Cost of Living Comparison Between Rochester, MI and Montevideo Cost of Living Comparison Between Rochester, MI and Montevideo

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$15.05 UYU 605
65.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.5 $81.5
$63.1 UYU 2,541
29.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.17 $15.17
$13.11 UYU 527
15.71%
Cappuccino
$5.13 $5.13
$4.56 UYU 183
12.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$2.69 UYU 108
-8.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 $2.09
$1.96 UYU 78.7
6.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.88 $4.88
$4.63 UYU 186
5.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.07 $6.07
$3.65 UYU 147
66.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rochester, MI
Montevideo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.73 $0.73
$1.34 UYU 54.0
-45.52%
White Bread (500g)
$2.98 $2.98
$2.87 UYU 115
3.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.40 $3.40
$1.75 UYU 70.6
94.29%
Eggs
$2.76 $2.76
$4.79 UYU 193
-42.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.62 $9.62
$14.40 UYU 579
-33.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.14 $12.14
$11.94 UYU 480
1.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.83 $10.83
$11.57 UYU 465
-6.40%
Apples (1kg)
$4.40 $4.40
$2.83 UYU 114
55.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.35 $1.35
$2.78 UYU 112
-51.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.47 $4.47
$1.76 UYU 71.0
153.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.35 $5.35
$3.00 UYU 121
78.33%
Potato (1kg)
$2.23 $2.23
$2.14 UYU 86.1
4.21%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 $2.18
$2.17 UYU 87.4
0.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 $1.02
$1.46 UYU 58.6
-30.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.77 $2.77
$1.98 UYU 79.6
39.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.13 $10.13
$5.55 UYU 223
82.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.26 $15.26
$8.31 UYU 334
83.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.93 $1.93
$2.24 UYU 90.2
-13.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.17 $6.17
$2.89 UYU 116
113.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Rochester, MI
Montevideo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.55 UYU 62.3
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$75.6 UYU 3,042
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$1.81 UYU 72.7
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.41 UYU 16.34
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$10.35 UYU 417
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.92 $0.92
$2.09 UYU 84.2
-55.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.7K $35.7K
$27.2K UYU 1.1M
31.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K $25.3K
$37.6K UYU 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
$188 UYU 7,548
-36.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.92 $36.92
$16.86 UYU 678
118.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.7 $64.7
$45.26 UYU 1,821
43.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rochester, MI
Montevideo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.10 $22.10
$48.88 UYU 1,967
-54.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.18 $35.18
$18.99 UYU 764
85.26%
Cinema Ticket
$9.26 $9.26
$12.33 UYU 496
-24.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rochester, MI
Montevideo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,325 $1,325
$640 UYU 25.8K
106.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.9K $19.9K
$10.8K UYU 433.7K
84.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rochester, MI
Montevideo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.7 $57.7
$94.5 UYU 3,804
-38.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.69 $21.69
$56.7 UYU 2,281
-61.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$121 $121
$123 UYU 4,952
-1.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150 $150
$132 UYU 5,296
13.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rochester, MI
Montevideo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,222 $1,222
$760 UYU 30.6K
60.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,174 $1,174
$602 UYU 24.2K
95.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,178 $2,178
$1,193 UYU 48.0K
82.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,709 $1,709
$980 UYU 39.4K
74.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,213 $4,213
$3,484 UYU 140.2K
20.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,174 $2,174
$1,865 UYU 75.0K
16.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rochester, MI
Montevideo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,446 $5,446
$1,211 UYU 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.

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