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

🙂 Solo nomad: San José is 16.9% cheaper than Montevideo without rent, and 38.3% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: San José is 14.6% cheaper than Montevideo without rent, and 34.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San José
Montevideo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.87 UYU 652
$16.24 UYU 667
-2.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.1 UYU 2,222
$55.7 UYU 2,289
-2.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.18 UYU 460
$12 UYU 493
-6.83%
Cappuccino
$4.26 UYU 175
$4.3 UYU 177
-0.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 UYU 89
$2.26 UYU 92.8
-3.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 UYU 72.6
$1.68 UYU 69.2
5.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.33 UYU 178
$4.31 UYU 177
0.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.74 UYU 154
$3.68 UYU 151
1.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San José
Montevideo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.99 UYU 40.62
$1.26 UYU 51.9
-21.43%
White Bread (500g)
$1.91 UYU 78.6
$2.79 UYU 115
-31.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.46 UYU 59.8
$1.66 UYU 68.4
-12.05%
Eggs
$2.51 UYU 103
$4.7 UYU 193
-46.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.42 UYU 510
$13.5 UYU 555
-8.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.13 UYU 293
$10.9 UYU 448
-34.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.19 UYU 460
$10.99 UYU 452
1.82%
Apples (1kg)
$1.19 UYU 49.1
$3.15 UYU 129
-62.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 UYU 61
$2.48 UYU 102
-39.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.19 UYU 49
$1.5 UYU 61.6
-20.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.49 UYU 61.3
$3.62 UYU 149
-58.84%
Potato (1kg)
$0.93 UYU 38.35
$2.09 UYU 85.8
-55.50%
Onion (1kg)
$1.2 UYU 49.51
$1.96 UYU 80.5
-38.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.32 UYU 54.4
$1.36 UYU 55.9
-2.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 UYU 68.2
$1.68 UYU 69.1
-1.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.01 UYU 206
$4.99 UYU 205
0.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.91 UYU 407
$9.84 UYU 404
0.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 UYU 96.5
$2.38 UYU 97.9
-1.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 UYU 124
$2.93 UYU 121
2.73%
🚌 Getting Around
San José
Montevideo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.24 UYU 50.9
$1.31 UYU 53.6
-5.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$43.32 UYU 1,780
$55.5 UYU 2,281
-21.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.49 UYU 61.4
$1.61 UYU 66.1
-7.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.56 UYU 63.9
$3.62 UYU 149
-56.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.22 UYU 461
$12.33 UYU 507
-9.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.82 UYU 74.9
$1.88 UYU 77.1
-3.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K UYU 1.4M
$34.7K UYU 1.4M
-0.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.7K UYU 1.5M
$35.9K UYU 1.5M
2.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San José
Montevideo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 UYU 7,055
$169 UYU 6,934
1.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.75 UYU 688
$16.39 UYU 674
2.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49 UYU 2,014
$49.07 UYU 2,017
-0.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San José
Montevideo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$60.9 UYU 2,502
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.11 UYU 703
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.6 UYU 435
$10.33 UYU 425
2.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San José
Montevideo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$483 UYU 19.9K
$488 UYU 20.1K
-0.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,821 UYU 362.5K
$8,843 UYU 363.4K
-0.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San José
Montevideo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.7 UYU 3,768
$95.3 UYU 3,914
-3.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.8 UYU 1,923
$47.98 UYU 1,972
-2.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 UYU 4,739
$116 UYU 4,749
-0.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 UYU 5,072
$123 UYU 5,066
0.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San José
Montevideo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$610 UYU 25.1K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$490 UYU 20.1K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,096 UYU 45K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$801 UYU 32.9K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,698 UYU 152K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$3,056 UYU 125.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
San José
Montevideo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,104 UYU 45.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.68
5.68
-

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

Last update for San José: October 28, 2025

Last update for Montevideo: October 28, 2025

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