Which place is cheaper, Mexico City or Montevideo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Montevideo or Mexico City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Montevideo and Mexico City can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Montevideo or Mexico City?
Montevideo
As the morning sun tinges the calm waters of the Rio de la Plata with a golden hue, the Rambla and its city awakens to life with new adventures for those near and far. From tanning on the luxurious beaches to peering into Uruguayan history at local museums, one can be far from bored while staying in Montevideo. Combining the quaintness of the countryside with the excitement of urban life, this city holds a unique trait that cannot easily be replicated.
Mexico City
Mexico City is one of the largest and most populated cities in the world. There are an estimated 26 million people living in the greater Mexico City metropolitan area. The area is about 60 kilometers by 40 kilometers and is surrounded by tall mountains and volcanoes on three sides. Mexico City proper has about 8.8 million people and is the capital of the country. More than a third of the country's economy is based here, making it the wealthiest city in all of Latin America.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico.
-
Montevideo Prices
Uruguay PricesMexico City Prices
Mexico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontevideo $70Mexico City $224
The average daily cost (per person) in Montevideo is $70, while the average daily cost in Mexico City is $224. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Montevideo and Mexico City in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontevideo $38Mexico City $40
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontevideo $76Mexico City $80
Compare Hotels in Montevideo and Mexico City
Looking for a hotel in Montevideo or Mexico City? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Montevideo Hotel Prices and Mexico City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Montevideo $6.99Mexico City $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montevideo
Also for Montevideo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer to Punta del Este from Montevideo O Punta to Montevideo: $98
- Transfer from the Hotel in Montevideo to Montevideo airport: $60
- Transfer from Carrasco International Aiport to Montevideo: $47
- Private transfer from Montevideo to Punta del Este: $328
- Private transfer from Montevideo to Colonia del Sacramento: $438
- Private Transfer from or to Carrasco Airport in Montevideo: $40
- Private Transfer from Montevideo to Colonia del Sacramento: $108
- Private Transfer from Montevideo city to Montevideo Cruise Port: $41
- Private Transfer from Montevideo Port to Carrasco Airport (MVD): $84
- Private Transfer from Montevideo Port to Carrasco Airport (MVD): $41
- Private Transfer from Montevideo Cruise Port to Montevideo city: $79
- Private Transfer from Montevideo Cruise Port to Montevideo city: $41
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Mexico City
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Mexico City:
-
Metro$1.14
-
Uber Ride$4.01
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mexico City
Also for Mexico City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Teotihuacan: Private Balloon Flight with optional Transfer: $1,436
- Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary Visit with Transfer: $842
- Luxury Executive Transfers in Mexico City: $294
- Shared Balloon Flight in Teotihuacan with transfer: $293
- Private Transfer Mexico City to Oaxaca with Flexible Stops: $280
- Balloon Flight in Teotihuacan Transfers and Breakfast Included: $235
- Mexico Airport(MEX) to Chignahuapan - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $228
- Balloon Flight over Teotihuacán with Transfers Included: $228
- Departure Transfer: Mexico to Mexico Airport NLU by Luxury SUV: $208
- Private Transfer from Mexico City to Pachuca: $187
- Private Transfer from Pachuca to Mexico City: $187
- Private Arrival Transfer from Toluca airport to Toluca Hotels: $169
Is it cheaper to fly into Montevideo or Mexico City?
Prices for flights to both Mexico City and Montevideo change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
-
Food Meals for one dayMontevideo $22Mexico City $45
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montevideo
For Montevideo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Best Montevideo Street Food Tour With 5 tastings: $64
- Private Uruguayan Cooking Class with Local Chef: $85
- Uruguayan Wine Pairing Dinner at City Winery Uruguay: $90
- Show + Dinner - El Milongon (No Transport): $93
- The best Montevideo Dinner Show. Tango and Candombe. El Milongon.: $98
- Dinner and Tango Show at Primuseum Restaurant: $100
- Dinner and Tango Show at the Historic Bar Fun Fun, Established in 1895: $100
- Traditional Dinner & Tango Show at Primuseum: $110
- Food Tour with Asado, Chivito, and Mate: $221
Typical Food Prices in Mexico City
For Mexico City, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Lunch for Two$13
-
Coffee and Snacks$4.47
-
Dinner for 2$26
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mexico City
For Mexico City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Mexico City Walking Vegan Food Tour in Roma Norte: $5.89
- Mexico City Coyoacan Food Tour & Optional Frida Kahlo Museum: $20
- Private Street Food Tour Mexico City - Best rated: $35
- Cable Car, Cultural Spaces, and Traditional Food Tour: $40
- Virtual Mexican Cooking Class (private and personalized): $50
- Coyoacan Market Food Tour Urban Eats & Local Legends: $54
- San Juan Market Food Tour Exotic Bites & Flavors: $54
- Tortilla Crawl: Food Tour in Mexico City: $55
- Mexico : Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $58
- 3h Cooking Class in 8 Recipes & Drinks: $68
- Street Food Tour with Michelin-Starred Taco: $70
- Roma–Condesa: Haute Cuisine and Renowned Restaurants Food Tour: $70
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Montevideo $20Mexico City $14
Tours and Activities in Montevideo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Montevideo.
