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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,257 per month in Salto vs $1,632 in Montevideo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,893 per month in Salto vs $2,480 in Montevideo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,529 per month in Salto vs $3,329 in Montevideo, rent included.

Salto is about 23% cheaper than Montevideo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Salto sits 6% below the global median, while Montevideo is 22% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.09 UYU 810

$15.85 UYU 639

26.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.02 UYU 1,573

$54.6 UYU 2,200

-28.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.44 UYU 380

$12.12 UYU 489

-22.11%

Cappuccino

$3.08 UYU 124

$4.23 UYU 170

-27.19%

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

$2.20 UYU 88.9

$2.19 UYU 88.2

0.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 UYU 63.0

$1.69 UYU 68.3

-7.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.33 UYU 175

$4.52 UYU 182

-4.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 UYU 131

$3.60 UYU 145

-9.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.95 UYU 38.21

$1.27 UYU 51.3

-25.20%

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 UYU 50.1

$2.77 UYU 112

-55.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.49 UYU 60.1

$1.58 UYU 63.9

-5.70%

Eggs

$3.33 UYU 134

$4.79 UYU 193

-30.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.70 UYU 794

$13.41 UYU 541

46.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.30 UYU 294

$10.67 UYU 430

-31.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.61 UYU 387

$11.24 UYU 453

-14.50%

Apples (1kg)

$3.00 UYU 121

Banana (1kg)

$2.43 UYU 98.1

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 UYU 37.64

$1.54 UYU 62.3

-39.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 UYU 58.3

$3.66 UYU 148

-60.38%

Potato (1kg)

$2.11 UYU 84.9

Onion (1kg)

$1.89 UYU 76.0

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 UYU 21.06

$1.37 UYU 55.1

-62.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 UYU 47.96

$1.71 UYU 69.0

-30.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.88 UYU 197

$5.10 UYU 205

-4.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.33 UYU 296

$10.05 UYU 405

-27.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 UYU 75.1

$2.36 UYU 95.0

-21.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 UYU 90.0

$2.92 UYU 118

-23.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.20 UYU 48.33

$1.29 UYU 52.1

-6.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.19 UYU 1,782

$55.8 UYU 2,250

-20.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.51 UYU 60.9

$1.60 UYU 64.3

-5.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 UYU 60.4

$3.63 UYU 146

-58.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.80 UYU 435

$12.43 UYU 501

-13.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.83 UYU 73.9

$1.81 UYU 73.1

1.10%

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

$39.6K UYU 1.6M

$34.5K UYU 1.4M

14.75%

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

$39.2K UYU 1.6M

$36.0K UYU 1.4M

8.99%

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

$181 UYU 7,316

$170 UYU 6,872

6.47%

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

$20.48 UYU 826

$16.51 UYU 666

24.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.77 UYU 1,402

$49.77 UYU 2,007

-30.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.41 UYU 1,266

$61.8 UYU 2,492

-49.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.67 UYU 712

Cinema Ticket

$10.06 UYU 406

$10.45 UYU 421

-3.73%

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

$482 UYU 19.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,873 UYU 357.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.1 UYU 2,746

$94.9 UYU 3,825

-28.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.5 UYU 2,440

$47.22 UYU 1,904

28.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$109 UYU 4,411

$112 UYU 4,507

-2.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.0 UYU 2,743

$123 UYU 4,970

-44.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$433 UYU 17.5K

$628 UYU 25.3K

-31.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$277 UYU 11.2K

$492 UYU 19.8K

-43.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$759 UYU 30.6K

$1,112 UYU 44.8K

-31.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 UYU 19.1K

$801 UYU 32.3K

-40.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,582 UYU 144.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,272 UYU 91.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$615 UYU 24.8K

$1,334 UYU 53.8K

-53.91%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Montevideo: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $433 in Salto versus $628 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 $39.00 in Salto versus $55.0 in Montevideo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $221 vs $321 – 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 30%, 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 $1,886 per month in Salto and $2,448 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 26% less in Salto. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 45% 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 $1,257, than in Montevideo at $1,632. 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.