Cost Of Living For a Family in Montevideo 2025

Average monthly spending for families in Montevideo

We consider a family to be a member of four members, two adults and two children. This is the most common type of family. From the figures below, it should be fairly easy to calculate the average spending for families of different sizes.

How much money does a family need in a month to survive in Montevideo?

Families in Montevideo spend around 150,000 UYU per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a family can survive with a monthly budget as low as 52,000 UYU or as high as 970,000 UYU. Location and income are very important factors and have a huge influence on expenditure and budget.

Family expenditure to income ratio in Montevideo

Analysing the how affordable it is for families to live in Montevideo

One of the most definite ways to determine how affordable a place is measuring the ratio of expenses to salary. A high expense-to-income to ratio indicates a high cost-of-living index while a low expenditure-to-salary ratio means the place is affordable to live in. Families usually spend a larger chunk of their income than other population groups. A typical and healthy expenditure percentage for a family of four ranges between 70% to 80%.

Families in Montevideo spend around 98% of their monthly income. Some families spend as low as 89% of their income while some as high as 110%.

How do families spend their money in Montevideo?

We asked thousands of families about their spending habits and expenditure break down.

Housing and accomodation expenditure for families

Families in Montevideo typically spend from 21% to 36% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 26% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 48,000 UYU with expenditure ranging from 17,000 UYU to 310,000 UYU. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.

Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for families

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Montevideo ranges from 3% to 8% of total expenses with 5% being the average for most families. The average monthly cost of utilities is 7,400 UYU with 2,600 UYU and 48,000 UYU being the upper and lower limits for a family of four.

Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for families

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a family resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a family would expect to spend from 5,200 UYU to 97,000 UYU in a month on commuting with 15,000 UYU being the norm for most families. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 5% of total spending on average but can go as low as 3% or as high as 7%.

Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for families

The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical family in a month in Montevideo is 27,000 UYU. The cost of groceries can range between 9,400 UYU to 170,000 UYU. Families spend on average about 21% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 14% and 27% respectively.

Healthcare and medical services expenditure for families

Families in Montevideo allocate 7% to 16% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 11%. The range of medical expenses range from 4,700 UYU to 77,000 UYU with 15,000 UYU being the norm for most families.

Leisure and shopping expenditure for families

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 2,600 UYU to 48,000 UYU with 7,400 UYU being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 1% to 7% of total expenses with an average of 3% for most families.

Education and schooling expenditure for families

Spending on education can vary drastically between different families. On average, education constitutes 13% of the monthly expenditure of families with 6% and 21% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 21,000 UYU per month with 7,300 UYU being the minimum spent amount and 140,000 UYU being the maximum.

What percentage of families in Montevideo are able to save money and how much can they save?

Percentage of families that reported their ability to save money

Almost 56% of surveyed families in Montevideo said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 44% reported that they have to utilize their whole income to survive.

How much money do families manage to add to their savings?

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for families

Interpretation and Analysis

Families that are able to save money can put anywhere from 12% to 32% of their monthly income to their savings, with 20% being the average for most families. The average monthly amount of money that families can put aside is 48,000 UYU with 17,000 UYU and 320,000 UYU being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Saving Challenges in Montevideo

Reasons that make it difficult for families to save money

We wanted to understand what is stopping families from maximizing their savings in Montevideo. Listed below are the answers given by the survey participants.

Around 5% of the families said that their salary is too low to accommodate a portion for savings while 8% said that the high cost of living leaves little room for savings. 14% of the residents said that they are burdened with debt and find it challenging to save money. 11% reported that they just don't have the knowledge or discipline to create and stick to a budget, leading to overspending and an inability to save. 11% of families blamed impulsive spending as the reason for saving inability. Around 7% said that unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs are derailing their savings goals. 6% bluntly said that they don't see the purpose of it and prefer to live each day to the fullest. 20% reported that they understand the value of saving but are putting off saving for the future, thinking they have plenty of time to start later. 13% blamed inflation, saying that every time they save some money they end up using it immediately. A surprising 3% said that social pressure and keeping up with peers or social expectations makes them overspend. Lastly, 2% blamed market instability and price fluctuations.

Typical saving choices for families in Montevideo

Where do people choose to put their savings?

