Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Roseau and Montevideo

For one person, living is cheaper in Roseau: $1,253 a month against $1,813 in Montevideo, rent and utilities included – about $6,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Roseau
🇩🇲 Dominica
$1,253
/mo nomad
Montevideo
🇺🇾 Uruguay
$1,813
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Roseau 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 Roseau and in Montevideo actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,253 per month in Roseau vs $1,813 in Montevideo, rent included.

  • Roseau $1,253
  • Montevideo $1,813

A couple spends around $2,147 per month in Roseau vs $2,782 in Montevideo, rent included.

  • Roseau $2,147
  • Montevideo $2,782

A family of three spends $3,041 per month in Roseau vs $3,750 in Montevideo, rent included.

  • Roseau $3,041
  • Montevideo $3,750

Roseau is about 31% cheaper than Montevideo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Roseau sits 6% below the global median, while Montevideo is 35% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Roseau
Montevideo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.52 EC$20.31
$15.26 UYU 613
-50.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.4 EC$152
$67.4 UYU 2,711
-16.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.62 EC$17.88
$14.37 UYU 578
-53.93%
Cappuccino
$4.01 EC$10.82
$4.64 UYU 187
-13.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 EC$6.72
$2.73 UYU 110
-8.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 EC$6.14
$2.09 UYU 84.0
8.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.90 EC$5.14
$4.75 UYU 191
-60.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 EC$6.82
$3.67 UYU 147
-31.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Roseau
Montevideo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.41 EC$9.21
$1.38 UYU 55.5
147.10%
White Bread (500g)
$2.13 EC$5.74
$2.77 UYU 112
-23.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.22 EC$3.30
$1.69 UYU 67.8
-27.81%
Eggs
$5.64 EC$15.22
$4.52 UYU 182
24.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.42 EC$6.54
$14.17 UYU 570
-82.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.01 EC$29.73
$12.07 UYU 485
-8.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.84 EC$34.68
$12.16 UYU 489
5.59%
Apples (1kg)
$6.28 EC$16.96
$2.87 UYU 116
118.82%
Banana (1kg)
$2.39 EC$6.45
$2.75 UYU 110
-13.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.50 EC$12.14
$1.73 UYU 69.5
160.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.21 EC$14.05
$3.24 UYU 130
60.80%
Potato (1kg)
$3.53 EC$9.52
$2.07 UYU 83.1
70.53%
Onion (1kg)
$3.04 EC$8.21
$2.07 UYU 83.1
46.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.08 EC$5.61
$1.38 UYU 55.4
50.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.57 EC$6.94
$1.85 UYU 74.5
38.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.44 EC$20.08
$5.57 UYU 224
33.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.08 EC$29.92
$8.89 UYU 357
24.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.73 EC$7.38
$2.29 UYU 92.2
19.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 EC$8.29
$2.70 UYU 109
13.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Roseau
Montevideo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.82 EC$4.92
$1.52 UYU 61.3
19.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.4 EC$144
$73.7 UYU 2,962
-27.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 EC$14.55
$1.82 UYU 73.4
196.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.97 EC$8.03
$0.40 UYU 16.05
642.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.38 EC$28.02
$10.66 UYU 429
-2.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.39 EC$3.75
$2.22 UYU 89.2
-37.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8K EC$93.9K
$26.7K UYU 1.1M
30.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.0K EC$80.9K
$36.7K UYU 1.5M
-18.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Roseau
Montevideo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$141 EC$381
$191 UYU 7,674
-26.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.95 EC$119
$20.40 UYU 820
115.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.9 EC$191
$44.14 UYU 1,775
60.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Roseau
Montevideo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.16 EC$127
$54.1 UYU 2,177
-12.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.28 EC$60.2
$19.68 UYU 791
13.21%
Cinema Ticket
$8.38 EC$22.62
$12.33 UYU 496
-32.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Roseau
Montevideo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$129 EC$349
$613 UYU 24.7K
-78.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,414 EC$11.9K
$11.0K UYU 444.3K
-60.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Roseau
Montevideo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 EC$150
$103 UYU 4,134
-46.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.98 EC$99.9
$56.1 UYU 2,255
-34.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.4 EC$201
$124 UYU 5,000
-40.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.5 EC$247
$130 UYU 5,214
-29.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Roseau
Montevideo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$281 EC$759
$705 UYU 28.4K
-60.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$201 EC$542
$575 UYU 23.1K
-65.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$891 EC$2,407
$1,139 UYU 45.8K
-21.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$635 EC$1,714
$1,016 UYU 40.8K
-37.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$121 EC$328
$3,349 UYU 134.6K
-96.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$56.6 EC$153
$1,942 UYU 78.1K
-97.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Roseau
Montevideo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$489 EC$1,320
$1,229 UYU 49.4K
-60.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.6
5.74
32.40%

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

Last update for Roseau: October 3, 2026

Last update for Montevideo: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Roseau
$371
Montevideo
$332 10.5% $39
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Roseau
$256
Montevideo
$255 0.1% $0.4
Accommodation & Living
Roseau
$201
Montevideo
$575 187% $375
Eating Out
Roseau
$162
Montevideo
$271 67.7% $109
Clothing & Footwear
Roseau
$116
Montevideo
$186 59.9% $70
Getting Around
Roseau
$81
Montevideo
$84 3.3% $2.7
Sport & Entertainment
Roseau
$64
Montevideo
$79 23.3% $15

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $281 in Roseau versus $705 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 151% higher in Montevideo, 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 $56.0 in Roseau versus $67.0 in Montevideo. Groceries tell a different story – $371 in Roseau vs $332 in Montevideo – so Montevideo wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇩🇲 Roseau
🇺🇾 Montevideo
🕒 Local time
02:34 2:34 AM
03:34 3:34 AM
1 h ahead of Roseau
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
15,000 Capital
1,319,108 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

UYU, USD, EUR to XCD – East Caribbean Dollar Converter

East Caribbean Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 2.7 XCD (1 XCD = 0.37 USD). 1 EUR = 3.03 XCD (1 XCD = 0.33 EUR).

Uruguayan Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 40.21 UYU (100 UYU = 2.49 USD). 1 EUR = 45.1 UYU (100 UYU = 2.22 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Roseau Montevideo 5,610 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Roseau
  • 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
Roseau vs Montevideo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Montevideo cheaper than Roseau?
Yes – Montevideo is pricier by about 45%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,880 per month in Roseau and $2,720 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 Roseau, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $129 per month in Roseau and $613 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 Roseau and in Montevideo?
Interestingly, groceries are about 12% cheaper in Montevideo – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Roseau or in Montevideo?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Roseau, where all-in costs run around $1,253, than in Montevideo at $1,813. In Roseau it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montevideo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Roseau or Montevideo more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Roseau – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Roseau 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 Roseau. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Montevideo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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