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 $1,003 per month in San José vs $1,632 in Montevideo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,558 per month in San José vs $2,480 in Montevideo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,113 per month in San José vs $3,329 in Montevideo, rent included.

San José is about 39% cheaper than Montevideo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

San José sits 25% below the global median, while Montevideo is 22% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.11 UYU 649

$15.85 UYU 638

1.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.2 UYU 2,223

$54.6 UYU 2,196

1.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.94 UYU 440

$12.12 UYU 488

-9.74%

Cappuccino

$4.14 UYU 167

$4.23 UYU 170

-2.13%

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

$2.16 UYU 87.0

$2.19 UYU 88.1

-1.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 UYU 70.4

$1.69 UYU 68.2

3.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.32 UYU 174

$4.52 UYU 182

-4.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 UYU 145

$3.60 UYU 145

-0.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 UYU 41.20

$1.27 UYU 51.2

-19.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.91 UYU 77.0

$2.77 UYU 112

-31.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.43 UYU 57.6

$1.58 UYU 63.8

-9.49%

Eggs

$2.51 UYU 101

$4.79 UYU 193

-47.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.05 UYU 485

$13.41 UYU 540

-10.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.31 UYU 294

$10.67 UYU 429

-31.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.06 UYU 445

$11.24 UYU 452

-1.60%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 UYU 49.70

$3.00 UYU 121

-59.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 UYU 58.7

$2.43 UYU 97.9

-39.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.20 UYU 48.38

$1.54 UYU 62.2

-22.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.49 UYU 59.9

$3.66 UYU 148

-59.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 UYU 40.10

$2.11 UYU 84.8

-52.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.23 UYU 49.62

$1.89 UYU 75.9

-34.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.30 UYU 52.5

$1.37 UYU 55.0

-5.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 UYU 68.0

$1.71 UYU 68.9

-1.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.11 UYU 206

$5.10 UYU 205

0.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.15 UYU 409

$10.05 UYU 404

1.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.36 UYU 95.0

$2.36 UYU 94.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 UYU 123

$2.92 UYU 118

4.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.25 UYU 50.4

$1.29 UYU 52.0

-3.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.42 UYU 1,788

$55.8 UYU 2,247

-20.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.51 UYU 60.9

$1.60 UYU 64.2

-5.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.56 UYU 62.9

$3.63 UYU 146

-57.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.05 UYU 445

$12.43 UYU 500

-11.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.87 UYU 75.4

$1.81 UYU 72.9

3.31%

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

$34.6K UYU 1.4M

$34.5K UYU 1.4M

0.41%

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

$36.2K UYU 1.5M

$36.0K UYU 1.4M

0.57%

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

$168 UYU 6,783

$170 UYU 6,861

-1.14%

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

$16.39 UYU 660

$16.51 UYU 665

-0.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.72 UYU 2,002

$49.77 UYU 2,004

-0.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 UYU 2,488

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.67 UYU 711

Cinema Ticket

$10.46 UYU 421

$10.45 UYU 421

0.10%

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

$482 UYU 19.4K

-0.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,892 UYU 357.9K

$8,873 UYU 357.2K

0.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$94.4 UYU 3,798

$94.9 UYU 3,819

-0.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.71 UYU 1,880

$47.22 UYU 1,901

-1.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 UYU 4,661

$112 UYU 4,500

3.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 UYU 4,949

$123 UYU 4,962

-0.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$628 UYU 25.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$492 UYU 19.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,112 UYU 44.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$801 UYU 32.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,582 UYU 144.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,272 UYU 91.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,334 UYU 53.7K

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Montevideo: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $55.0 in San José versus $55.0 in Montevideo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $247 vs $321 – making San José 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

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

Yes – Montevideo is pricier by about 63%, 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 $1,505 per month in San José and $2,448 in Montevideo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Kindergarten costs $482 per month in San José and $482 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 $1,003, than in Montevideo at $1,632. 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.