Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Rio Branco and Montevideo

For one person, living is cheaper in Rio Branco: $847 a month against $1,771 in Montevideo, rent and utilities included – about $11,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Rio Branco, Brazil
Montevideo, Uruguay
Rio Branco
🇧🇷 Brazil
$847
/mo nomad
Montevideo
🇺🇾 Uruguay
$1,771
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Rio Branco and in Montevideo

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Rio Branco and in Montevideo actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $847 per month in Rio Branco vs $1,771 in Montevideo, rent included.

  • Rio Branco $847
  • Montevideo $1,771

A couple spends around $1,331 per month in Rio Branco vs $2,784 in Montevideo, rent included.

  • Rio Branco $1,331
  • Montevideo $2,784

A family of three spends $1,815 per month in Rio Branco vs $3,797 in Montevideo, rent included.

  • Rio Branco $1,815
  • Montevideo $3,797

Rio Branco is about 52% cheaper than Montevideo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Rio Branco sits 38% below the global median, while Montevideo is 30% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rio Branco
Montevideo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.68 R$35.74
$15.63 UYU 629
-57.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.63 R$132
$69.9 UYU 2,812
-64.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.16 R$38.29
$14.51 UYU 584
-50.65%
Cappuccino
$2.82 R$15.10
$4.43 UYU 178
-36.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 R$6.86
$2.49 UYU 100
-48.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 R$3.83
$1.95 UYU 78.5
-63.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.90 R$10.18
$4.78 UYU 192
-60.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 R$14.71
$3.67 UYU 148
-25.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rio Branco
Montevideo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.99 R$5.28
$1.26 UYU 50.6
-21.43%
White Bread (500g)
$1.54 R$8.24
$2.98 UYU 120
-48.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 R$6.20
$1.74 UYU 70.1
-33.33%
Eggs
$1.99 R$10.64
$4.80 UYU 193
-58.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.67 R$46.34
$14.06 UYU 565
-38.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.08 R$21.81
$11.35 UYU 457
-64.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.89 R$42.17
$12.16 UYU 489
-35.12%
Apples (1kg)
$2.06 R$11.01
$2.74 UYU 110
-24.82%
Banana (1kg)
$1.23 R$6.58
$2.83 UYU 114
-56.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.09 R$5.84
$1.63 UYU 65.4
-33.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.46 R$7.78
$3.18 UYU 128
-54.09%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 R$6.05
$2.02 UYU 81.1
-44.06%
Onion (1kg)
$1.01 R$5.39
$2.13 UYU 85.5
-52.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.77 R$4.11
$1.39 UYU 56.0
-44.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 R$4.06
$1.94 UYU 78.2
-60.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28 R$12.20
$5.34 UYU 215
-57.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.30 R$39.02
$8.31 UYU 334
-12.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 R$5.54
$2.35 UYU 94.3
-55.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 R$10.25
$2.80 UYU 113
-31.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Rio Branco
Montevideo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.63 R$3.36
$1.55 UYU 62.4
-59.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$42.25 R$226
$74.9 UYU 3,013
-43.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.24 R$6.62
$1.91 UYU 76.9
-35.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 R$4.53
$0.41 UYU 16.55
107.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.55 R$40.34
$10.38 UYU 417
-27.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 R$6.86
$2.23 UYU 89.5
-42.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.0K R$117.8K
$26.5K UYU 1.1M
-17.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.5K R$168.4K
$35.9K UYU 1.4M
-12.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rio Branco
Montevideo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$72.1 R$385
$184 UYU 7,392
-60.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.32 R$60.6
$20.15 UYU 810
-43.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.70 R$105
$43.24 UYU 1,739
-54.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rio Branco
Montevideo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.58 R$131
$48.47 UYU 1,949
-49.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.43 R$136
$19.71 UYU 792
29.02%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60 R$35.29
$12.11 UYU 487
-45.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rio Branco
Montevideo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$264 R$1,410
$636 UYU 25.6K
-58.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,146 R$32.9K
$11.0K UYU 442.1K
-44.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rio Branco
Montevideo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.0 R$273
$101 UYU 4,050
-49.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.00 R$246
$56.9 UYU 2,289
-19.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.0 R$454
$123 UYU 4,937
-30.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.8 R$357
$130 UYU 5,241
-48.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rio Branco
Montevideo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$343 R$1,831
$747 UYU 30.0K
-54.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$233 R$1,248
$581 UYU 23.3K
-59.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$623 R$3,332
$1,284 UYU 51.6K
-51.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$453 R$2,420
$1,125 UYU 45.2K
-59.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,562 R$8,351
$3,653 UYU 146.9K
-57.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,550 R$8,288
$2,029 UYU 81.6K
-23.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rio Branco
Montevideo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$238 R$1,271
$1,284 UYU 51.6K
-81.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11
5.65
94.69%

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

Last update for Rio Branco: October 25, 2026

Last update for Montevideo: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Rio Branco
$233
Montevideo
$581 149% $347
Groceries & Markets
Rio Branco
$178
Montevideo
$330 85% $152
Eating Out
Rio Branco
$132
Montevideo
$271 105% $139
Clothing & Footwear
Rio Branco
$112
Montevideo
$185 65.1% $73
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rio Branco
$103
Montevideo
$247 140% $144
Getting Around
Rio Branco
$50
Montevideo
$85 69.4% $35
Sport & Entertainment
Rio Branco
$38
Montevideo
$73 92.3% $35

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $343 in Rio Branco versus $747 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 in Montevideo are about 5.4 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25 in Rio Branco versus $70 in Montevideo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $178 vs $330 – making Rio Branco the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇧🇷 Rio Branco
🇺🇾 Montevideo
🕒 Local time
16:46 4:46 PM
18:46 6:46 PM
2 h ahead of Rio Branco
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
364,756
1,319,108 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

UYU, USD, EUR to BRL – Brazilian Real Converter

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 5.35 BRL (1 BRL = 0.187 USD). 1 EUR = 5.95 BRL (1 BRL = 0.168 EUR).

Uruguayan Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 40.21 UYU (100 UYU = 2.49 USD). 1 EUR = 44.77 UYU (100 UYU = 2.23 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Rio Branco Montevideo 3,010 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Rio Branco
  • Montevideo

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Rio Branco vs Montevideo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rio Branco cheaper than Montevideo?
Yes – Montevideo is pricier by about 109%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,270 per month in Rio Branco and $2,657 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 Rio Branco, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $343 there versus $747 in Montevideo.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $264 per month in Rio Branco and $636 in Montevideo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Rio Branco and in Montevideo?
Groceries cost about 85% more in Montevideo, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Rio Branco or in Montevideo?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Rio Branco, where all-in costs run around $847, than in Montevideo at $1,771. In Rio Branco it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montevideo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Rio Branco or Montevideo more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Rio Branco – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Rio Branco. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Montevideo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Rio Branco vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?