A typical and healthy budgeting structure

The 50/30/20 rule

Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle, location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule, which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.

• 50% for needs and financial obligations

  This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.

• 30% for wants and discretionary spending

  This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.

• 20% for savings and emergency fund

  This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.

About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting

Affordable living in Montevideo

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked families one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Montevideo?

Around 60% of surveyed families think that living in Montevideo is affordable with proper budgeting while 40% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in Montevideo

People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked families how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options60%

Few low-cost options40%

Based on the survey, 60% of the families living in Montevideo have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 40% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Emergency Funds For Families

An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked families of Montevideo whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes57%

No43%

Based on the survey, 43% of the families living in Montevideo said that they don't have an emergency fund while 57% said that they do.

Financial Literacy in Uruguay

Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.

Financial Leteracy50%

We asked family guardians and parents in Montevideo whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 50% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 50% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.

Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning

We wanted to understand whether families of Uruguay have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 49% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 51% said that they have everything under control.

Struggles with finance49%

Easily manages finances51%

Financial goals of families in Montevideo

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Montevideo, we asked participants about their financial targets. By knowing what the population in general is trying to achieve, we can shed light on the economic outlook, cost of living, and quality of life in general.

Around 8% of families said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 42% said their number one priority is to pay off high-interest debt or loans and improve credit. 10% of surveyed people confirmed that saving for retirement to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in the final years is their main target. Around 7% reported that their priority is saving for the tuition fees and education costs of their children while 18% choose to buy a home or pay off existing mortgage before other things. 7% of the population would like to build wealth through investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. For 7% of people, saving for vacations or upgrading their lifestyle is the number one concern. Approximately 13% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.

Debt, loans, and mortgages in Montevideo

Percentage of families who are in debt

According to the survey, 35% of the families in Montevideo have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 65% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.

Debt-to-income ratio in Montevideo

Interpretation

The debt-to-income ratio measures the percentage of income being paid as debt settlement across the population. It is calculated by dividing the monthly debt settlement payment of an individual by their monthly income. Based on collected data, approximately 33% of a family's monthly income in Montevideo goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 3% of the debtors in Montevideo pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 17% of the people pay 50% to 60% of their income for the same, which is quite an alarming financial situation for those individuals. 14% of people in debt dedicate 40% to 50% of their income to loan and mortgage payments while 16% dedicated 30% to 40% of income for same. Things are looking brighter for 11% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.

Distribution by type of debt in Montevideo

9% of debtors in Montevideo confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 29% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 16% of people and personal loans rose at 42%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 4% of debtors in Montevideo.

Good debt vs. Bad debt

Not all debt is bad. Good debt typically refers to borrowing money for investments that can increase in value or generate income over time like purchasing a home or acquiring student loans. On the other hand, bad debt involves borrowing for things that fail to generate lasting value like high-interest credit card debt used for non-essential expenses like luxury items or vacations.

Loan Affordability Index in Montevideo

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked families of Montevideo how many times in a year they defaulted or were unable to pay their due credit card or loan payments on time. Understanding how often people default on their due payments is one of the indicators of the cost of living and economic situation.

Frequency and percentage of people who failed to pay their monthly credit card or loan payments on time last year.

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Montevideo

Rent Cost in Montevideo

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

8,200 UYU

12,000 UYU

33,000 UYU

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$210

$320

$840

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

12,000 UYU

20,000 UYU

49,000 UYU

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$320

$510

$1,300

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

16,000 UYU

25,000 UYU

66,000 UYU

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$420

$630

$1,700

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

20,000 UYU

33,000 UYU

90,000 UYU

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$510

$840

$2,300

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

39,000 UYU

99,000 UYU

200,000 UYU

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,000

$2,500

$5,100

Townhouse monthly rent cost

33,000 UYU

49,000 UYU

140,000 UYU

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$840

$1,300

$3,600

House monthly rent cost

39,000 UYU

99,000 UYU

200,000 UYU

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,000

$2,500

$5,100

Villa monthly rent cost

49,000 UYU

120,000 UYU

200,000 UYU

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,300

$3,200

$5,100

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Montevideo ranges between 8,200 UYU and 33,000 UYU, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 12,000 UYU to 49,000 UYU. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 16,000 UYU and 66,000 UYU per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 20,000 UYU to 90,000 UYU. The average rent of a townhouse in Montevideo is around 49,000 UYU while house rental costs can be as high as 99,000 UYU per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 49,000 UYU to 200,000 UYU per month.

