Moving to Uruguay from Netherlands

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Netherlands to Uruguay, you would find that Uruguay is 24.7% cheaper than Netherlands overall. A €64,304 salary in Netherlands would need to be roughly UYU2,271,127 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 56°F in Amsterdam, making it significantly warmer.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

€64,304 UYU2,271,127

To maintain the same standard of living in Uruguay

Calculate with your salary →

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

Restaurants

pay 30.4% less

Groceries

pay 6.6% less

Transportation

pay 22.6% less

Housing

pay 45.0% less

Childcare

pay 47.8% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 24.0% 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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Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

NL
0.8
UY
11.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

NL
3.4
UY
13.0

Netherlands 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

NL
$8,195
UY
$3,135
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

NL
39.1
UY
46.3

Netherlands 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

NL
13.0
UY
16.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

NL
6.6t
UY
2.6t

Netherlands 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

NL
44.4
UY
33.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

NL
16.1%
UY
9.8%

Netherlands 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

NL
3.6%
UY
8.3%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

NL
$69,300
UY
$30,700

Netherlands 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

NL
82.2 yrs
UY
78.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

NL
3.4
UY
8.3

Netherlands performs better than Uruguay across all family life metrics.

Data: Tax and Customs Administration - Belastingdienst, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Amsterdam Rain: 30.7 in/yr (780 mm)
56° / 43°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Amsterdam Montevideo
Jan–Mar 45°/34°F (7°/1°C) 81°/63°F (27°/17°C)
Apr–Jun 61°/45°F (16°/7°C) 65°/50°F (19°/10°C)
Jul–Sep 69°/53°F (21°/12°C) 61°/46°F (16°/8°C)
Oct–Dec 50°/40°F (10°/4°C) 75°/57°F (24°/14°C)
View all months
Month Amsterdam Montevideo
Jan 42°/33°F (5.4°/0.5°C) 83°/64°F (28.4°/18.0°C)
Feb 43°/32°F (6.0°/0.2°C) 82°/64°F (27.5°/17.9°C)
Mar 49°/36°F (9.2°/2.4°C) 78°/61°F (25.5°/16.2°C)
Apr 54°/39°F (12.4°/4.0°C) 72°/55°F (22.0°/12.9°C)
May 63°/46°F (17.1°/7.8°C) 65°/50°F (18.6°/10.2°C)
Jun 67°/51°F (19.2°/10.4°C) 59°/46°F (15.1°/7.7°C)
Jul 71°/54°F (21.4°/12.5°C) 59°/45°F (15.0°/7.2°C)
Aug 71°/54°F (21.8°/12.3°C) 61°/46°F (16.2°/7.8°C)
Sep 65°/50°F (18.4°/10.2°C) 64°/48°F (18.0°/9.1°C)
Oct 57°/45°F (14.1°/7.0°C) 69°/53°F (20.5°/11.5°C)
Nov 49°/39°F (9.2°/3.9°C) 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.2°C)
Dec 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C) 80°/61°F (26.5°/16.3°C)

Data: Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, Instituto Uruguayo de Meteorologia Instituto Uruguayo de Meteorologia

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Netherlands 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.

Netherlands passport

Netherlands passport holder visiting Uruguay

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

Uruguay passport holder visiting Netherlands

Visa Free
Uruguay passport holders can enter Netherlands 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 Netherlands?

Yes — Uruguay is on average about 25% cheaper than Netherlands. 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 UYU567,782 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?

Netherlands performs better than Uruguay across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Uruguay is 11.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.8 in Netherlands.

How is healthcare in Uruguay compared to Netherlands?

Netherlands 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 39.1 in Netherlands. Uruguay scores 82 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Netherlands: 85).

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

The average high temperature in Montevideo is 71°F, compared to 56°F in Amsterdam. Montevideo receives around 43.3 in of rainfall per year, while Amsterdam gets 30.7 in.

What language do they speak in Uruguay?

The official language in Uruguay is Spanish. In Netherlands, the official language is Dutch.

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At a Glance

NL UY
Population 17,400,824 3,407,213
Currency Euro (€) Uruguayan Peso (UYU)
Languages Dutch Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +31 +598
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 911