Real Figures: How Much Do Utilities Cost in 2026?

Life in Montevideo has its own peculiarities, and utility bills are one of the main expenses that can come with surprises if you do not know the local rules. State monopolies regulate rates, but the final amount on the bill depends on how well informed you are.

Below are real figures for utility costs in 2026, along with practical ways to optimize these expenses.

1. Electricity (UTE)

The largest expense category. Heating in winter (with air conditioners or heaters) and cooling in summer are directly linked to electricity, as most homes do not have central heating.

• Tarifa Residencial Simple: about 9 UYU per kWh. It is suitable for those who do not want to keep track of the time, but becomes expensive with heavy use of air conditioners or a water heater.
• Average monthly bill: from 2,500 UYU (about 65 USD) for thrifty residents to 6,000–8,000 UYU (150–200 USD) during peak winter or summer months when several air conditioners are running.

2. Water and Sewerage (OSE)

This is where the main difference between housing types in Uruguay lies. The charge includes a fixed connection fee and a progressive rate based on volume.

• In apartment buildings (Edificios), in the vast majority of cases, you will not see a separate water bill. The building's total consumption is recorded by a shared meter, and water charges are automatically included in the monthly building maintenance costs (Gastos Comunes).
• In private homes (Casas), there is an individual OSE meter. The average bill for a two-person household is 800–1,500 UYU (20–40 USD) per month. If consumption exceeds the 15-cubic-meter limit, the cost of each additional cubic meter rises sharply.

3. Internet (ANTEL)

In early 2026, the state-owned company ANTEL increased its home internet rates. Fiber-optic speeds remain stable, but the base price has risen.

• Basic rate (Fibra Básico): now 1,705 UYU (about 44 USD) per month.
• Rates with increased speed and included streaming services (Plus / Entretenimiento): range from 2,138 UYU to 2,500 UYU (55–65 USD).

4. Gas

Piped gas is available in Montevideo only in older central neighborhoods. Most residents use 13 kg gas cylinders (garrafas) for cooking stoves.

• Cost to refill a 13 kg cylinder: about 1,100 UYU (28 USD).
• Usage: one cylinder lasts 3–5 months when used for cooking only.

5. Building maintenance costs (Gastos Comunes)

This is not a government utility charge, but a fee for maintaining a specific building (cleaning, elevator maintenance, the Saneamiento city sanitation tax, security and, as noted above, water usage). The amount depends heavily on the building's infrastructure.

• In buildings without a porter (or on-site security): 3,000–6,000 UYU (75–150 USD).
• In buildings with round-the-clock security (Pocitos, Punta Carretas): 8,000–15,000 UYU (200–380 USD) and above.

##

Tips and tricks: how to pay less

Electricity: switching to multi-rate tariffs and using appliances wisely

The main way to save on electricity is UTE's Plan Inteligente Hogares program. It divides the day into time zones with different energy rates.

• Double tariff (Doble Horario): the day is divided into "Peak" (four hours of your choice between 17:00 and 23:00 on weekdays) and "Off-peak" (the remaining 20 hours, as well as all weekends and public holidays). During off-peak periods, the rate is almost halved, while it rises during peak hours.
• Triple Horario: adds a nighttime zone (Valle, from 00:00 to 07:00), where the cost per kWh falls to a minimum of 2.4 UYU (excluding VAT).
• Optimizing water heating: if you have a storage water heater (thermotank), plug it into a timer-controlled outlet for nighttime hours (from 00:00 to 07:00). The tank will keep the water hot during the day. Running the washing machine and dishwasher on weekends or overnight also provides noticeable savings.
• Alternative with an instantaneous water heater: using an instantaneous electric water heater does not increase electricity costs compared with a storage heater. Its advantage is an unlimited supply of hot water. Its drawback is reduced shower pressure, as the device itself reduces the water flow while operating in order to heat it in time.

Climate Control and Housing Choice: The Right Strategy

In the absence of central heating in most buildings in Uruguay, air conditioning remains the most versatile way to maintain a comfortable indoor climate: it provides heating in winter and cooling in summer.

• Automatic operation mode: a common mistake is to constantly run the air conditioner at maximum and switch it off once the desired temperature is reached. It is much more economical to set a comfortable temperature once. The device will maintain it automatically, optimizing energy consumption and avoiding high starting currents.
• Looking for homes with built-in heating: one of the key tips when choosing an apartment is to deliberately look for buildings where heating is already integrated into the building's systems (for example, hydronic or electric underfloor heating, or building-wide central heating). During such periods, building maintenance costs (Gastos Comunes) predictably increase, but only slightly (for example, from 8,000–9,000 UYU in regular months to 9,000–10,000 UYU in winter). However, this completely solves the problem of Uruguayan dampness: the apartment is always warm and dry, you can walk around in T-shirts and barefoot, and regularly ventilate rooms without risking chilling the home. Ultimately, this is often more economical and comfortable than trying to heat a cold apartment with individual air conditioners and ending up with mold in the corners.

Water: The Hidden Trap in Gastos Comunes

Because water use in apartments is usually allocated across the entire building through Gastos Comunes, residents often stop monitoring their water usage. This is a mistake.

• If a hidden leak occurs in one of the building's apartments or in a building-wide system (for example, in the basement or pool), OSE will bill the building at the highest progressive rate. As a result, the amount of your Gastos Comunes may suddenly rise at the end of the month. Regularly review the itemized expense statement (liquidación de gastos) sent by the management.

Internet: seasonal plans and discounts when signing up

If the property is used temporarily or rented out, ANTEL offers the Fibra Temporada (Seasonal) plan. It allows you to pay for a fixed data allowance (200 GB) during the low season at a more flexible rate or to temporarily suspend the contract without penalties.

• Tip for new contracts: when signing a new contract or switching to a more expensive plan through ANTEL's website (Tienda en línea), you can often get a 50% discount on monthly fees for the first 3–4 months.

Gastos Comunes considerations when choosing a home

When looking for an apartment to rent or buy, building maintenance costs can significantly affect your overall budget.

• An important nuance: under Law No. 10.751, ground-floor apartments (Planta Baja) are often exempt from paying for elevator maintenance and repairs to common stairways if they do not use them. Check the itemization: if the building management charges Planta Baja units for these services, this is grounds for a recalculation.
• The presence of an on-site porter increases Gastos Comunes by two to three times compared with buildings that use an electronic access system (Portería Virtual).

Using a multi-rate electricity plan, operating climate-control equipment in automatic mode, carefully auditing the composition of Gastos Comunes, and monitoring hidden leaks can reduce overall utility costs in Montevideo by 25–35%.