Apartment and house prices in Montevideo

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

1.6M UYU

2.5M UYU

4.9M UYU

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$42,000

$63,000

$130,000

1-bedroom apartment price

2M UYU

3.3M UYU

12M UYU

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$51,000

$84,000

$320,000

2-bedroom apartment price

3.3M UYU

9.9M UYU

20M UYU

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$84,000

$250,000

$510,000

3-bedroom apartment price

11M UYU

16M UYU

49M UYU

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$280,000

$420,000

$1.3M

Townhouse price

14M UYU

33M UYU

120M UYU

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$360,000

$840,000

$3.2M

House price

16M UYU

99M UYU

140M UYU

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$420,000

$2.5M

$3.6M

Villa price

20M UYU

110M UYU

160M UYU

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$510,000

$2.8M

$4.2M

The average price of a studio apartment in Montevideo can range from 1.6M UYU to 4.9M UYU depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 2M UYU to 12M UYU. A villa can cost you 110M UYU on average with prices ranging from 20M UYU to 160M UYU.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Montevideo can be x116 to x223 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x116 multiples of the average monthly salary in Montevideo.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Montevideo is around 34%. This means that people pay 34% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 23% to 45% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.

Housing affordability index

The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.

Property Taxes

Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.

Home Maintenance Costs

Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.

Urban vs. rural living costs

Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Montevideo

Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Montevideo

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Family

2,600 UYU

7,400 UYU

48,000 UYU

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$67

$190

$1,200

Internet and cable cost

450 UYU

900 UYU

1,200 UYU

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$11

$23

$31

Mobile phone bill and charges

360 UYU

600 UYU

1,800 UYU

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$9.2

$15

$46

The average monthly energy and water consumption of families is around 7,400 UYU. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 450 UYU to 1,200 UYU with 900 UYU being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 600 UYU but can range between 360 UYU and 1,800 UYU depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.

Energy / Utility expense to income ratio

The average utility-to-income ratio in Montevideo is around 6.6%. This means that people pay 6.6% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 3.3% to 11% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Montevideo

Prices and cost of goods and services in Montevideo

Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.

Fast food combo meal price

90 UYU

180 UYU

300 UYU

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.3

$4.6

$7.7

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Montevideo is approximatly 180 UYU with meal cost ranging from 90 UYU to 300 UYU. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

310 UYU

470 UYU

940 UYU

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$8

$12

$24

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 310 UYU and 940 UYU with 470 UYU being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Montevideo.

Fine dining meal for one price

630 UYU

940 UYU

3,800 UYU

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$16

$24

$97

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 630 UYU to 3,800 UYU with the average cost being 940 UYU for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Montevideo.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

75 UYU

120 UYU

180 UYU

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.9

$3.1

$4.6

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Montevideo is around 120 UYU. Price ranges between 75 UYU and 180 UYU depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

60 UYU

72 UYU

90 UYU

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.5

$1.8

$2.3

The average price of a large bottle of milk in Montevideo is 72 UYU. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 90 UYU and the minimum being 60 UYU depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

45 UYU

60 UYU

90 UYU

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.1

$1.5

$2.3

A dozen eggs costs around 60 UYU on average with 45 UYU and 90 UYU being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

100 UYU

130 UYU

190 UYU

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.6

$3.4

$4.8

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Montevideo is between 100 UYU and 190 UYU depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 130 UYU.

Pack of beef price

120 UYU

180 UYU

360 UYU

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.1

$4.6

$9.2

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 180 UYU. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

48 UYU

66 UYU

93 UYU

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.2

$1.7

$2.4

A bag of rice in Montevideo costs around 66 UYU on average with prices rangeing between 48 UYU and 93 UYU depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

18 UYU

24 UYU

45 UYU

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.46

$0.61

$1.1

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 18 UYU to 45 UYU. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

32 UYU

42 UYU

69 UYU

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.82

$1.1

$1.8

A bag of apples costs 42 UYU on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio

The average grocery-to-income ratio in Montevideo is around 29%. This means that families spend 29% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 20% to 35% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for families