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City comparison

Buenos Aires vs Montevideo

Two capitals on opposite banks of the same river. Buenos Aires is cheaper for groceries and stronger in healthcare and schools; Montevideo is calmer and more predictable, but rent and food there cost more.

In short

Calculated from the figures below, with no overall “who wins” score.

  • Rent

    in Montevideo cheaper — −15%

  • Family groceries

    ≈ about equal≈ $630ARS 985,617 and ≈ $630–651UYU 25,236–26,112 per month

  • Health insurance

    in Buenos Aires cheaper — −27%

In numbers

Exchange rate as of the date each figure was checked.

  • House or apartment rent

    per month
    Buenos Aires≈ $752–899ARS 1,176,184–1,406,326
    Montevideo≈ $577–827UYU 23,124–33,147
    cheaper by 15%
  • Piped gas

    Buenos Aires≈ $0.2 per m³ARS 316.16 per m³
    cheaper by 83%
    Montevideo≈ $1.21 per m³UYU 48.55 per m³
  • Family groceries

    per month
    almost equal
    Buenos Aires≈ $630ARS 985,617
    Montevideo≈ $630–651UYU 25,236–26,112
  • Internet

    per month
    Buenos Aires≈ $8.95–23ARS 13,999–35,774
    cheaper by 79%
    Montevideo≈ $41–108UYU 1,650–4,342
  • Health insurance

    per month
    Buenos Aires≈ $70–179ARS 110–280k
    cheaper by 27%
    Montevideo≈ $171UYU 6,858
  • Winter

    average
    Buenos Aires12 °C12 °C
    Montevideo7–15 °C7–15 °C
  • Precipitation

    per year
    Buenos Aires1,260 mm1,260 mm
    Montevideo1,101 mm1,101 mm
  • Ready-made house

    purchase
    Buenos Aires$151–200k$151–200k
    Montevideo$118k$118k
    cheaper by 33%

By topic

A quick look at each city. Details and sources are on the city page.

Daily life

Buenos Aires

Nothing yet

Montevideo

Spread by neighbourhood

From 16k pesos in Casavalle to 34k in Carrasco: between the cheapest and the most expensive neighbourhood it is a little over two times.

OfficialINE: average rent by neighborhood in Montevideo, active contracts · checked 28 Sep 2026

Everything about daily life in Montevideo →

Housing

Buenos Aires

Expensas

A building maintenance fee: on average 337k pesos a month, on top of rent. For a three-room flat in Palermo, about 300k.

SpecialistLa Nacion: expensas in Buenos Aires, ConsorcioAbierto data on ~13,000 buildings · checked 28 Sep 2026

Rent for a three-room flat by barrio

A flat with two bedrooms: Caballito 1.18 million pesos a month, Palermo 1.31 million, Núñez 1.41 million. Expensas on top.

OfficialIDECBA - Dynamics of the apartment rental market, Buenos Aires, Q2 2026 (Informe de resultados 2049) · checked 28 Sep 2026

Studio and one-bedroom

A studio (monoambiente, about 30 m²) averages 565,658 pesos a month; a one-bedroom of 43 m² averages 764,485 pesos. Small flats vary little between barrios.

OfficialIDECBA - Dynamics of the apartment rental market, Buenos Aires, Q2 2026 (Informe de resultados 2049) · checked 28 Sep 2026

What is actually available for rent

Three quarters of listings are homes with one bedroom at most. A family with two children can use about a quarter of the market.

OfficialIDECBA - Dynamics of the apartment rental market, Buenos Aires, Q2 2026 (Informe de resultados 2049) · checked 28 Sep 2026

Everything about housing in Buenos Aires →

Montevideo

Rent according to official data

The average existing contract in Montevideo is 23,472 pesos a month. Pocitos 28,018, Punta Carretas 28,959, Centro 23,124 (July 2026).

OfficialINE: rental market indicators, July 2026 · checked 28 Sep 2026

Rent: what is asked now

A two-bedroom in Pocitos is about 39k pesos a month, in Punta Carretas 50k, in Centro 29.9k. A three-bedroom house in Carrasco is 2,300–5,500 dollars.

SpecialistGallito: two-bedroom apartments for rent in Pocitos · checked 28 Sep 2026

Buying: median of transactions

The median of registered transactions in Montevideo is 118k dollars (June 2026), nationwide 85k.

OfficialINE: housing sales market indicators, June-July 2026 · checked 28 Sep 2026

Two-bedroom in Pocitos

By the listings, about 298k dollars for 72 m² in Pocitos, range 120–680k. These are asking prices, not transactions.

SpecialistGallito: two-bedroom apartments for sale in Pocitos · checked 28 Sep 2026

Everything about housing in Montevideo →

Money and prices

Buenos Aires

Budget for a family of four

The city's basket for a family with two children is 2.08 million pesos a month, but without rent. With the rent of a three-room flat it comes to 3.3–3.5 million.

