Moving to Uruguay from France

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from France to Uruguay — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from France to Uruguay, you would find that Uruguay is 11.1% cheaper than France overall. A €64,304 salary in France would need to be roughly UYU2,745,508 in Uruguay to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Montevideo averages 71°F vs 60°F in Paris, making it significantly warmer.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from France to Uruguay.

What does your salary buy?

€64,304 UYU2,745,508

To maintain the same standard of living in Uruguay

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 13.0% less

Groceries

pay 10.6% less

Transportation

pay 3.2% less

Housing

pay 13.3% less

Childcare

pay 28.4% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 16.6% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 46.83 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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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from France to Uruguay, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
560 ↑ 19% vs 2015

people born in France live in Uruguay · UN DESA

Who's moving to Uruguay?

Top countries of origin for Uruguay's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from France to Uruguay.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

FR
1.6
UY
11.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

FR
4.7
UY
13.0

France performs better than Uruguay across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

FR
$6,868
UY
$3,135
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

FR
33.4
UY
46.3

France generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Uruguay leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

FR
10.0
UY
16.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

FR
4.0t
UY
2.6t

France generally does better on environment, though Uruguay leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

FR
49.4
UY
33.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

FR
21.6%
UY
9.8%

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

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

FR
7.3%
UY
8.3%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

FR
$55,200
UY
$30,700

France generally does better on employment & economy, though Uruguay leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

FR
82.6 yrs
UY
78.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

FR
3.1
UY
8.3

France performs better than Uruguay across all family life metrics.

Data: Direction Générale des Finances Publiques, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Paris Rain: 25.6 in/yr (650 mm)
60° / 47°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Paris Montevideo
Jan–Mar 48°/38°F (9°/3°C) 81°/63°F (27°/17°C)
Apr–Jun 65°/50°F (18°/10°C) 65°/50°F (19°/10°C)
Jul–Sep 74°/58°F (23°/14°C) 61°/46°F (16°/8°C)
Oct–Dec 52°/43°F (11°/6°C) 75°/57°F (24°/14°C)
View all months
Month Paris Montevideo
Jan 44°/36°F (6.9°/2.5°C) 83°/64°F (28.4°/18.0°C)
Feb 47°/37°F (8.2°/2.8°C) 82°/64°F (27.5°/17.9°C)
Mar 53°/41°F (11.8°/5.1°C) 78°/61°F (25.5°/16.2°C)
Apr 58°/44°F (14.7°/6.8°C) 72°/55°F (22.0°/12.9°C)
May 66°/51°F (19.0°/10.5°C) 65°/50°F (18.6°/10.2°C)
Jun 71°/56°F (21.8°/13.3°C) 59°/46°F (15.1°/7.7°C)
Jul 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.5°C) 59°/45°F (15.0°/7.2°C)
Aug 76°/60°F (24.6°/15.4°C) 61°/46°F (16.2°/7.8°C)
Sep 69°/54°F (20.8°/12.5°C) 64°/48°F (18.0°/9.1°C)
Oct 60°/49°F (15.8°/9.2°C) 69°/53°F (20.5°/11.5°C)
Nov 51°/42°F (10.4°/5.3°C) 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.2°C)
Dec 46°/38°F (7.8°/3.6°C) 80°/61°F (26.5°/16.3°C)

Data: Météo-France Météo-France, Instituto Uruguayo de Meteorologia Instituto Uruguayo de Meteorologia

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between France 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.

France passport

France passport holder visiting Uruguay

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

Uruguay passport holder visiting France

Visa Free
Uruguay passport holders can enter France 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 France?

Yes — Uruguay is on average about 9% cheaper than France. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Uruguay?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly UYU686,377 in Uruguay on a €64,304 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, deposits, visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Uruguay?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Uruguay has 33.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Uruguay safe for expats?

France performs better than Uruguay across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Uruguay is 11.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.6 in France.

How is healthcare in Uruguay compared to France?

France generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Uruguay leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 46.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Uruguay, compared to 33.4 in France. Uruguay scores 82 on the WHO universal health coverage index (France: 85).

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

The average high temperature in Montevideo is 71°F, compared to 60°F in Paris. Montevideo receives around 43.3 in of rainfall per year, while Paris gets 25.6 in.

What language do they speak in Uruguay?

The official language in Uruguay is Spanish. In France, the official language is French.

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At a Glance

FR UY
Population 68,305,148 3,407,213
Currency Euro (€) Uruguayan Peso (UYU)
Languages French Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +33 +598
Time zones 14 1
Emergency number 112 911