😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,697 in Urbana, IL versus $1,366 in Maldonado.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,688 in Urbana, IL versus $2,190 in Maldonado.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,679 in Urbana, IL versus $3,015 in Maldonado.
🌍Living in Urbana, IL is roughly 24% more expensive than in Maldonado, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Urbana, IL is 23% above, Maldonado is 1% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Urbana, IL
Maldonado
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.70$19.70
$14.65UYU 590
34.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.0$64.0
$54.9UYU 2,211
16.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.82$9.82
$11.30UYU 455
-13.10%
Cappuccino
$5.59$5.59
$4.58UYU 184
22.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16$2.16
$2.66UYU 107
-18.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57$1.57
$2.00UYU 80.3
-21.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.28$5.28
$3.65UYU 147
44.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.84$5.84
$3.66UYU 147
59.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Urbana, IL
Maldonado
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.69$0.69
$1.17UYU 47.26
-41.03%
White Bread(500g)
$2.34$2.34
$2.72UYU 109
-13.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.05$3.05
$1.82UYU 73.5
67.58%
Eggs
$2.95$2.95
$3.97UYU 160
-25.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.55$6.55
$13.98UYU 563
-53.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.00$9.00
$11.46UYU 461
-21.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.58$14.58
$11.75UYU 473
24.09%
Apples(1kg)
$3.86$3.86
$2.86UYU 115
34.97%
Banana(1kg)
$1.28$1.28
$2.16UYU 86.8
-40.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.68$2.68
$1.76UYU 70.9
52.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26$2.26
$3.04UYU 123
-25.66%
Potato(1kg)
$2.18$2.18
$2.02UYU 81.4
7.92%
Onion(1kg)
$2.92$2.92
$2.00UYU 80.7
46.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.92$2.92
$1.46UYU 58.8
100.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.38$1.38
$1.94UYU 78.2
-28.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.19$7.19
$5.52UYU 222
30.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.53$8.53
$8.14UYU 328
4.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.81$1.81
$2.32UYU 93.6
-21.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33$1.33
$2.90UYU 117
-54.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Urbana, IL
Maldonado
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.01$1.01
$1.35UYU 54.5
-25.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$49.76UYU 2,003
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.04$3.04
$3.58UYU 144
-15.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.64$0.64
$0.43UYU 17.41
48.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.19$18.19
$9.73UYU 392
86.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.87$0.87
$1.96UYU 78.7
-55.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K$36.4K
$27.1KUYU 1.1M
34.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K$26.4K
$37.9KUYU 1.5M
-30.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Urbana, IL
Maldonado
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$203$203
$114UYU 4,595
77.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$99.5$99.5
$17.48UYU 704
469.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.4$60.4
$45.31UYU 1,824
33.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Urbana, IL
Maldonado
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$48.40UYU 1,948
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$30.39UYU 1,223
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.84$12.84
$12.26UYU 493
4.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Urbana, IL
Maldonado
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$505UYU 20.3K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$6,616UYU 266.3K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Urbana, IL
Maldonado
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.6$75.6
$88.2UYU 3,552
-14.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.31$42.31
$37.62UYU 1,515
12.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$66.9$66.9
$121UYU 4,866
-44.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.9$89.9
$119UYU 4,781
-24.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Urbana, IL
Maldonado
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$751$751
$424UYU 17.1K
77.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$586$586
$313UYU 12.6K
87.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,492$1,492
$923UYU 37.2K
61.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,345$1,345
$588UYU 23.7K
128.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,639$1,639
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,662$1,662
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Urbana, IL
Maldonado
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$6,746$6,746
$986UYU 39.7K
584.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.3
5
26.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Urbana, IL: September 7, 2026
Last update for Maldonado: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $751 in Urbana, IL and $424 in Maldonado. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Urbana, IL pays 584% 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: $64.0 in Urbana, IL vs $55.0 in Maldonado. Groceries flip the comparison at $281 vs $319, with Urbana, IL cheaper for home cooking.
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 24% in total monthly costs ($1,697 vs $1,366 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 584% 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 $424 in Maldonado. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Maldonado – a meal for two runs $55.0 versus $64.0 in Urbana, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Urbana, IL or Maldonado?
All in, you'll spend $1,697 per month in Urbana, IL versus $1,366 in Maldonado – a 24% 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 $1,366 in Maldonado versus $1,697 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 24% 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