Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Watertown, SD and Montevideo

For one person, living is cheaper in Montevideo: $1,771 a month against $2,518 in Watertown, SD, rent and utilities included – about $9,000 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Watertown, SD outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Watertown, SD
🇺🇸 United States
$2,518
/mo nomad
Montevideo
🇺🇾 Uruguay
$1,771
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Watertown, SD and in Montevideo

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Watertown, SD and in Montevideo actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,518 per month in Watertown, SD vs $1,771 in Montevideo, rent included.

  • Watertown, SD $2,518
  • Montevideo $1,771

A couple spends around $3,595 per month in Watertown, SD vs $2,740 in Montevideo, rent included.

  • Watertown, SD $3,595
  • Montevideo $2,740

A family of three spends $4,672 per month in Watertown, SD vs $3,708 in Montevideo, rent included.

  • Watertown, SD $4,672
  • Montevideo $3,708

Watertown, SD costs about 42% more than Montevideo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Watertown, SD and Montevideo sit above the global median – Watertown, SD by 87%, Montevideo by 31%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Watertown, SD
Montevideo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.56 $15.56
$15.16 UYU 609
2.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.5 $60.5
$69.2 UYU 2,776
-12.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.07 $10.07
$14.65 UYU 588
-31.26%
Cappuccino
$5.10 $5.10
$4.46 UYU 179
14.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03 $3.03
$2.67 UYU 107
13.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.00 UYU 80.4
-1.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.97 $5.97
$4.83 UYU 194
23.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.54 $7.54
$3.80 UYU 152
98.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Watertown, SD
Montevideo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.91 $0.91
$1.36 UYU 54.8
-33.09%
White Bread (500g)
$3.94 $3.94
$2.87 UYU 115
37.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.42 $3.42
$1.75 UYU 70.2
95.43%
Eggs
$3.01 $3.01
$4.68 UYU 188
-35.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.54 $9.54
$13.88 UYU 557
-31.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.35 $9.35
$11.98 UYU 481
-21.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.24 $13.24
$11.97 UYU 480
10.61%
Apples (1kg)
$5.00 $5.00
$2.78 UYU 111
79.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.16 $1.16
$2.74 UYU 110
-57.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.16 $6.16
$1.77 UYU 71.2
248.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.97 $4.97
$3.24 UYU 130
53.40%
Potato (1kg)
$3.76 $3.76
$1.97 UYU 79.2
90.86%
Onion (1kg)
$3.46 $3.46
$2.07 UYU 83.1
67.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.00 $2.00
$1.37 UYU 55.1
45.99%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 $1.68
$1.88 UYU 75.3
-10.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.58 $8.58
$5.59 UYU 224
53.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.72 $14.72
$8.78 UYU 352
67.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 $1.78
$2.26 UYU 90.9
-21.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56 $3.56
$2.75 UYU 110
29.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Watertown, SD
Montevideo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.14 $2.14
$1.53 UYU 61.5
39.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.3 UYU 2,980
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.45 $2.45
$1.91 UYU 76.7
28.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 $1.58
$0.40 UYU 16.18
295.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.63 $30.63
$10.33 UYU 415
196.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 $1.03
$2.13 UYU 85.6
-51.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.8K $36.8K
$27.1K UYU 1.1M
35.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K $25.2K
$36.3K UYU 1.5M
-30.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Watertown, SD
Montevideo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$227 $227
$188 UYU 7,557
20.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.9 $50.9
$20.54 UYU 824
147.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.6 $65.6
$44.81 UYU 1,798
46.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Watertown, SD
Montevideo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.28 $44.28
$54.0 UYU 2,166
-17.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.75 UYU 793
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.80 $12.80
$11.95 UYU 480
7.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Watertown, SD
Montevideo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,457 $1,457
$634 UYU 25.5K
129.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.3K $28.3K
$11.1K UYU 443.6K
155.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Watertown, SD
Montevideo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.14 $42.14
$102 UYU 4,099
-58.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.06 $40.06
$57.5 UYU 2,309
-30.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.9 $78.9
$127 UYU 5,079
-37.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 $112
$128 UYU 5,131
-12.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Watertown, SD
Montevideo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,583 $1,583
$719 UYU 28.8K
120.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,320 $1,320
$568 UYU 22.8K
132.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,540 $2,540
$1,145 UYU 46.0K
121.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,130 $2,130
$1,023 UYU 41.1K
108.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,961 $2,961
$3,392 UYU 136.1K
-12.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,634 $2,634
$1,949 UYU 78.2K
35.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Watertown, SD
Montevideo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,245 UYU 50.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.31
5.74
9.93%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Watertown, SD: October 11, 2026

Last update for Montevideo: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Watertown, SD
$1.3K
Montevideo
$568 57% $752
Groceries & Markets
Watertown, SD
$363
Montevideo
$332 8.5% $31
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Watertown, SD
$344
Montevideo
$254 26.2% $90
Eating Out
Watertown, SD
$281
Montevideo
$269 4.1% $12
Clothing & Footwear
Watertown, SD
$123
Montevideo
$186 51.8% $64
Sport & Entertainment
Watertown, SD
$70
Montevideo
$78 11.4% $8
Getting Around
Watertown, SD
$19 *
Montevideo
$84 345% $65

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,583 in Watertown, SD versus $719 in Montevideo. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in Watertown, SD versus $69.0 in Montevideo. Groceries tell a different story – $363 in Watertown, SD vs $332 in Montevideo – so Montevideo wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Watertown, SD
🇺🇾 Montevideo
🕒 Local time
12:05 12:05 PM
14:05 2:05 PM
2 h ahead of Watertown, SD
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
31,915
1,319,108 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

UYU, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Uruguayan Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 40.14 UYU (100 UYU = 2.49 USD). 1 EUR = 45.12 UYU (100 UYU = 2.22 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Watertown, SD Montevideo 9,780 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Watertown, SD
  • Montevideo

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Watertown, SD vs Montevideo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Montevideo cheaper than Watertown, SD?
Yes – Watertown, SD is pricier by about 42%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in transport.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,777 per month in Watertown, SD and $2,656 in Montevideo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Montevideo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Watertown, SD or in Montevideo?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in Watertown, SD and $69.0 in Montevideo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Watertown, SD and in Montevideo?
Groceries cost about 9% more in Watertown, SD, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Watertown, SD or in Montevideo?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Montevideo, where all-in costs run around $1,771, than in Watertown, SD at $2,518. In Montevideo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Watertown, SD it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Watertown, SD or Montevideo more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Montevideo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Watertown, SD or Montevideo?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Montevideo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Watertown, SD makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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