Budget · Montevideo · Uruguay
Montevideo on a budget
What a trip to Montevideo really costs, and where the savings are.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Rodrigo Pissano, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Montevideo is expensive for most international visitors. Budget roughly $50–$80 per person per day on a tight budget, $130–$230 mid-range and $300–$650 for luxury, excluding flights. Hotel prices are usually lowest in May–September.
Key facts
- Budget traveller
- $50–$80 a day
- Mid-range
- $130–$230 a day
- Luxury
- $300–$650 a day
- Local currency
- UYU
- Free sights
- 7
Daily budget and trip cost
AMZBooking estimates per person in US dollars, excluding flights, reviewed October 2026. Accommodation is the biggest variable; prices rise in peak months.
| Style | Per day | 3 days | 5 days | 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $50–$80 | $150–$240 | $250–$400 | $350–$560 |
| Mid-range | $130–$230 | $390–$690 | $650–$1,150 | $910–$1,610 |
| Luxury | $300–$650 | $900–$1,950 | $1,500–$3,250 | $2,100–$4,550 |
Typical prices
Approximate prices in Montevideo, October 2026. They change; use them for planning, not as quotes.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| City bus ticket | about UYU 50–60 |
| Coffee in a café | about UYU 120–200 |
| Chivito with chips | about UYU 600–1,000 |
| Parrilla lunch at the Mercado del Puerto | about UYU 1,500–2,800 per person |
| Glass of Tannat | about UYU 250–450 |
| Mid-range dinner with wine | about UYU 1,800–3,000 per person |
| Bus to Colonia, one way | about UYU 700–900 |
Money-saving tips
- Uruguay is one of South America's more expensive countries; set lunches (menú ejecutivo) on weekdays are the best-value meals.
- Many museums, including the Museo Nacional de Artes Visuales, the Artigas Mausoleum and the Rambla itself, cost nothing.
- Ask whether hotels and restaurants offer the VAT reduction for payments with foreign-issued cards, which has been applied in some seasons.
- Visit outside late December to February for lower prices, especially if adding Punta del Este.
- Buy wine and picnic supplies at supermarkets for a sunset on the Rambla.
Free things to do
- The Rambla — Montevideo's waterfront promenade follows the Río de la Plata for over 20 km, from the Ciudad Vieja past Parque Rodó, Punta Carretas, Pocitos and Buceo to Carrasco.
- Plaza Independencia and Artigas Mausoleum — The city's main square divides the Ciudad Vieja from the Centro, with an equestrian statue of independence hero José Artigas above an underground mausoleum holding his remains under a guard of honour.
- Ciudad Vieja and Peatonal Sarandí — The pedestrian Peatonal Sarandí runs from the Puerta de la Ciudadela to the old port, passing Plaza Matriz with the Metropolitan Cathedral and the colonial Cabildo.
- Feria de Tristán Narvaja — Every Sunday morning, the street of Tristán Narvaja and its cross streets fill with a flea market of antiques, old books, vinyl, tools, pets, fruit and vegetables.
- Museo Nacional de Artes Visuales — Uruguay's largest art collection, inside Parque Rodó, displays national painters such as Juan Manuel Blanes, Pedro Figari and Torres García alongside temporary exhibitions.
- Parque Rodó — A seaside park with a lake for pedal boats, a miniature castle, a small amusement park with traditional rides and a weekend crafts and food fair.
Where to stay on a budget
$$ · Best for first-timers, budget and shopping
Centro
Avenida 18 de Julio's art deco façades, shops, cafés and theatres
$$ · Best for budget, solo travellers and nightlife
Cordón
University streets, the Sunday flea market and craft-beer bars
$$ · Best for families, nightlife, budget and beach
Parque Rodó
A lakeside park, an art museum and bars near Playa Ramírez
Eating well for less
- Choripán — Parrillas, carnival venues and street stalls near stadiums and fairs.
- Pizza and fainá — Old-style pizzerías in the Centro and Cordón.
- Torta frita — Street vendors and bakeries, especially when it rains.
- Empanadas — Empanada shops and bakeries in every neighbourhood.
Getting around for less
STM card
The Montevideo transport card for city buses, offering lower fares than cash and free transfers within a time window.
Questions travellers ask
+How much does a trip to Montevideo cost?
About $650–$1,150 per person for five days mid-range, excluding flights (estimate), or $250–$400 on a tight budget.
+Is Montevideo expensive?
It is expensive for international visitors. Uruguay is one of South America's more expensive countries; set lunches (menú ejecutivo) on weekdays are the best-value meals.
+How much money do I need per day in Montevideo?
Roughly $50–$80 on a budget and $130–$230 mid-range (estimates).
+When are hotel prices lowest in Montevideo?
Usually in May–September.