Cost of Living Comparison Between Salto and Montevideo Cost of Living Comparison Between Salto and Montevideo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,273 per month in Salto vs $1,667 in Montevideo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,869 per month in Salto vs $2,511 in Montevideo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,464 per month in Salto vs $3,354 in Montevideo, rent included.

Salto is about 24% cheaper than Montevideo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Salto sits 5% below the global median, while Montevideo is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.41 UYU 821

$16.30 UYU 656

25.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.63 UYU 1,594

$55.4 UYU 2,228

-28.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.95 UYU 360

$12.19 UYU 490

-26.58%

Cappuccino

$2.98 UYU 120

$4.26 UYU 171

-30.05%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 UYU 89.7

$2.19 UYU 88.1

1.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 UYU 60.3

$1.71 UYU 68.8

-12.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.51 UYU 182

$4.47 UYU 180

0.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 UYU 131

$3.70 UYU 149

-12.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.95 UYU 38.28

$1.25 UYU 50.4

-24.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 UYU 48.44

$2.91 UYU 117

-58.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 UYU 60.4

$1.63 UYU 65.7

-7.98%

Eggs

$3.45 UYU 139

$4.96 UYU 199

-30.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.86 UYU 799

$13.31 UYU 535

49.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.41 UYU 298

$10.83 UYU 436

-31.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.05 UYU 404

$10.96 UYU 441

-8.30%

Apples (1kg)

$3.08 UYU 124

Banana (1kg)

$2.36 UYU 94.9

Oranges (1kg)

$0.99 UYU 39.87

$1.50 UYU 60.4

-34.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.44 UYU 57.8

$3.58 UYU 144

-59.78%

Potato (1kg)

$2.08 UYU 83.6

Onion (1kg)

$1.94 UYU 78.1

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 UYU 21.07

$1.31 UYU 52.7

-60.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 UYU 50.4

$1.73 UYU 69.4

-27.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.10 UYU 205

$5.23 UYU 210

-2.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.42 UYU 298

$8.76 UYU 353

-15.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.81 UYU 73.0

$2.33 UYU 93.9

-22.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 UYU 87.2

$2.90 UYU 117

-25.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.21 UYU 48.64

$1.30 UYU 52.1

-6.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.45 UYU 1,788

$56.3 UYU 2,265

-21.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.51 UYU 60.7

$1.54 UYU 62.1

-1.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 UYU 59.9

$3.63 UYU 146

-58.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.03 UYU 444

$12.37 UYU 498

-10.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.89 UYU 76.0

$1.83 UYU 73.5

3.28%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$39.8K UYU 1.6M

$33.7K UYU 1.4M

18.15%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$38.5K UYU 1.5M

$35.9K UYU 1.4M

7.32%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$186 UYU 7,501

$175 UYU 7,032

6.66%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$20.12 UYU 809

$16.95 UYU 682

18.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.80 UYU 1,360

$48.42 UYU 1,948

-30.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.17 UYU 1,294

$61.7 UYU 2,480

-47.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.76 UYU 715

Cinema Ticket

$9.53 UYU 383

$10.42 UYU 419

-8.54%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$489 UYU 19.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,967 UYU 360.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.1 UYU 2,741

$95.6 UYU 3,847

-28.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.6 UYU 2,436

$47.66 UYU 1,917

27.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 UYU 4,476

$115 UYU 4,608

-2.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.6 UYU 2,681

$121 UYU 4,858

-44.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$426 UYU 17.2K

$611 UYU 24.6K

-30.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$281 UYU 11.3K

$488 UYU 19.6K

-42.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 UYU 29.7K

$1,107 UYU 44.5K

-33.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$457 UYU 18.4K

$818 UYU 32.9K

-44.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,598 UYU 144.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,274 UYU 91.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$613 UYU 24.7K

$1,332 UYU 53.6K

-53.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.68

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

Last update for Salto: July 13, 2026

Last update for Montevideo: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $426 in Salto versus $611 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 117% 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 $40.00 in Salto versus $55.0 in Montevideo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $225 vs $319 – making Salto 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

Salto vs Montevideo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Montevideo is pricier by about 31%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,910 per month in Salto and $2,501 in Montevideo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Salto, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 27% less in Salto. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 42% more in Montevideo, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Salto, where all-in costs run around $1,273, than in Montevideo at $1,667. In Salto it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montevideo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Salto – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Salto. 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.