😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,094 in Punta del Este versus $950 in Durazno.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,316 in Punta del Este versus $1,500 in Durazno.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,537 in Punta del Este versus $2,050 in Durazno.
😐Living in Punta del Este is roughly 120% more expensive than Durazno, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Punta del Este is 56% above, Durazno is 29% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Punta del Este
Durazno
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.35UYU 739
$12.09UYU 487
51.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.5UYU 2,074
$41.43UYU 1,668
24.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.51UYU 463
$10.83UYU 436
6.28%
Cappuccino
$4.50UYU 181
$2.85UYU 115
57.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59UYU 145
$1.24UYU 50.1
189.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76UYU 111
$1.13UYU 45.57
144.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.64UYU 147
$2.14UYU 86.0
70.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.01UYU 202
$2.19UYU 88.1
128.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Punta del Este
Durazno
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.34UYU 53.9
$1.26UYU 50.9
6.35%
White Bread(500g)
$2.45UYU 98.8
$2.91UYU 117
-15.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17UYU 87.5
$1.58UYU 63.7
37.34%
Eggs
$3.95UYU 159
$4.75UYU 191
-16.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.91UYU 560
$13.47UYU 542
3.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.96UYU 522
$10.67UYU 429
21.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.41UYU 500
$11.12UYU 447
11.60%
Apples(1kg)
$3.04UYU 122
$3.02UYU 121
0.66%
Banana(1kg)
$3.62UYU 146
$2.48UYU 99.8
45.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99UYU 80.0
$1.51UYU 61.0
31.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.58UYU 144
$3.71UYU 149
-3.50%
Potato(1kg)
$2.23UYU 89.7
$2.16UYU 86.8
3.24%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01UYU 81.0
$1.89UYU 76.0
6.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.31UYU 52.7
$1.37UYU 55.2
-4.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.94UYU 78.0
$1.73UYU 69.7
12.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.79UYU 193
$5.16UYU 208
-7.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.96UYU 320
$10.21UYU 411
-22.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.18UYU 128
$2.27UYU 91.3
40.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.10UYU 205
$3.03UYU 122
68.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Punta del Este
Durazno
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37UYU 55.3
$0.76UYU 30.72
80.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$48.46UYU 1,951
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.54UYU 62.0
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.43UYU 138
$3.46UYU 139
-0.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.43UYU 540
$12.47UYU 502
7.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.86UYU 74.9
$1.84UYU 74.0
1.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.9KUYU 1.2M
$33.8KUYU 1.4M
-11.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4KUYU 1.4M
$36.2KUYU 1.5M
-5.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Punta del Este
Durazno
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$94.9UYU 3,821
$172UYU 6,909
-44.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.87UYU 639
$16.68UYU 672
-4.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.15UYU 1,616
$49.92UYU 2,009
-19.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Punta del Este
Durazno
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$78.8UYU 3,174
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.64UYU 992
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.99UYU 402
$6.98UYU 281
43.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Punta del Este
Durazno
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$628UYU 25.3K
$488UYU 19.6K
28.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,454UYU 300.1K
$9,000UYU 362.3K
-17.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Punta del Este
Durazno
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$123UYU 4,940
$94.1UYU 3,790
30.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$63.3UYU 2,550
$46.84UYU 1,885
35.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$141UYU 5,670
$112UYU 4,501
25.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$149UYU 5,991
$121UYU 4,879
22.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Punta del Este
Durazno
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,129UYU 45.4K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$899UYU 36.2K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,542UYU 102.3K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,890UYU 76.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,195UYU 128.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,025UYU 81.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Punta del Este
Durazno
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,122UYU 45.2K
-
-
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Durazno: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $52.0 in Punta del Este vs $41.00 in Durazno for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $350 vs $323 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 120% 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 $3,141 in Punta del Este and $1,425 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 $628 in Punta del Este versus $488 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 $41.00 versus $52.0 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 $950 in Durazno versus $2,094 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 120% 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