Moving to Uruguay from Bolivia

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Bolivia to Uruguay? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Bolivia to Uruguay, you would find that Uruguay is 2.8 times more expensive than Bolivia overall. A BOB830,000 salary in Bolivia would need to be roughly UYU8,350,000 in Uruguay to maintain the same lifestyle.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Bolivia and Uruguay.

What does your salary buy?

BOB830,000 → UYU8,350,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Uruguay

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 4.5 times more

Groceries

pay 2.5 times more

Transportation

pay 2.6 times more

Housing

pay 2.7 times more

Childcare

pay 3.4 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 2.5 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 BOB = 3.65 UYU (October 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Uruguay compared to Bolivia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

BO
4.4
UY
11.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BO
17.6
UY
13.0

Bolivia generally does better on safety, though Uruguay leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

BO
$756
UY
$3,135
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

BO
12.8
UY
46.7

Bolivia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Uruguay leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

BO
54.0
UY
16.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BO
2.3t
UY
2.6t

Bolivia generally does better on environment, though Uruguay leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

BO
12.1
UY
33.0
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BO
0.2%
UY
12.1%

Uruguay generally does better on infrastructure, though Bolivia leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

BO
3.0%
UY
7.5%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

BO
$5,148
UY
$25,216

Bolivia generally does better on employment & economy, though Uruguay leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

BO
68.7 yrs
UY
78.3 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BO
14.2
UY
6.2

Uruguay generally does better on family life, though Bolivia leads in education spending.

Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), Autoridad de Impugnación Tributaria (AIT), Bolivia (2016), Dirección General Impositiva (2016). How we calculate this

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Bolivia and Uruguay. To live, work, or study long-term in Uruguay, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Uruguay's immigration authority.

Bolivia passport

Bolivia passport holder visiting Uruguay

Visa Free
Bolivia passport holders can enter Uruguay without a visa.
Uruguay passport

Uruguay passport holder visiting Bolivia

Visa Free
Uruguay passport holders can enter Bolivia without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Uruguay than Bolivia?

On average Uruguay is around 176% pricier than Bolivia, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Uruguay?

Budget about UYU2,087,500 for 3 months in Uruguay (based on a BOB830,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Uruguay?

Connectivity is usually fine (Uruguay: 33.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Uruguay offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Uruguay safe for expats?

Bolivia generally does better on safety, though Uruguay leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Uruguay is 11.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.4 in Bolivia.

How is healthcare in Uruguay compared to Bolivia?

Bolivia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Uruguay leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 46.7 doctors per 10,000 people in Uruguay, compared to 12.8 in Bolivia. Uruguay scores 82 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Bolivia: 65).

What language do they speak in Uruguay?

The official language in Uruguay is Spanish. In Bolivia, the official languages are Aymara, Guaraní, Quechua and Spanish.

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At a Glance

BO UY
Population 12,581,843 3,384,688
Currency Bolivian Boliviano (BOB) Uruguayan Peso (UYU)
Languages Aymara, Guaraní, Quechua, Spanish Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +591 +598
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 110 911