Montevideo vs Punta del Este
In short
Calculated from the figures below, with no overall “who wins” score.
Rent
✓in Punta del Este cheaper — −14%
Family groceries
✓in Punta del Este cheaper — −14%
Ready-made house
✓in Montevideo cheaper — −79%
In numbers
Exchange rate as of the date each figure was checked.
House or apartment rent
per monthMontevideo≈ $577–827UYU 23,124–33,147✓Punta del Este≈ $576–628UYU 23,083–25,177cheaper by 14%Family groceries
per monthMontevideo≈ $630–651UYU 25,236–26,112✓Punta del Este≈ $541–561UYU 21,684–22,484cheaper by 14%Family budget, other calculation
per monthMontevideo≈ $1,350UYU 54,233Punta del Este≈ $1,050UYU 42,055Internet
per monthMontevideo≈ $41–108UYU 1,650–4,342Punta del Este≈ $41–108UYU 1,650–4,342One figure for the whole country, not calculated per city
Winter
averageMontevideo7–15 °C7–15 °CPunta del Este9–14 °C9–14 °CPrecipitation
per yearMontevideo1,101 mm1,101 mmPunta del Este1,011 mm1,011 mmReady-made house
purchase✓Montevideo$118k$118kcheaper by 79%Punta del Este$138–967k$138–967k
By topic
A quick look at each city. Details and sources are on the city page.
Daily life
Montevideo
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
Punta del Este
In summer the city lives on tourists: 1.3 million of them entered the country in December–February, and Punta del Este is the main destination. A two-bedroom apartment for half of January rents for 6,500 dollars.
SpecialistPuntanews: results of the 2025-2026 summer season according to the Ministry of Tourism · checked 29 Sep 2026
Maldonado is the fastest-growing department in the country, 212,951 residents in the 2023 census. It grows through the arrival of Uruguayans and foreigners.
OfficialINE: final results of the 2023 census, population by department · checked 29 Sep 2026
For living with children, realtors recommend Cantegril, Beverly Hills, Pinares and Mansa. Península, La Barra and Roosevelt are jammed with traffic in summer.
SpecialistLa Cite Realtors: international schools in Maldonado and where to live nearby · checked 29 Sep 2026
Housing
Montevideo
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
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
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
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
Punta del Este
Maldonado department: average existing contract 23,083 pesos a month, new 25,177 - more than Montevideo (July 2026). INE does not calculate the city separately.
OfficialINE: average rent by department, existing contracts · checked 29 Sep 2026
A two-bedroom apartment for a year or for winter is asked at 700 to 3,500 dollars a month, median about 1,550. Plus gastos comunes separately, up to 1,000–1,400 dollars in towers.
SpecialistGallito: two-bedroom apartments for rent in Punta del Este, 80 listings on the page · checked 29 Sep 2026
A two-bedroom apartment in Punta del Este is on sale for 138–967k dollars, median about 270k for 75 m². These are asking prices, not transactions.
SpecialistGallito: two-bedroom apartments for sale in Punta del Este · checked 29 Sep 2026
Money and prices
Montevideo
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
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
Punta del Este
The INE minimum food basket for the country excluding the capital is 5,421–5,621 pesos per person a month, for a family of four 21.7–22.5k. Data from 2025.
OfficialINE: income poverty estimate, first half of 2025, with poverty lines · checked 29 Sep 2026
A family of three renting housing outside the capital is considered poor at an income below 42,055 pesos a month. In Punta del Este the real bar is much higher.
OfficialINE: income poverty estimate, first half of 2025, with poverty lines · checked 29 Sep 2026
Family and kids
Montevideo
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
Punta del Este
International schools Woodside, St Clare's and Garzón School. According to a realtor's estimate, 6–15k dollars a year per child, with higher grades costing more.
SpecialistLa Cite Realtors: international schools in Maldonado and where to live nearby · checked 29 Sep 2026
Healthcare
Montevideo
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
Punta del Este
The ASSE state hospital and the Mautone sanatorium are in the neighbouring city of Maldonado. In Punta del Este itself, on Roosevelt, parada 13, is the head office of the private mutualista Asistencial.
OfficialASSE: Hospital Departamental de Maldonado Dr. Elbio Rivero Moreno · checked 29 Sep 2026
Transport
Montevideo
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
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
Punta del Este
A Montevideo – Punta del Este ticket from COPSA costs 466 pesos, return 932. To Maldonado 450, with a student discount.
SpecialistCOPSA Línea Este: intercity bus fares from 7 January 2026 · checked 29 Sep 2026
Only Buenos Aires and São Paulo have regular flights all year round. Santiago, Asunción and Campinas are added only in summer. Data for the 2024–2025 season.
SpecialistAviacionline: Punta del Este adds flights for the 2024-2025 season · checked 29 Sep 2026
Climate
Montevideo
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
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
Punta del Este
July is the coldest month: average minimum 8.7 degrees, maximum 14.4. Summer is mild: in January 18.1 and 25.2.
OfficialWMO, World Weather Information Service: climate normals for Punta del Este · checked 29 Sep 2026
About 1,010 mm a year, evenly distributed: from 67 mm in December to 94 mm in August, 8–10 rain days in any month.
OfficialWMO, World Weather Information Service: climate normals for Punta del Este · checked 29 Sep 2026
Safety
Montevideo
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
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
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
Punta del Este
In 2025 there were 14 homicides in the Maldonado department, about 6.6 per 100 thousand residents. Nationwide, 10.3.
SpecialistMontevideo Portal: breakdown of 2025 homicides by department · checked 29 Sep 2026
Internet and phone
Montevideo
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
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
Punta del Este
Antel fibre from 1,650 pesos for 400 Mbit/s to 4,342 for a gigabit. For holiday-home owners there is Fibra Temporada for 865 pesos: unlimited data from December to March.
OfficialAntel: data plan price list, 2026 · checked 29 Sep 2026
Services
Montevideo
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 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
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
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
Punta del Este
The UTE tariff is uniform: 300 kWh comes to about 2,940 pesos, 600 kWh about 5,470. In apartments, gastos comunes come on top: from 13k pesos to 1,400 dollars.
OfficialDecree 339/025: UTE tariffs from 1 January 2026 · checked 29 Sep 2026
OSE, Maldonado resort zone: 47.41 pesos per m³ up to 15 m³ plus a fixed charge of 636.68. For 15 m³ with sewage about 2,200 pesos a month, more than in Montevideo.
OfficialDecree 340/025: OSE water and sewerage tariffs from 1 January 2026 · checked 29 Sep 2026
We did not find network gas in Punta del Este: the distributors Montevideo Gas and Conecta do not list Maldonado. Refilling a 13 kg cylinder costs about 1,216 pesos.
OfficialURSEA: network gas, tariffs of distribution companies · checked 29 Sep 2026