OfficialIDECBA - Poverty lines and consumer baskets of the City of Buenos Aires, August 2026 (Informe de resultados 2054) · checked 28 Sep 2026

Food for a family

The food basket for a family of four is 985,617 pesos a month at city prices (August 2026). Up 34.7% over the year.

OfficialIDECBA - Poverty lines and consumer baskets of the City of Buenos Aires, August 2026 (Informe de resultados 2054) · checked 28 Sep 2026

How much you need to earn

Middle class by the city's yardstick starts at 2.6 million pesos for a family of four, and that is with owned housing.

OfficialIDECBA - Poverty lines and consumer baskets of the City of Buenos Aires, August 2026 (Informe de resultados 2054) · checked 28 Sep 2026

Everything about money and prices in Buenos Aires →

Montevideo

Family monthly budget

A family of three renting housing in Montevideo is considered poor at an income below 54,233 pesos a month. For two the threshold is 39,169.

OfficialINE: income poverty estimate, first half of 2025, with poverty lines · checked 28 Sep 2026

Groceries for a family

The INE minimum food basket for Montevideo is 6,309 pesos per person a month, for a family of four about 25,200. Values for January 2025.

OfficialINE: income poverty estimate, first half of 2025, with poverty lines · checked 28 Sep 2026

Everything about money and prices in Montevideo →

Family and kids

Buenos Aires

Private schools

Fee ceilings in schools with state support: primary (half-day) 44–224k pesos a month, secondary 55–297k.

SpecialistiProfesional - new fee caps in CABA private schools from September 2026 · checked 28 Sep 2026

Everything about family and kids in Buenos Aires →

Montevideo

Schools and kindergartens

Enrolment in a state kindergarten from age three and in school goes through the Guri Familia portal. The country of origin and the family's status do not matter.

OfficialMinistry of Education and Culture: guide to enrolling migrants, primary education · checked 28 Sep 2026

Everything about family and kids in Montevideo →

Healthcare

Buenos Aires

Private health insurance

A mid-level plan costs 110–280k pesos a month per person; OSDE 210 cost 285k in September 2026. For a family, multiply.

SpecialistComparison of private health insurance (prepagas) prices, September 2026 · checked 28 Sep 2026

Hospitals and foreigners

With residency, city hospitals are free on equal terms with Argentines. Without a DNI, elective care is paid; emergency care is for everyone.

OfficialResolución 1054/MSGC/2025 - procedure for treating patients without an Argentine DNI in city hospitals · checked 28 Sep 2026

Everything about healthcare in Buenos Aires →

Montevideo

How much healthcare costs

The regulator's benchmark for a personal contribution to a mutualista (a private health fund) is 6,858 pesos a month per person. The cap on a co-payment for a visit, test or medicine is 880 pesos.

OfficialUruguay's Ministry of Public Health: healthcare price adjustment, July 2026 · checked 28 Sep 2026

Everything about healthcare in Montevideo →

Transport

Buenos Aires

Metro and buses

The metro is 1,753 pesos per trip, a bus from 888. Fares drop from the 21st trip in a month. A family spends about 127k a month.

OfficialRed SUBE - AMBA public transport fares, in effect from 1 September 2026 · checked 28 Sep 2026

Everything about transport in Buenos Aires →

Montevideo

Getting around the city

One hour of travel with an STM card costs 52 pesos, two hours 78. Cash is more expensive: 64 and 97. The first card is free.

OfficialMontevideo city hall: urban public transport fares · checked 28 Sep 2026

Carrasco airport

On Ruta 101, kilometre 19.95. There are 18 direct destinations, only Madrid in Europe and only Miami in the US.

SpecialistCarrasco airport: direct destinations · checked 28 Sep 2026

Everything about transport in Montevideo →

Climate

Buenos Aires

Winter

The average July temperature is 11.5 degrees: about 8 at night, about 16 by day. Snow comes once in several generations, but you need heating in winter.

SpecialistClimates to Travel - climate of Buenos Aires, 1991-2020 normals · checked 28 Sep 2026

Annual precipitation

About 1,260 mm a year and 77 rainy days – there is no dry season. It rains most in summer, winter is the driest. Downpours sometimes cause flooding.

SpecialistClimates to Travel - climate of Buenos Aires, 1991-2020 normals · checked 28 Sep 2026

Everything about climate in Buenos Aires →

Montevideo

Winter

July is the coldest month: average minimum 7.2 degrees, average maximum 15.0. June and August are almost the same.

OfficialWMO, World Weather Information Service: climate normals of Montevideo · checked 28 Sep 2026

Precipitation and seasonality

About 1,100 mm a year, and surprisingly evenly distributed: in any month from 83 to 109 mm and 8–10 rain days.

