Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Worcester, MA and Montevideo

For one person, living is cheaper in Montevideo: $1,771 a month against $2,930 in Worcester, MA, rent and utilities included – about $13,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Worcester, MA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,930
/mo nomad
Montevideo
🇺🇾 Uruguay
$1,771
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Worcester, MA 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 Worcester, MA and in Montevideo actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,930 per month in Worcester, MA vs $1,771 in Montevideo, rent included.

  • Worcester, MA $2,930
  • Montevideo $1,771

A couple spends around $4,087 per month in Worcester, MA vs $2,740 in Montevideo, rent included.

  • Worcester, MA $4,087
  • Montevideo $2,740

A family of three spends $5,243 per month in Worcester, MA vs $3,708 in Montevideo, rent included.

  • Worcester, MA $5,243
  • Montevideo $3,708

Worcester, MA costs about 65% more than Montevideo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Worcester, MA and Montevideo sit above the global median – Worcester, MA by 117%, Montevideo by 31%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Worcester, MA
Montevideo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.75 $22.75
$15.16 UYU 609
50.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.7 $73.7
$69.2 UYU 2,776
6.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.18 $12.18
$14.65 UYU 588
-16.86%
Cappuccino
$5.10 $5.10
$4.46 UYU 179
14.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 $2.38
$2.67 UYU 107
-10.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 $1.68
$2.00 UYU 80.4
-16.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.97 $5.97
$4.83 UYU 194
23.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.88 $6.88
$3.80 UYU 152
81.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Worcester, MA
Montevideo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.20 $1.20
$1.36 UYU 54.8
-11.76%
White Bread (500g)
$3.68 $3.68
$2.87 UYU 115
28.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.08 $5.08
$1.75 UYU 70.2
190.29%
Eggs
$3.80 $3.80
$4.68 UYU 188
-18.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.07 $19.07
$13.88 UYU 557
37.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.75 $10.75
$11.98 UYU 481
-10.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.37 $20.37
$11.97 UYU 480
70.18%
Apples (1kg)
$3.74 $3.74
$2.78 UYU 111
34.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 $1.39
$2.74 UYU 110
-49.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.43 $3.43
$1.77 UYU 71.2
93.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.86 $4.86
$3.24 UYU 130
50.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.97 $2.97
$1.97 UYU 79.2
50.76%
Onion (1kg)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.07 UYU 83.1
61.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.83 $1.83
$1.37 UYU 55.1
33.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.51 $1.51
$1.88 UYU 75.3
-19.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.04 $13.04
$5.59 UYU 224
133.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.13 $12.13
$8.78 UYU 352
38.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 $1.69
$2.26 UYU 90.9
-25.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.36 $3.36
$2.75 UYU 110
22.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Worcester, MA
Montevideo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.53 UYU 61.5
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.3 UYU 2,980
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.90 $4.90
$1.91 UYU 76.7
156.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.42 $2.42
$0.40 UYU 16.18
505.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.67 $35.67
$10.33 UYU 415
245.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$2.13 UYU 85.6
-48.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.6K $34.6K
$27.1K UYU 1.1M
27.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.6K $24.6K
$36.3K UYU 1.5M
-32.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Worcester, MA
Montevideo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$190 $190
$188 UYU 7,557
1.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$56.1 $56.1
$20.54 UYU 824
173.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.1 $62.1
$44.81 UYU 1,798
38.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Worcester, MA
Montevideo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.64 $28.64
$54.0 UYU 2,166
-46.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.24 $30.24
$19.75 UYU 793
53.11%
Cinema Ticket
$16.54 $16.54
$11.95 UYU 480
38.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Worcester, MA
Montevideo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,713 $1,713
$634 UYU 25.5K
170.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$43.7K $43.7K
$11.1K UYU 443.6K
294.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Worcester, MA
Montevideo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.27 $48.27
$102 UYU 4,099
-52.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.60 $34.60
$57.5 UYU 2,309
-39.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.3 $92.3
$127 UYU 5,079
-27.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$148 $148
$128 UYU 5,131
15.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Worcester, MA
Montevideo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,877 $1,877
$719 UYU 28.8K
161.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,656 $1,656
$568 UYU 22.8K
191.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,932 $2,932
$1,145 UYU 46.0K
156.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,376 $2,376
$1,023 UYU 41.1K
132.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,867 $2,867
$3,392 UYU 136.1K
-15.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,872 $2,872
$1,949 UYU 78.2K
47.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Worcester, MA
Montevideo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,195 $4,195
$1,245 UYU 50.0K
237.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.33
5.74
10.28%

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

Last update for Worcester, MA: October 12, 2026

Last update for Montevideo: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Worcester, MA
$1.7K
Montevideo
$568 65.7% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Worcester, MA
$402
Montevideo
$332 17.5% $70
Eating Out
Worcester, MA
$340
Montevideo
$269 20.7% $70
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Worcester, MA
$308
Montevideo
$254 17.7% $55
Clothing & Footwear
Worcester, MA
$145
Montevideo
$186 28.3% $41
Sport & Entertainment
Worcester, MA
$62
Montevideo
$78 26.2% $16
Getting Around
Worcester, MA
$17 *
Montevideo
$84 396% $67

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,877 in Worcester, MA 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.

Salaries run about 237% higher in Worcester, MA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $74.0 in Worcester, MA versus $69.0 in Montevideo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $402 vs $332 – making Montevideo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Worcester, MA
🇺🇾 Montevideo
🕒 Local time
08:01 8:01 AM
09:01 9:01 AM
1 h ahead of Worcester, MA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
206,518
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 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Uruguayan Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 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
  • Worcester, MA Montevideo 8,730 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Worcester, MA
  • 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
Worcester, MA vs Montevideo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Montevideo cheaper than Worcester, MA?
Yes – Worcester, MA is pricier by about 65%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,395 per month in Worcester, MA 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 Worcester, MA or in Montevideo?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $74.0 in Worcester, MA 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 Worcester, MA and in Montevideo?
Groceries cost about 21% more in Worcester, MA, 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 Worcester, MA or in Montevideo?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Montevideo, where all-in costs run around $1,771, than in Worcester, MA at $2,930. In Montevideo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Worcester, MA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Worcester, MA 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, Worcester, MA 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, Worcester, MA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Worcester, MA vs other spots: cost of living compared

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