Moving to Uruguay from United Kingdom

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from United Kingdom to Uruguay, you would find that Uruguay is 16.7% cheaper than United Kingdom overall. A £55,766 salary in United Kingdom would need to be roughly UYU2,513,107 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. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Montevideo averages 71°F vs 60°F in London, making it significantly warmer.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between United Kingdom and Uruguay.

What does your salary buy?

£55,766 UYU2,513,107

To maintain the same standard of living in Uruguay

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 3.7% less

Groceries

pay 14.6% more

Transportation

pay 13.1% less

Housing

pay 40.4% less

Childcare

pay 62.6% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 28.5% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 GBP = 54.13 UYU (July 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?

What the data shows about people moving from United Kingdom to Uruguay.

Living there in 2020
541 ↑ 19% vs 2015

people born in United Kingdom 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

The numbers behind daily life in Uruguay compared to United Kingdom.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

GB
1.0
UY
11.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

GB
2.4
UY
13.0

United Kingdom 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

GB
$6,606
UY
$3,135
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

GB
31.7
UY
46.3

United Kingdom 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

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

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

GB
4.2t
UY
2.6t

United Kingdom 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

GB
41.4
UY
33.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

GB
14.3%
UY
9.8%

United Kingdom 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

GB
4.1%
UY
8.3%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

GB
$54,100
UY
$30,700

United Kingdom 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

GB
81.9 yrs
UY
78.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

GB
3.8
UY
8.3

United Kingdom performs better than Uruguay across all family life metrics.

Data: HM Revenue & Customs, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

London Rain: 22.0 in/yr (558 mm)
60° / 46°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months London Montevideo
Jan–Mar 49°/38°F (9°/3°C) 81°/63°F (27°/17°C)
Apr–Jun 64°/48°F (18°/9°C) 65°/50°F (19°/10°C)
Jul–Sep 72°/56°F (22°/13°C) 61°/46°F (16°/8°C)
Oct–Dec 53°/43°F (12°/6°C) 75°/57°F (24°/14°C)
View all months
Month London Montevideo
Jan 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C) 83°/64°F (28.4°/18.0°C)
Feb 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C) 82°/64°F (27.5°/17.9°C)
Mar 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C) 78°/61°F (25.5°/16.2°C)
Apr 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C) 72°/55°F (22.0°/12.9°C)
May 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C) 65°/50°F (18.6°/10.2°C)
Jun 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) 59°/46°F (15.1°/7.7°C)
Jul 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C) 59°/45°F (15.0°/7.2°C)
Aug 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C) 61°/46°F (16.2°/7.8°C)
Sep 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C) 64°/48°F (18.0°/9.1°C)
Oct 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C) 69°/53°F (20.5°/11.5°C)
Nov 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C) 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.2°C)
Dec 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C) 80°/61°F (26.5°/16.3°C)

Data: Met Office Met Office, Instituto Uruguayo de Meteorologia Instituto Uruguayo de Meteorologia

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United Kingdom 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.

United Kingdom passport

United Kingdom passport holder visiting Uruguay

Visa Free
United Kingdom passport holders can enter Uruguay without a visa.
Uruguay passport

Uruguay passport holder visiting United Kingdom

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Uruguay passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter United Kingdom.

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 United Kingdom?

On average Uruguay is about 17% less expensive than United Kingdom, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Uruguay?

Budget about UYU628,277 for 3 months in Uruguay (based on a £55,766 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: 33.2 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?

United Kingdom performs better than Uruguay across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Uruguay is 11.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.0 in United Kingdom.

How is healthcare in Uruguay compared to United Kingdom?

United Kingdom 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 31.7 in United Kingdom. Uruguay scores 82 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United Kingdom: 88).

What's the weather like in Uruguay compared to United Kingdom?

The average high temperature in Montevideo is 71°F, compared to 60°F in London. Montevideo receives around 43.3 in of rainfall per year, while London gets 22.0 in.

What language do they speak in Uruguay?

The official language in Uruguay is Spanish. In United Kingdom, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

GB UY
Population 67,791,400 3,407,213
Currency British Pound Sterling (£) Uruguayan Peso (UYU)
Languages English Spanish
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +44 +598
Time zones 9 1
Emergency number 999 911