- “Discovering Montevideo” – Shared Small-Group Tour for Cruise Passengers: $65
- Afternoon Tea Experience at Sofitel Montevideo Carrasco & Spa: $36
- Audio Guided Tour in Montevideo City for Cruisers: $26
- Best Private Tour of Montevideo for Cruise Passengers: $450
- Bodega Santa Rosa: Passadore Family Tasting Tour with Lunch: $86
- City tour Montevideo: $27
- Club Atlético Peñarol Match Live Experience: $157
- Colonia del Sacramento - Regular Tour: $60
- Complete Tour of Uruguay: $1,455
- Cruise-Friendly Shared Tour: Explore Montevideo’s Best: $69
- Discover Top-Rated Shared Tour for Cruise Passengers: $69
- Enjoy Private Tour Montevideo Your Way: $78
Tours and Activities in Mexico City
For Mexico City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- "Sabor a Calle": Mexico City Street Food Adventure: $93
- "Teotihuacan direct with breakfast buffet, ticket and guide included": $88
- 1 Day Tour to Zacatlán and Chignahuapan from Mexico city: $200
- 1 day in Puebla and Cholula in private tour from Mexico city: $160
- 100% Private Tour in Teotihuacán Pyramids from Mexico City: $120
- 100% private tour in Chapultepec Castle & around (with transport): $76
- 2 hours Private Gastronomic Tour in Mexico city (NEW TOUR!): $55
- 2026 Azcapotzalco Walking Tour Mexico City Adventure: $140
- 3-Hour Private Archaeological Walking Tour in Mexico with ATV: $165
- 3-in-1 Tour: Frida Kahlo Museum, Coyoacan and Xochimilco Small Group: $79
- 3X1 Teotihuacan, Basilica of Guadalupe, Tlatelolco and Tequila Tour: $70
- 3X1 Tour in Xochimilco UNAM and Coyoacan: $60
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayMontevideo -Mexico City $20
Sample the Local Flavors in Montevideo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Montevideo:
- Bodega Pizzorno wine tasting in Montevideo: $45
- Wine tasting of 4 wines from 4 wineries & empanadas in Montevideo: $50
- Pizzorno Winery with Lunch and Wine Tasting: $125
- Wine tour - Lunch & Tasting with Wine Explorers: $198
- Private Wine Tours by Wine Explorers Uruguay: $205
- Wine Tasting & Countryside Lunch Experience: $220
- Wine Tasting Tour for Cruise Passengers: $450
Sample the Local Flavors in Mexico City
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Mexico City:
- CDMX Pub Crawl: Guided Pub Crawl with Party Games: $24
- Mexico City Pub Crawl: $26
- The Mexico City Pub Crawl: A real chilango night: $33
- THE MEXICO CITY PUB CRAWL: A real chilango night: $35
- Zona Rosa Pub Crawl Experience: $100
- Mexican Wine Tasting with Food Pairing: $126
- Distillery Tour and Lucha Libre Spirits and Showdown: $127
- The Mexican Wine Tasting and Pairing: $127
- Private Cheese and Wine Tour to Queretaro: $511
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montevideo and Mexico City, we can see that Mexico City is more expensive. And not only is Montevideo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Montevideo is in South America and Mexico City is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Montevideo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Montevideo and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Mexico City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Mexico City than you might in Montevideo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Montevideo Expensive? and Is Mexico City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Montevideo or Mexico City?
Mexico City has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Montevideo. When comparing the sizes of Montevideo and Mexico City, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.