😐A single person spends $2,314 per month in Rochester, MI vs $1,806 in Montevideo, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,325 per month in Rochester, MI vs $2,668 in Montevideo, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,336 per month in Rochester, MI vs $3,530 in Montevideo, rent included.
😐Rochester, MI costs about 28% more than Montevideo, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Rochester, MI and Montevideo sit above the global median – Rochester, MI by 68%, Montevideo by 31%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rochester, MI
Montevideo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.88$24.88
$15.05UYU 605
65.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.5$81.5
$63.1UYU 2,541
29.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.17$15.17
$13.11UYU 527
15.71%
Cappuccino
$5.13$5.13
$4.56UYU 183
12.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47$2.47
$2.69UYU 108
-8.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09$2.09
$1.96UYU 78.7
6.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.88$4.88
$4.63UYU 186
5.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.07$6.07
$3.65UYU 147
66.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rochester, MI
Montevideo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.73$0.73
$1.34UYU 54.0
-45.52%
White Bread(500g)
$2.98$2.98
$2.87UYU 115
3.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.40$3.40
$1.75UYU 70.6
94.29%
Eggs
$2.76$2.76
$4.79UYU 193
-42.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.62$9.62
$14.40UYU 579
-33.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.14$12.14
$11.94UYU 480
1.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.83$10.83
$11.57UYU 465
-6.40%
Apples(1kg)
$4.40$4.40
$2.83UYU 114
55.48%
Banana(1kg)
$1.35$1.35
$2.78UYU 112
-51.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.47$4.47
$1.76UYU 71.0
153.98%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.35$5.35
$3.00UYU 121
78.33%
Potato(1kg)
$2.23$2.23
$2.14UYU 86.1
4.21%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18$2.18
$2.17UYU 87.4
0.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02$1.02
$1.46UYU 58.6
-30.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.77$2.77
$1.98UYU 79.6
39.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.13$10.13
$5.55UYU 223
82.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.26$15.26
$8.31UYU 334
83.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.93$1.93
$2.24UYU 90.2
-13.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.17$6.17
$2.89UYU 116
113.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Rochester, MI
Montevideo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.55UYU 62.3
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$75.6UYU 3,042
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.81UYU 72.7
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.41UYU 16.34
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$10.35UYU 417
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.92$0.92
$2.09UYU 84.2
-55.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.7K$35.7K
$27.2KUYU 1.1M
31.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K$25.3K
$37.6KUYU 1.5M
-32.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rochester, MI
Montevideo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$118$118
$188UYU 7,548
-36.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.92$36.92
$16.86UYU 678
118.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.7$64.7
$45.26UYU 1,821
43.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rochester, MI
Montevideo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.10$22.10
$48.88UYU 1,967
-54.79%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.18$35.18
$18.99UYU 764
85.26%
Cinema Ticket
$9.26$9.26
$12.33UYU 496
-24.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rochester, MI
Montevideo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,325$1,325
$640UYU 25.8K
106.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$19.9K$19.9K
$10.8KUYU 433.7K
84.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rochester, MI
Montevideo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.7$57.7
$94.5UYU 3,804
-38.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.69$21.69
$56.7UYU 2,281
-61.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$121$121
$123UYU 4,952
-1.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150$150
$132UYU 5,296
13.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rochester, MI
Montevideo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,222$1,222
$760UYU 30.6K
60.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,174$1,174
$602UYU 24.2K
95.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,178$2,178
$1,193UYU 48.0K
82.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,709$1,709
$980UYU 39.4K
74.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,213$4,213
$3,484UYU 140.2K
20.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,174$2,174
$1,865UYU 75.0K
16.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rochester, MI
Montevideo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,446$5,446
$1,211UYU 48.7K
349.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.04
5.49
10.02%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rochester, MI: August 30, 2026
Last update for Montevideo: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,222 in Rochester, MI versus $760 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 350% 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 $82.0 in Rochester, MI versus $63.0 in Montevideo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $359 vs $333 – 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 28%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $3,471 per month in Rochester, MI and $2,709 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 $82.0 in Rochester, MI 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 Rochester, MI and in Montevideo?
Groceries cost about 8% 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 $1,806, than in Rochester, MI at $2,314. 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