Moving to Uruguay from United Kingdom
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 29.9% cheaper than United Kingdom overall. A £57,000 salary in United Kingdom would need to be roughly UYU2,130,000 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.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between United Kingdom and Uruguay.
What does your salary buy?
£57,000 → UYU2,130,000
To maintain the same standard of living in Uruguay
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 8.7% less
Groceries
pay 7.1% more
Transportation
pay 24.4% less
Housing
pay 50.6% less
Childcare
pay 67.9% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 26.8% 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.
Cost of living by city
Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).
On average, cities in Uruguay cost about 30% less than cities in United Kingdom.
Compare cities head-to-head
Get free moving quotes to Uruguay
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from United Kingdom to Uruguay.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Uruguay compared to United Kingdom.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
United Kingdom 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
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
United Kingdom 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
United Kingdom 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
share of households with internet
United Kingdom generally does better on infrastructure, though Uruguay leads in water stress level.
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
share of people below the poverty line
United Kingdom 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
United Kingdom performs better than Uruguay across all family life metrics.
Sources: World Bank (2017–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), HM Revenue & Customs (2016), Dirección General Impositiva (2016). How we calculate this
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
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) |
Met Office
Instituto Uruguayo de MeteorologiaVisitor 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 holder visiting Uruguay
Visa Free
Uruguay passport holder visiting United Kingdom
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 United Kingdom?
On average Uruguay is about 30% less expensive than United Kingdom, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Uruguay?
Budget about UYU532,500 for 3 months in Uruguay (based on a £57,000 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: 33.0 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 1.1 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 46.7 doctors per 10,000 people in Uruguay, compared to 33.0 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.