OfficialWMO, World Weather Information Service: climate normals of Montevideo · checked 28 Sep 2026

Everything about climate in Montevideo →

Safety

Buenos Aires

Intentional homicides

In 2025 there were 2.53 homicides per 100k residents – the lowest since 1995, below the national average (3.7).

OfficialBuenos Aires crime map, summary report for 2025 · checked 28 Sep 2026

Everything about safety in Buenos Aires →

Montevideo

Homicides

In 2025 Montevideo had 210 homicides out of 369 nationwide, that is 57%. Nationwide it is 10.3 per 100 thousand residents.

OfficialUruguay's Ministry of the Interior: preliminary crime statistics for 2025 · checked 28 Sep 2026

Robberies by neighbourhood

Robbery reports (rapiña) in 2025: Pocitos 125, Carrasco 59, Cordón 290, Casavalle 481, Unión 564. These are the number of cases, not adjusted for population.

OfficialUruguay's Ministry of the Interior, open data: crime reports by Montevideo neighborhood (microdata through 2025) · checked 29 Sep 2026

Thefts by neighbourhood

Reports of theft without violence in 2025: Cordón 2,697, Pocitos 2,062, Carrasco 517. This includes thefts from cars and shops, not only from passers-by.

OfficialUruguay's Ministry of the Interior, open data: crime reports by Montevideo neighborhood (microdata through 2025) · checked 29 Sep 2026

Everything about safety in Montevideo →

Internet and phone

Buenos Aires

Internet

Fibre at 300 Mbps costs about 14–22k pesos a month on promotion, 500 Mbps 22–36k. The main trap: after 6–12 months the list price kicks in, and it is three to four times higher.

SpecialistMovistar Argentina - 300 Mbps fiber plan · checked 28 Sep 2026

Everything about internet and phone service in Buenos Aires →

Montevideo

Internet speed

State-owned Antel offers up to 1000/300 Mbit/s over fibre, and the basic home plan is 400/30.

OfficialAntel: data transmission price list, 2026 · checked 28 Sep 2026

Internet per month

From 1,650 pesos for 400 Mbit/s to 4,342 for a gigabit. Taxes included, two-year contract.

OfficialAntel: data transmission price list, 2026 · checked 28 Sep 2026

Everything about internet and phone service in Montevideo →

Services

Buenos Aires

Electricity, gas and water

Without subsidies, electricity, gas and water cost about 142k pesos a month in spring and up to 166k in winter. Expensas (the building fee) are not included in this amount.

SpecialistTN citing the Observatorio de Tarifas y Subsidios IIEP (UBA-CONICET) - AMBA utilities basket, September 2026 · checked 28 Sep 2026

Electricity (Edesur)

Edesur electricity without a subsidy: 157 pesos per kWh plus 3,632 a month (category 151–400 kWh). For 300 kWh about 50.8k pesos without IVA (33 dollars).

OfficialEdesur: cuadro tarifario, ENReGE resolution 535/26, in effect from 1 September 2026 · checked 30 Sep 2026

Mains gas (Metrogas)

Metrogas gas without a subsidy: 316 pesos per m³ plus a fixed charge of 4.4–53.8k a month, without taxes. 100 m³ in winter (category R2 2°) – about 47.6k pesos (31 dollars).

OfficialMetrogas: cuadros tarifarios, September 2026 (tariffs for homes without SEF subsidies, excluding taxes) · checked 30 Sep 2026

Everything about services in Buenos Aires →

Montevideo

Electricity at the tariff

From January 2026: 6.744 pesos per kWh up to 100 kWh, 8.452 from 101 to 600, plus a fixed 324.9 pesos a month. For 300 kWh the tariff comes to about 2,900 pesos.

OfficialDecreto 339/025: UTE rates from 1 January 2026 · checked 28 Sep 2026

OSE water

OSE water from January 2026: up to 15 m³ at 36.91 pesos per m³ plus a fixed charge of 327.5. For 15 m³ that comes to about 880 pesos a month. The municipality bills sewage separately.

OfficialDecree 340/025: OSE water and sewerage tariffs from 1 January 2026 · checked 29 Sep 2026

Sewage (municipality)

The municipality, not OSE, bills sewage in Montevideo: a fixed charge of 80.76 pesos a month and 45.30 per m³ of water (2025 tariff). For 15 m³ that is about 760 pesos, billed every two months.

OfficialMontevideo city government: saneamiento (sewerage) tariff · checked 29 Sep 2026

Network gas

Montevideo Gas network gas, September 2026, including VAT: 48.55 pesos per m³ plus a fixed charge of 714.86 a month. Summer, 30 m³: about 2,170 pesos; winter, 100 m³: about 5,570.

OfficialMontevideo Gas: current tariff, September 2026, including VAT · checked 29 Sep 2026

Everything about services in Montevideo →

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