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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

San José is about 30% cheaper than Salto, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.73 UYU 592

$16.18 UYU 651

-8.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.51 UYU 1,509

$36.75 UYU 1,478

2.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.66 UYU 509

$11.58 UYU 466

9.33%

Cappuccino

$4.95 UYU 199

$3.38 UYU 136

46.45%

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

$2.40 UYU 96.7

$2.21 UYU 89.0

8.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 UYU 97.6

$1.65 UYU 66.3

47.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.84 UYU 154

$4.39 UYU 177

-12.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.67 UYU 228

$3.14 UYU 126

80.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 UYU 40.02

$1.39 UYU 55.8

-28.78%

White Bread (500g)

$2.04 UYU 82.1

$2.15 UYU 86.3

-5.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 UYU 59.0

$1.52 UYU 61.3

-3.29%

Eggs

$2.63 UYU 106

$5.19 UYU 209

-49.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.97 UYU 482

$14.77 UYU 594

-18.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.53 UYU 303

$8.62 UYU 347

-12.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.67 UYU 469

$10.16 UYU 409

14.86%

Apples (1kg)

$1.26 UYU 50.8

$1.27 UYU 51.3

-0.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 UYU 59.0

$2.25 UYU 90.5

-34.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 UYU 50.8

$1.22 UYU 49.03

3.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 UYU 61.7

$1.81 UYU 72.7

-15.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 UYU 40.57

$0.88 UYU 35.47

14.77%

Onion (1kg)

$1.26 UYU 50.5

$1.74 UYU 70.0

-27.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.50 UYU 60.3

$0.87 UYU 34.87

72.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 UYU 75.4

$1.50 UYU 60.5

24.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.83 UYU 395

$5.19 UYU 209

89.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.95 UYU 320

$7.34 UYU 295

8.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.12 UYU 126

$1.90 UYU 76.5

64.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 UYU 131

$2.65 UYU 107

23.02%

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)

$3.51 UYU 141

$3.71 UYU 149

-5.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.15 UYU 408

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.13 UYU 85.7

$1.84 UYU 74.0

15.76%

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)

$115 UYU 4,614

$198 UYU 7,964

-42.06%

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

$23.50 UYU 945

$21.86 UYU 879

7.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.61 UYU 1,875

$30.20 UYU 1,215

54.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.40 UYU 1,464

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.27 UYU 494

Cinema Ticket

$12.58 UYU 506

$9.74 UYU 392

29.16%

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

$488 UYU 19.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,611 UYU 265.9K

$4,511 UYU 181.5K

46.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.7 UYU 3,606

$86.3 UYU 3,469

3.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.59 UYU 1,472

$56.3 UYU 2,264

-35.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$166 UYU 6,669

$115 UYU 4,642

43.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 UYU 4,697

$66.5 UYU 2,675

75.62%

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 San José: September 7, 2026

Last update for Salto: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in San José versus $37.00 in Salto. Groceries tell a different story – $255 in San José vs $271 in Salto – 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 Salto: 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 $1,383 per month in San José and $1,965 in Salto. 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 $38.00 in San José and $37.00 in Salto. 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.