😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,092 in Punta del Este versus $970 in Durazno.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,317 in Punta del Este versus $1,519 in Durazno.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,542 in Punta del Este versus $2,067 in Durazno.
😐Living in Punta del Este is roughly 116% more expensive than Durazno, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Punta del Este is 56% above, Durazno is 28% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Punta del Este
Durazno
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.44UYU 734
$12.28UYU 489
50.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.1UYU 2,032
$41.54UYU 1,653
22.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.35UYU 452
$11.09UYU 441
2.34%
Cappuccino
$4.49UYU 179
$2.91UYU 116
54.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54UYU 141
$1.21UYU 48.12
192.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68UYU 107
$1.07UYU 42.67
150.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.77UYU 150
$2.26UYU 90.0
66.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.90UYU 195
$2.26UYU 90.0
116.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Punta del Este
Durazno
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29UYU 51.2
$1.22UYU 48.43
5.74%
White Bread(500g)
$2.45UYU 97.3
$2.86UYU 114
-14.34%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.27UYU 90.5
$1.59UYU 63.4
42.77%
Eggs
$3.95UYU 157
$4.79UYU 191
-17.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.84UYU 551
$13.67UYU 544
1.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.27UYU 528
$10.80UYU 430
22.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.84UYU 511
$10.85UYU 432
18.34%
Apples(1kg)
$3.04UYU 121
$3.08UYU 123
-1.30%
Banana(1kg)
$3.54UYU 141
$2.46UYU 97.9
43.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01UYU 80.1
$1.57UYU 62.5
28.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.52UYU 140
$3.67UYU 146
-4.09%
Potato(1kg)
$2.24UYU 89.1
$2.06UYU 82.0
8.74%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04UYU 81.0
$1.86UYU 74.1
9.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.30UYU 51.7
$1.33UYU 52.8
-2.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.99UYU 79.2
$1.67UYU 66.3
19.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.02UYU 200
$5.00UYU 199
0.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.94UYU 356
$9.91UYU 394
-9.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.17UYU 126
$2.37UYU 94.2
33.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.08UYU 202
$2.95UYU 117
72.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Punta del Este
Durazno
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.38UYU 55.0
$0.71UYU 28.34
94.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$49.36UYU 1,964
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.62UYU 64.5
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.54UYU 141
$3.61UYU 144
-1.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.49UYU 537
$12.14UYU 483
11.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.90UYU 75.5
$1.84UYU 73.1
3.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.6KUYU 1.2M
$34.2KUYU 1.4M
-13.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.3KUYU 1.4M
$36.3KUYU 1.4M
-5.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Punta del Este
Durazno
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$95.8UYU 3,811
$174UYU 6,934
-45.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.95UYU 635
$16.87UYU 671
-5.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.49UYU 1,611
$49.93UYU 1,987
-18.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Punta del Este
Durazno
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$76.3UYU 3,037
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.57UYU 977
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.58UYU 381
$6.74UYU 268
42.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Punta del Este
Durazno
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$619UYU 24.6K
$479UYU 19.1K
29.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,613UYU 302.9K
$8,769UYU 348.9K
-13.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Punta del Este
Durazno
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$124UYU 4,918
$95.3UYU 3,793
29.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$63.8UYU 2,538
$47.45UYU 1,888
34.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$146UYU 5,799
$114UYU 4,544
27.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$148UYU 5,898
$125UYU 4,985
18.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Punta del Este
Durazno
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,132UYU 45.1K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$878UYU 34.9K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,527UYU 100.5K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,869UYU 74.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,041UYU 160.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Punta del Este
Durazno
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$916UYU 36.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
5.68
-11.97%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Punta del Este: April 20, 2026
Last update for Durazno: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,132 in Punta del Este and $0 in Durazno. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $51 in Punta del Este vs $42 in Durazno for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $354 vs $321 per month, with Durazno cheaper across the board.
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
Punta del Este vs Durazno: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Punta del Este or Durazno?
Durazno wins on cost – living expenses run 116% lower than in Punta del Este. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Durazno the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Punta del Este vs Durazno?
You'd need roughly $3,138 in Punta del Este and $1,455 in Durazno to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do childcare costs compare in Punta del Este and Durazno?
Childcare runs $619 in Punta del Este versus $479 in Durazno. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Punta del Este vs Durazno?
Dining out is cheaper in Durazno – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $51.0 in Punta del Este. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Punta del Este or Durazno?
At $970 in Durazno versus $2,092 in Punta del Este, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Durazno but tight or insufficient in Punta del Este. The gap between the two cities makes Durazno the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Punta del Este or Durazno?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Punta del Este compared to Durazno?
Safety-wise, Punta del Este and Durazno are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Durazno gentler on the wallet – expenses run 116% less than in Punta del Este. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Punta del Este vs other spots: cost of living compared