Moving to Uruguay from New Zealand
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from New Zealand to Uruguay — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from New Zealand to Uruguay, you would find that Uruguay is 1.8% cheaper than New Zealand overall. A NZ$125,240 salary in New Zealand would need to be roughly UYU3,048,806 in Uruguay to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from New Zealand to Uruguay.
What does your salary buy?
NZ$125,240 → UYU3,048,806
To maintain the same standard of living in Uruguay
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 6.5% more
Groceries
pay 4.4% more
Transportation
pay 13.1% more
Housing
pay 19.8% less
Childcare
pay 30.8% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 11.7% less
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 New Zealand to Uruguay.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
New Zealand performs better than Uruguay across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
New Zealand generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Uruguay leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
New Zealand generally does better on environment, though Uruguay leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
New Zealand performs better than Uruguay across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
New Zealand generally does better on employment & economy, though Uruguay leads in top income tax rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
New Zealand performs better than Uruguay across all family life metrics.
Data: New Zealand Inland Revenue Department, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Wellington | Montevideo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 69°/58°F (21°/14°C) | 81°/63°F (27°/17°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 59°/49°F (15°/10°C) | 65°/50°F (19°/10°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 56°/46°F (13°/8°C) | 61°/46°F (16°/8°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 64°/53°F (18°/12°C) | 75°/57°F (24°/14°C) |
View all months
| Month | Wellington | Montevideo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 70°/58°F (21.2°/14.7°C) | 83°/64°F (28.4°/18.0°C) |
| Feb | 70°/59°F (21.3°/14.8°C) | 82°/64°F (27.5°/17.9°C) |
| Mar | 68°/56°F (19.8°/13.5°C) | 78°/61°F (25.5°/16.2°C) |
| Apr | 63°/53°F (17.4°/11.5°C) | 72°/55°F (22.0°/12.9°C) |
| May | 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.7°C) | 65°/50°F (18.6°/10.2°C) |
| Jun | 56°/46°F (13.1°/7.9°C) | 59°/46°F (15.1°/7.7°C) |
| Jul | 54°/44°F (12.3°/6.9°C) | 59°/45°F (15.0°/7.2°C) |
| Aug | 55°/45°F (12.9°/7.4°C) | 61°/46°F (16.2°/7.8°C) |
| Sep | 58°/48°F (14.5°/8.8°C) | 64°/48°F (18.0°/9.1°C) |
| Oct | 60°/50°F (15.8°/10.0°C) | 69°/53°F (20.5°/11.5°C) |
| Nov | 64°/53°F (17.5°/11.4°C) | 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.2°C) |
| Dec | 67°/56°F (19.6°/13.5°C) | 80°/61°F (26.5°/16.3°C) |
Data:
New Zealand National Meteorological Service,
Instituto Uruguayo de Meteorologia
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between New Zealand 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.
New Zealand passport holder visiting Uruguay
Visa Free
Uruguay passport holder visiting New Zealand
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: 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 New Zealand?
Costs in Uruguay and New Zealand are broadly similar overall, though categories like rent and dining differ between cities.
How much money do I need to move to Uruguay?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly UYU762,202 in Uruguay on a NZ$125,240 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?
New Zealand performs better than Uruguay across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Uruguay is 11.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in New Zealand.
How is healthcare in Uruguay compared to New Zealand?
New Zealand 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 35.7 in New Zealand. Uruguay scores 82 on the WHO universal health coverage index (New Zealand: 85).
What's the weather like in Uruguay compared to New Zealand?
The average high temperature in Montevideo is 71°F, compared to 62°F in Wellington. Montevideo receives around 43.3 in of rainfall per year, while Wellington gets 37.7 in.
What language do they speak in Uruguay?
The official language in Uruguay is Spanish. In New Zealand, the official languages are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.
