Montevideo vs Penang: cost of living for digital nomads

Montevideo, Uruguay and Penang, Malaysia, line by line from the catalogue: what a month costs, rent, food, coworking, safety and internet. Every figure links back to its source on the city page.

The short version

  • Penang is about 34% cheaper than Montevideo for a month of nomad living ($1,125 vs $1,700).
  • Rent is the biggest gap: $450 in Penang against $780 in Montevideo.
  • Both score 8/10 on safety.
  • Internet is faster in Penang: 180 Mbps typical against 100 Mbps.
  • Montevideo is temperate; Penang is tropical.

Montevideo wins 0 of the measured lines; Penang wins 7.

LineMontevideoPenang
Monthly total (USD)$1,700$1,125
Rent$780$450
Food$450$300
Transport$45$35
Coworking$130$90
Safety (out of 10)8/108/10
Internet (Mbps)100180
Climatetemperatetropical
City sizemetrometro
Settingcoastisland
Nomad score (out of 10)7/108/10

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Costs are typical monthly figures for one person in USD, from the sources named on each city page; safety and internet are the catalogue's own ratings. Check the city pages for the dates each was last verified.