😐A single person spends $2,328 per month in Rochester, MI vs $1,661 in Montevideo, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,292 per month in Rochester, MI vs $2,471 in Montevideo, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,257 per month in Rochester, MI vs $3,281 in Montevideo, rent included.
😐Rochester, MI costs about 40% more than Montevideo, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Rochester, MI and Montevideo sit above the global median – Rochester, MI by 74%, Montevideo by 24%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rochester, MI
Montevideo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.08$18.08
$16.41UYU 659
10.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.5$60.5
$54.5UYU 2,187
11.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.95$10.95
$12.00UYU 482
-8.75%
Cappuccino
$4.64$4.64
$4.13UYU 166
12.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48$2.48
$2.24UYU 89.8
10.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61$1.61
$1.77UYU 70.9
-9.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.10$6.10
$4.42UYU 177
38.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.09$7.09
$3.77UYU 151
88.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rochester, MI
Montevideo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.90$0.90
$1.23UYU 49.31
-26.83%
White Bread(500g)
$3.35$3.35
$2.87UYU 115
16.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.41$3.41
$1.59UYU 63.9
114.47%
Eggs
$3.32$3.32
$4.91UYU 197
-32.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.24$12.24
$13.33UYU 535
-8.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.32$12.32
$10.90UYU 438
13.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.84$10.84
$11.12UYU 446
-2.52%
Apples(1kg)
$4.39$4.39
$3.01UYU 121
45.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.37$1.37
$2.47UYU 99.3
-44.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.34$4.34
$1.49UYU 59.6
191.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.36$5.36
$3.73UYU 150
43.70%
Potato(1kg)
$2.14$2.14
$2.10UYU 84.3
1.90%
Onion(1kg)
$2.25$2.25
$1.87UYU 75.1
20.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01$1.01
$1.37UYU 55.0
-26.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.83$2.83
$1.65UYU 66.4
71.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.22$9.22
$5.11UYU 205
80.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.91$14.91
$8.74UYU 351
70.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77$1.77
$2.27UYU 91.1
-22.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49$3.49
$2.99UYU 120
16.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Rochester, MI
Montevideo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.98$1.98
$1.29UYU 51.9
53.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$56.3UYU 2,259
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.74$4.74
$1.57UYU 62.8
201.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.38$1.38
$3.45UYU 139
-60.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.79$27.79
$12.40UYU 498
124.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.77$0.77
$1.88UYU 75.7
-59.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4K$24.4K
$34.8KUYU 1.4M
-29.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.8K$24.8K
$36.8KUYU 1.5M
-32.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rochester, MI
Montevideo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$120$120
$170UYU 6,835
-29.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.93$44.93
$16.69UYU 670
169.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.8$60.8
$48.56UYU 1,949
25.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rochester, MI
Montevideo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.87$22.87
$61.2UYU 2,455
-62.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.40$34.40
$17.22UYU 691
99.77%
Cinema Ticket
$9.84$9.84
$10.35UYU 416
-4.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rochester, MI
Montevideo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$963$963
$478UYU 19.2K
101.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$20.0K$20.0K
$9,037UYU 362.8K
121.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rochester, MI
Montevideo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.7$64.7
$94.2UYU 3,782
-31.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.04$40.04
$47.87UYU 1,921
-16.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.5$97.5
$113UYU 4,517
-13.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139$139
$125UYU 5,034
10.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rochester, MI
Montevideo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,214$1,214
$615UYU 24.7K
97.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,188$1,188
$483UYU 19.4K
145.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,238$2,238
$1,080UYU 43.3K
107.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,707$1,707
$824UYU 33.1K
107.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,126$4,126
$3,631UYU 145.7K
13.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,221$2,221
$2,309UYU 92.7K
-3.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rochester, MI
Montevideo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,508$5,508
$1,318UYU 52.9K
317.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.45
5.68
13.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rochester, MI: July 22, 2026
Last update for Montevideo: July 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,214 in Rochester, MI versus $615 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 run about 318% higher in Rochester, MI, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Rochester, MI versus $54.0 in Montevideo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $369 vs $320 – making Montevideo 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
Rochester, MI vs Montevideo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Montevideo cheaper than Rochester, MI?
Yes – Rochester, MI is pricier by about 40%, 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 $3,492 per month in Rochester, MI and $2,491 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 Montevideo, 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 Rochester, MI or in Montevideo?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Rochester, MI and $54.0 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 Rochester, MI and in Montevideo?
Groceries cost about 16% more in Rochester, MI, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Rochester, MI or in Montevideo?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Montevideo, where all-in costs run around $1,661, than in Rochester, MI at $2,328. In Montevideo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rochester, MI it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Rochester, MI or Montevideo more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Montevideo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Rochester, MI 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 Montevideo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Rochester, MI makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Rochester, MI vs other spots: cost of living compared