78.3
$1.98 UYU 79.7
-1.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.16 UYU 409
$5.61 UYU 226
81.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.30 UYU 334
$8.13 UYU 327
2.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.08 UYU 124
$2.41 UYU 97.0
27.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29 UYU 132
$2.90 UYU 117
13.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Pando
Montevideo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.48 UYU 59.7
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$75.9 UYU 3,053
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.51 UYU 141
$1.90 UYU 76.3
84.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.41 UYU 137
$0.41 UYU 16.32
731.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.70 UYU 390
$10.46 UYU 421
-7.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.12 UYU 85.1
$2.17 UYU 87.2
-2.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.9K UYU 1.4M
$27.4K UYU 1.1M
30.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.1K UYU 1.6M
$37.8K UYU 1.5M
6.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pando
Montevideo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$116 UYU 4,662
$185 UYU 7,456
-37.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.09 UYU 969
$19.67 UYU 791
22.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.61 UYU 1,914
$45.02 UYU 1,810
5.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pando
Montevideo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$49.15 UYU 1,976
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.19 UYU 772
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.27 UYU 493
$12.25 UYU 492
0.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pando
Montevideo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$493 UYU 19.8K
$640 UYU 25.7K
-22.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,653 UYU 267.5K
$10.3K UYU 416.2K
-35.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pando
Montevideo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.6 UYU 3,564
$93.1 UYU 3,745
-4.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.38 UYU 1,503
$50.4 UYU 2,027
-25.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$168 UYU 6,741
$121 UYU 4,847
39.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 UYU 4,676
$123 UYU 4,929
-5.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pando
Montevideo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$347 UYU 13.9K
$731 UYU 29.4K
-52.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$584 UYU 23.5K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$751 UYU 30.2K
$1,218 UYU 49.0K
-38.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$588 UYU 23.7K
$939 UYU 37.7K
-37.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,556 UYU 143.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,945 UYU 78.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pando
Montevideo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,244 UYU 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.

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