Moving to Uruguay from Ecuador

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Ecuador to Uruguay, you would find that Uruguay is 93.6% more expensive than Ecuador overall. A $75,000 salary in Ecuador would need to be roughly UYU5,271,350 in Uruguay to maintain the same lifestyle.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 UYU5,271,350

To maintain the same standard of living in Uruguay

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 2.9 times more

Groceries

pay 83.5% more

Transportation

pay 2.1 times more

Housing

pay 94.7% more

Childcare

pay 86.0% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 52.1% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 40.15 UYU (June 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 Ecuador.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

EC
27.0
UY
11.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

EC
23.4
UY
13.0

Uruguay performs significantly better than Ecuador across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

EC
$1,238
UY
$3,135
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

EC
23.1
UY
46.3

Ecuador 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

EC
23.0
UY
16.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

EC
2.6t
UY
2.6t

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

EC
15.0
UY
33.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

EC
6.8%
UY
9.8%

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

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

EC
3.4%
UY
8.3%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

EC
$14,300
UY
$30,700

Uruguay generally does better on employment & economy, though Ecuador leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

EC
77.5 yrs
UY
78.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

EC
18.1
UY
8.3

Uruguay performs significantly better than Ecuador across all family life metrics.

Data: Servicio de Rentas Internas del Ecuador, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Quito Rain: 43.2 in/yr (1098 mm)
71° / 50°F

Avg. annual high / low

Montevideo Rain: 43.3 in/yr (1101 mm)
71° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Quito Montevideo
Jan–Mar 70°/50°F (21°/10°C) 81°/63°F (27°/17°C)
Apr–Jun 70°/50°F (21°/10°C) 65°/50°F (19°/10°C)
Jul–Sep 72°/49°F (22°/9°C) 61°/46°F (16°/8°C)
Oct–Dec 70°/49°F (21°/10°C) 75°/57°F (24°/14°C)
View all months
Month Quito Montevideo
Jan 70°/50°F (21.2°/9.8°C) 83°/64°F (28.4°/18.0°C)
Feb 70°/50°F (21.0°/10.1°C) 82°/64°F (27.5°/17.9°C)
Mar 69°/50°F (20.8°/10.1°C) 78°/61°F (25.5°/16.2°C)
Apr 70°/50°F (20.9°/10.2°C) 72°/55°F (22.0°/12.9°C)
May 70°/50°F (21.0°/10.1°C) 65°/50°F (18.6°/10.2°C)
Jun 70°/50°F (21.1°/9.8°C) 59°/46°F (15.1°/7.7°C)
Jul 71°/49°F (21.5°/9.4°C) 59°/45°F (15.0°/7.2°C)
Aug 72°/49°F (22.2°/9.6°C) 61°/46°F (16.2°/7.8°C)
Sep 72°/49°F (22.3°/9.4°C) 64°/48°F (18.0°/9.1°C)
Oct 71°/49°F (21.8°/9.5°C) 69°/53°F (20.5°/11.5°C)
Nov 70°/49°F (21.3°/9.6°C) 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.2°C)
Dec 70°/49°F (21.3°/9.7°C) 80°/61°F (26.5°/16.3°C)

Data: Instituto Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología - INAMHI Instituto Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología - INAMHI, Instituto Uruguayo de Meteorologia Instituto Uruguayo de Meteorologia

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Ecuador 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.

Ecuador passport

Ecuador passport holder visiting Uruguay

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

Uruguay passport holder visiting Ecuador

Visa Free
Uruguay passport holders can enter Ecuador 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 Ecuador?

On average Uruguay is around 75% pricier than Ecuador, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Uruguay?

Budget about UYU1,317,838 for 3 months in Uruguay (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Uruguay?

Connectivity is usually fine (Uruguay: 33.2 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?

Uruguay performs significantly better than Ecuador across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Uruguay is 11.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 27.0 in Ecuador.

How is healthcare in Uruguay compared to Ecuador?

Ecuador generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Uruguay leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 46.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Uruguay, compared to 23.1 in Ecuador. Uruguay scores 82 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Ecuador: 77).

What's the weather like in Uruguay compared to Ecuador?

The average high temperature in Montevideo is 71°F, compared to 71°F in Quito. Montevideo receives around 43.3 in of rainfall per year, while Quito gets 43.2 in.

What language do they speak in Uruguay?

Both Ecuador and Uruguay share the same official language: Spanish.

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At a Glance

EC UY
Population 17,289,554 3,407,213
Currency United States Dollar ($) Uruguayan Peso (UYU)
Languages Spanish Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +593 +598
Time zones 2 1
Emergency number 911 911