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Montevideo on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
A budget trip to Montevideo is possible, but it is not as cheap as most of South America. A realistic minimum is about $U 3,100 a day per person sharing a room: $U 1,400 for a bed, $U 1,200 for food, $U 300 for sights and $U 200 for transport.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | $U1,400 | $U3,000 | $U6,500 |
| Food & drink | $U1,200 | $U2,400 | $U4,500 |
| Sights & tickets | $U300 | $U800 | $U2,000 |
| Local transport | $U200 | $U600 | $U1,500 |
| Per person, per day | $U3,100 | $U6,800 | $U14,500 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Montevideo day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Walking or cycling the Rambla from Ciudad Vieja to Pocitos
- Plaza Independencia and the mausoleum of José Artigas
- The Mercado del Puerto and its iron hall (food extra)
- Playa Pocitos and Playa Ramírez
- Candombe drumming (llamadas) on Sunday afternoons in Barrio Sur and Palermo
- The Sunday Tristán Narvaja street market
Cheap eats
- Chivito — about $U 600–900, enough for two light eaters
- Empanadas from a bakery — about $U 80–150 each
- Set lunch (menú ejecutivo) — often about $U 400–600
- Pizza and fainá from a pizzería — a few hundred pesos per portion
- Bizcochos (pastries) from a bakery — very cheap for breakfast
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in the Ciudad Vieja and Cordón, where hostels and simple hotels are close to the old town and university; doubles cost about $U 1,800–3,500 and dorm beds less. Pocitos also has a few hostels near the beach.
Getting around cheaply
Walk or cycle along the Rambla. City buses cost about $U 50–60 a ride. From Carrasco airport, take the COPSA bus to the centre, which is far cheaper than a taxi ($U 1,500–2,000). Long-distance buses from Tres Cruces are the cheapest way to Colonia and Punta del Este.
A sample budget day
- Morning: Plaza Independencia, Sarandí street and Teatro Solís tour (about $U 200)
- Lunch: menú ejecutivo or empanadas (about $U 500)
- Afternoon: walk the Rambla to Punta Carretas and Pocitos (free), bus back (about $U 60)
- Evening: share a chivito and a beer (about $U 700)
- Total: about $U 3,100 including a hostel bed or shared room (about $U 1,400)
More ways to save
- Cook in your hostel kitchen and shop at supermarkets or the weekend markets.
- Pay with a foreign card where VAT refunds apply.
- Visit during the Día del Patrimonio in October, when many historic buildings open for free.
- Rent a bike for the Rambla rather than paying for tours.
- Look for set lunches on weekdays, which are cheaper than dinner.
- Travel outside January and Carnaval for lower hostel prices.
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Common questions
How much money do I need per day in Montevideo?
About $U 3,100 per person on a budget, $U 6,800 mid-range and $U 14,500 for comfort, sharing a room.
How do I get from Carrasco airport to Montevideo cheaply?
Take the COPSA bus to the centre. A taxi costs about $U 1,500–2,000.
Is a day trip to Colonia worth it?
Yes. A bus costs roughly $U 500–700 each way and takes about 2h30.