😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,630 in Urbana, IL versus $1,327 in Maldonado.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,619 in Urbana, IL versus $2,128 in Maldonado.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,607 in Urbana, IL versus $2,928 in Maldonado.
🌍Living in Urbana, IL is roughly 23% more expensive than in Maldonado, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Urbana, IL is 22% above, Maldonado is 1% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Urbana, IL
Maldonado
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.18$15.18
$16.34UYU 656
-7.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.91$49.91
$53.0UYU 2,126
-5.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.94$10.94
$10.84UYU 435
0.92%
Cappuccino
$4.29$4.29
$4.14UYU 166
3.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25$2.25
$2.20UYU 88.2
2.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48$1.48
$1.74UYU 70.0
-14.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.44$5.44
$2.39UYU 95.9
127.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.14$6.14
$3.59UYU 144
71.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Urbana, IL
Maldonado
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.68$0.68
$1.09UYU 43.70
-37.61%
White Bread(500g)
$2.65$2.65
$2.85UYU 114
-7.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.74$2.74
$1.58UYU 63.2
73.42%
Eggs
$2.63$2.63
$4.79UYU 192
-45.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.89$7.89
$13.63UYU 547
-42.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.97$8.97
$10.65UYU 427
-15.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.19$13.19
$11.12UYU 447
18.62%
Apples(1kg)
$3.59$3.59
$2.27UYU 91.2
58.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62$1.62
$2.38UYU 95.5
-31.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.00$3.00
$1.49UYU 59.9
101.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.57$3.57
$3.51UYU 141
1.71%
Potato(1kg)
$2.24$2.24
$1.76UYU 70.8
27.27%
Onion(1kg)
$2.49$2.49
$1.89UYU 75.9
31.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.71$1.71
$1.23UYU 49.50
39.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.37$1.37
$1.54UYU 61.9
-11.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.33$10.33
$5.27UYU 212
96.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.44$8.44
$8.33UYU 334
1.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75$1.75
$1.89UYU 75.8
-7.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32$1.32
$2.55UYU 102
-48.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Urbana, IL
Maldonado
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.98$0.98
$1.32UYU 52.9
-25.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$43.53UYU 1,747
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.93$2.93
$1.45UYU 58.3
102.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.63$0.63
$2.08UYU 83.6
-69.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.23$29.23
$11.10UYU 445
163.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99$0.99
$1.87UYU 75.2
-47.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8K$24.8K
$34.1KUYU 1.4M
-27.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K$23.3K
$35.7KUYU 1.4M
-34.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Urbana, IL
Maldonado
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$214$214
$156UYU 6,271
36.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.26$42.26
$16.77UYU 673
152.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.5$60.5
$43.04UYU 1,728
40.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Urbana, IL
Maldonado
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.80$42.80
$46.05UYU 1,849
-7.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.92UYU 1,201
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.10$12.10
$8.14UYU 327
48.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Urbana, IL
Maldonado
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,205$1,205
$487UYU 19.5K
147.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.0K$23.0K
$7,198UYU 289.0K
219.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Urbana, IL
Maldonado
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.00$44.00
$86.9UYU 3,488
-49.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.75$39.75
$46.82UYU 1,880
-15.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$66.6$66.6
$86.7UYU 3,479
-23.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$154$154
$92.5UYU 3,712
66.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Urbana, IL
Maldonado
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$751$751
$362UYU 14.6K
107.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$576$576
$291UYU 11.7K
98.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,485$1,485
$889UYU 35.7K
67.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,372$1,372
$611UYU 24.5K
124.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,649$1,649
$1,525UYU 61.2K
8.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,613$1,613
$1,284UYU 51.6K
25.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Urbana, IL
Maldonado
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$6,733$6,733
$877UYU 35.2K
668.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.52
5.68
14.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Urbana, IL: July 20, 2026
Last update for Maldonado: July 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $751 in Urbana, IL and $362 in Maldonado. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Urbana, IL pays 668% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $50.0 in Urbana, IL vs $53.0 in Maldonado for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $284 vs $305 per month, with Urbana, IL cheaper across the board.
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
Urbana, IL vs Maldonado: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Urbana, IL and in Maldonado?
Urbana, IL and Maldonado differ by about 23% in total monthly costs ($1,630 vs $1,327 including rent). Maldonado is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Urbana, IL or Maldonado?
Average pay runs 668% higher in Urbana, IL, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Urbana, IL and in Maldonado?
Rent for a central apartment: $751 in Urbana, IL versus $362 in Maldonado. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Urbana, IL pay roughly 8% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: Urbana, IL or Maldonado?
All in, you'll spend $1,630 per month in Urbana, IL versus $1,327 in Maldonado – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,327 in Maldonado versus $1,630 in Urbana, IL, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Maldonado but tight or insufficient in Urbana, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Maldonado the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Urbana, IL and Maldonado?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Urbana, IL or Maldonado safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Urbana, IL and Maldonado are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Urbana, IL or Maldonado?
Expats usually find Maldonado gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Urbana, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Urbana, IL vs other spots: cost of living compared