😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,635 in Urbana, IL versus $1,325 in Maldonado.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,593 in Urbana, IL versus $2,090 in Maldonado.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,551 in Urbana, IL versus $2,856 in Maldonado.
😐Living in Urbana, IL is roughly 23% more expensive than 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
$14.89$14.89
$16.02UYU 645
-7.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.3$50.3
$54.8UYU 2,204
-8.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.21$11.21
$11.03UYU 444
1.63%
Cappuccino
$4.44$4.44
$4.15UYU 167
6.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26$2.26
$2.27UYU 91.3
-0.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53$1.53
$1.75UYU 70.7
-12.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.35$5.35
$2.39UYU 96.2
123.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.07$6.07
$3.69UYU 149
64.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Urbana, IL
Maldonado
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.72$0.72
$1.13UYU 45.39
-36.28%
White Bread(500g)
$2.57$2.57
$2.86UYU 115
-10.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.71$2.71
$1.55UYU 62.3
74.84%
Eggs
$2.63$2.63
$4.63UYU 186
-43.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.64$7.64
$13.74UYU 553
-44.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.91$8.91
$10.77UYU 433
-17.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.65$13.65
$10.97UYU 441
24.43%
Apples(1kg)
$3.46$3.46
$2.19UYU 88.2
57.99%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56$1.56
$2.39UYU 96.1
-34.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.07$3.07
$1.57UYU 63.4
95.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.50$3.50
$3.54UYU 142
-1.13%
Potato(1kg)
$2.26$2.26
$1.77UYU 71.4
27.68%
Onion(1kg)
$2.50$2.50
$1.93UYU 77.6
29.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.75$1.75
$1.20UYU 48.22
45.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.34$1.34
$1.61UYU 64.8
-16.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.31$10.31
$5.25UYU 211
96.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.89$10.89
$3.55UYU 143
206.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75$1.75
$1.88UYU 75.7
-6.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.26$1.26
$2.65UYU 107
-52.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Urbana, IL
Maldonado
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.02$1.02
$1.32UYU 53.2
-22.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$44.20UYU 1,779
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.97$2.97
$1.49UYU 60.1
99.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.61$0.61
$2.10UYU 84.5
-70.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.34$29.34
$11.22UYU 452
161.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.97$0.97
$1.81UYU 73.0
-46.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0K$25.0K
$34.4KUYU 1.4M
-27.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.9K$22.9K
$35.8KUYU 1.4M
-36.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Urbana, IL
Maldonado
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$220$220
$155UYU 6,259
41.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.32$42.32
$16.93UYU 682
149.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.9$59.9
$43.30UYU 1,743
38.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Urbana, IL
Maldonado
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.32$42.32
$45.88UYU 1,847
-7.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.76UYU 1,198
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.05$12.05
$7.95UYU 320
51.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Urbana, IL
Maldonado
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,198$1,198
$478UYU 19.2K
150.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.4K$23.4K
$7,205UYU 290.0K
225.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Urbana, IL
Maldonado
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.31$45.31
$85.1UYU 3,425
-46.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.91$39.91
$46.83UYU 1,885
-14.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.0$68.0
$88.9UYU 3,579
-23.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$154$154
$91.4UYU 3,681
68.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Urbana, IL
Maldonado
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$764$764
$366UYU 14.7K
108.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$571$571
$285UYU 11.5K
100.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,529$1,529
$890UYU 35.8K
71.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,370$1,370
$600UYU 24.2K
128.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,639$1,639
$1,526UYU 61.4K
7.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,648$1,648
$1,299UYU 52.3K
26.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Urbana, IL
Maldonado
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$6,675$6,675
$886UYU 35.7K
653.21%
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Maldonado: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $764 in Urbana, IL and $366 in Maldonado. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Urbana, IL pays 653% 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 $55.0 in Maldonado for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $287 vs $297 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 Maldonado?
Urbana, IL and Maldonado differ by about 23% in total monthly costs ($1,635 vs $1,325 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?
Urbana, IL pays 653% more on average, 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 Maldonado?
Rent for a central apartment: $764 in Urbana, IL versus $366 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 3% 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 $1,635 per month in Urbana, IL versus $1,325 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 $1,325 in Maldonado versus $1,635 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