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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $993 per month in San José vs $1,661 in Montevideo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,583 per month in San José vs $2,471 in Montevideo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,173 per month in San José vs $3,281 in Montevideo, rent included.

San José is about 40% cheaper than Montevideo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

San José sits 26% below the global median, while Montevideo is 24% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.90 UYU 638

$16.41 UYU 659

-3.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.5 UYU 2,227

$54.5 UYU 2,187

1.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.09 UYU 445

$12.00 UYU 482

-7.58%

Cappuccino

$4.30 UYU 173

$4.13 UYU 166

4.12%

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

$2.24 UYU 89.8

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 UYU 71.5

$1.77 UYU 70.9

0.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.47 UYU 179

$4.42 UYU 177

1.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.76 UYU 151

$3.77 UYU 151

-0.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 UYU 41.21

$1.23 UYU 49.31

-16.26%

White Bread (500g)

$2.00 UYU 80.2

$2.87 UYU 115

-30.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.45 UYU 58.4

$1.59 UYU 63.9

-8.81%

Eggs

$2.62 UYU 105

$4.91 UYU 197

-46.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.31 UYU 494

$13.33 UYU 535

-7.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.42 UYU 298

$10.90 UYU 438

-31.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.14 UYU 447

$11.12 UYU 446

0.18%

Apples (1kg)

$1.24 UYU 49.72

$3.01 UYU 121

-58.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 UYU 57.3

$2.47 UYU 99.3

-42.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.21 UYU 48.43

$1.49 UYU 59.6

-18.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.44 UYU 57.7

$3.73 UYU 150

-61.39%

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 UYU 40.38

$2.10 UYU 84.3

-51.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 UYU 48.01

$1.87 UYU 75.1

-35.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.32 UYU 53.2

$1.37 UYU 55.0

-3.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 UYU 69.7

$1.65 UYU 66.4

5.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.03 UYU 202

$5.11 UYU 205

-1.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.20 UYU 329

$8.74 UYU 351

-6.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 UYU 92.7

$2.27 UYU 91.1

1.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 UYU 122

$2.99 UYU 120

2.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.19 UYU 47.90

$1.29 UYU 51.9

-7.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.33 UYU 1,739

$56.3 UYU 2,259

-23.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 UYU 57.8

$1.57 UYU 62.8

-8.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 UYU 62.0

$3.45 UYU 139

-55.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.93 UYU 439

$12.40 UYU 498

-11.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.81 UYU 72.6

$1.88 UYU 75.7

-3.72%

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

$34.5K UYU 1.4M

$34.8K UYU 1.4M

-0.79%

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

$35.6K UYU 1.4M

$36.8K UYU 1.5M

-3.20%

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

$169 UYU 6,775

$170 UYU 6,835

-0.88%

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

$16.47 UYU 661

$16.69 UYU 670

-1.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.92 UYU 2,004

$48.56 UYU 1,949

2.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.2 UYU 2,455

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.22 UYU 691

Cinema Ticket

$10.65 UYU 427

$10.35 UYU 416

2.90%

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

$490 UYU 19.7K

$478 UYU 19.2K

2.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,846 UYU 355.1K

$9,037 UYU 362.8K

-2.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$93.3 UYU 3,745

$94.2 UYU 3,782

-0.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.03 UYU 1,928

$47.87 UYU 1,921

0.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 UYU 4,553

$113 UYU 4,517

0.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 UYU 5,007

$125 UYU 5,034

-0.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$615 UYU 24.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$483 UYU 19.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,080 UYU 43.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$824 UYU 33.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,631 UYU 145.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,309 UYU 92.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,318 UYU 52.9K

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 San José: July 21, 2026

Last update for Montevideo: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $55.0 in San José versus $54.0 in Montevideo. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in San José vs $320 in Montevideo – 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

San José vs Montevideo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Montevideo is pricier by about 67%, 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 $1,489 per month in San José and $2,491 in Montevideo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Kindergarten costs $490 per month in San José and $478 in Montevideo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 30% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in San José, where all-in costs run around $993, than in Montevideo at $1,661. In San José it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montevideo 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, Montevideo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.