Cost of Living Comparison Between Salto and San José Cost of Living Comparison Between Salto and San José

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,310 per month in Salto vs $922 in San José, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,958 per month in Salto vs $1,443 in San José, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,607 per month in Salto vs $1,965 in San José, rent included.

Salto costs about 42% more than San José, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Salto and San José are more affordable than the global median – Salto 5% lower, San José 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.18 UYU 651

$14.73 UYU 592

9.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.75 UYU 1,478

$37.51 UYU 1,509

-2.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.58 UYU 466

$12.66 UYU 509

-8.53%

Cappuccino

$3.38 UYU 136

$4.95 UYU 199

-31.72%

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

$2.21 UYU 89.0

$2.40 UYU 96.7

-7.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 UYU 66.3

$2.43 UYU 97.6

-32.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.39 UYU 177

$3.84 UYU 154

14.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 UYU 126

$5.67 UYU 228

-44.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 UYU 55.8

$0.99 UYU 40.02

40.40%

White Bread (500g)

$2.15 UYU 86.3

$2.04 UYU 82.1

5.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 UYU 61.3

$1.47 UYU 59.0

3.40%

Eggs

$5.19 UYU 209

$2.63 UYU 106

97.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.77 UYU 594

$11.97 UYU 482

23.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.62 UYU 347

$7.53 UYU 303

14.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.16 UYU 409

$11.67 UYU 469

-12.94%

Apples (1kg)

$1.27 UYU 51.3

$1.26 UYU 50.8

0.79%

Banana (1kg)

$2.25 UYU 90.5

$1.47 UYU 59.0

53.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.22 UYU 49.03

$1.26 UYU 50.8

-3.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.81 UYU 72.7

$1.53 UYU 61.7

18.30%

Potato (1kg)

$0.88 UYU 35.47

$1.01 UYU 40.57

-12.87%

Onion (1kg)

$1.74 UYU 70.0

$1.26 UYU 50.5

38.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 UYU 34.87

$1.50 UYU 60.3

-42.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 UYU 60.5

$1.87 UYU 75.4

-19.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.19 UYU 209

$9.83 UYU 395

-47.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.34 UYU 295

$7.95 UYU 320

-7.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.90 UYU 76.5

$3.12 UYU 126

-39.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 UYU 107

$3.26 UYU 131

-18.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.65 UYU 26.15

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.85 UYU 1,201

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.50 UYU 141

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.71 UYU 149

$3.51 UYU 141

5.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.15 UYU 408

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.84 UYU 74.0

$2.13 UYU 85.7

-13.62%

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

$36.1K UYU 1.5M

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

$40.1K UYU 1.6M

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

$198 UYU 7,964

$115 UYU 4,614

72.60%

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

$21.86 UYU 879

$23.50 UYU 945

-6.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.20 UYU 1,215

$46.61 UYU 1,875

-35.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.40 UYU 1,464

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.27 UYU 494

Cinema Ticket

$9.74 UYU 392

$12.58 UYU 506

-22.58%

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

$488 UYU 19.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,511 UYU 181.5K

$6,611 UYU 265.9K

-31.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$86.3 UYU 3,469

$89.7 UYU 3,606

-3.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.3 UYU 2,264

$36.59 UYU 1,472

53.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 UYU 4,642

$166 UYU 6,669

-30.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.5 UYU 2,675

$117 UYU 4,697

-43.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$455 UYU 18.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 UYU 12.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$751 UYU 30.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 UYU 17.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$615 UYU 24.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Salto: September 8, 2026

Last update for San José: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Salto versus $38.00 in San José. Groceries tell a different story – $271 in Salto vs $255 in San José – so San José wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 San José: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Salto is pricier by about 42%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,965 per month in Salto and $1,383 in San José. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 6% more in Salto, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Salto and $38.00 in San José. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in San José, where all-in costs run around $922, than in Salto at $1,310. In San José it covers expenses comfortably, while in Salto it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward San José – 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 San José. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Salto makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.