I track every peso I spend here. Not because I'm disciplined, because I'm paranoid. After two years in Montevideo I still don't have an intuitive feel for what things cost, so I write it down.

Here is what my actual monthly budget looks like living in Montevideo, not a tourist blog estimate, not a Numbeo screenshot, real numbers from my real life.

Grocery store shelves
Groceries are where the budget lives or dies. Same as anywhere, I guess.

Rent ( USD 450-600 )

I live in Pocitos. A one-bedroom, 50 square meters, with a balcony that fits one chair and one plant. USD 500/month including building fees ( gastos comunes ).

You can go cheaper in Cordón or La Blanqueada, maybe USD 350-400 for something similar. You can go way more expensive in Punta Carretas or along the rambla. I picked Pocitos because I walk to everything and I'm lazy.

Leases are typically 2 years here. You need a guarantor ( fiador ) or a rental guarantee company, which adds maybe USD 30/month. I used a guarantee company because I don't have family in Uruguay.

Food ( USD 200-280 )

This is where it gets unpredictable. I cook at home most days and I still spend USD 200+ on food. Supermarket prices are higher than you'd expect for South America.

Here is what I pay roughly:

Bread (1kg):           USD 1.50
Milk (1L):              USD 0.80
Eggs (12):              USD 2.00
Chicken breast (1kg):   USD 4.50
Tomatoes (1kg):         USD 2.00
Pasta (500g):           USD 0.90
Olive oil (500ml):      USD 4.00
Beer (6-pack):          USD 5.00

The feria ( street market ) is cheaper for produce. Thursday mornings in Pocitos, Saturday in Parque Rodó. I save maybe 30% on vegetables buying there instead of Tienda Inglesa.

Eating out is not cheap. A chivito at a decent place is USD 8-12. A pizza is USD 10-15. A proper dinner for two with wine is USD 40-60. I eat out maybe twice a week and it's always the thing that blows the budget.

Apartment interior
50 square meters. One chair on the balcony. That's the lifestyle.

Utilities ( USD 80-120 )

Electricity, water, gas combined run me about USD 40-50/month. Internet ( Antel ) is USD 25. Phone plan with 10GB is USD 15. Streaming services add another USD 20-30 depending on what I'm subscribed to this month.

Electricity spikes in summer ( December-February ) because of AC. In winter I use a space heater and it's not much better. UTE bills come every two months and they always feel higher than I expected.

Transport ( USD 40-60 )

I don't own a car and I don't plan to. STM bus card is USD 1.10 per ride, cheaper if you link it to your CI ( cédula ). I spend maybe USD 30/month on buses.

Taxis are expensive relative to everything else. A 15-minute ride is USD 5-7. Uber exists but the coverage is spotty. When I need to go somewhere not on a bus route, I walk or I suffer.

I considered buying a bike. The rambla has a bike path for most of its length. But the hills in some neighborhoods would kill me, so I didn't.

Financial spreadsheet
Yes, I track this in a spreadsheet. No, I will not share the template.

Healthcare ( USD 80 )

Fonasa ( public ) is cheap but slow. I have a private health plan through a mutualista, USD 80/month. Covers GP visits, basic labs, emergency. Specialist visits have a small copay.

Dental is separate. A cleaning is USD 30-40. I go twice a year. Not covered by my plan, or only partially.

Medication is cheaper than Italy or the UK. I pay maybe USD 15/month for stuff I take regularly. Farmashop and San Roque are everywhere.

The Stuff Nobody Mentions

Internet speed is not great. I pay for 50Mbps and get maybe 30 on a good day. Antel has no real competition in most neighborhoods.

Electronics are expensive. A phone that costs USD 800 in the US might be USD 1000+ here because of import taxes. I buy everything tech abroad and bring it in.

Clothes are also pricey. Most stuff is imported and marked up. I stock up when I travel or order from Shein like everyone else under 40 in this country.

City street in South America
Montevideo at sunset. Free entertainment, at least.

The Total

Here is my rough monthly breakdown:

Rent (w/ gastos):    USD 500
Food:                USD 240
Utilities:           USD 100
Transport:           USD 50
Healthcare:          USD 80
Misc/entertainment:  USD 100
--------------------
Total:               ~USD 1070

That's for one person living comfortably but not fancy. I could cut it to USD 800 if I moved to a cheaper neighborhood and stopped eating out. I could easily push it to USD 1500 if I started going to Punta del Este every weekend.

Is it cheap? Compared to London or Milan, yes. Compared to Buenos Aires right now, no. Compared to what I expected when I moved here, honestly, it's about the same. Uruguay is not a budget destination. It's just a livable one.

:)