Moving to Uruguay from United States
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from United States to Uruguay — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from United States to Uruguay, you would find that Uruguay is 14.6% cheaper than United States overall. A $75,000 salary in United States would need to be roughly UYU2,228,968 in Uruguay to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from United States to Uruguay.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → UYU2,228,968
To maintain the same standard of living in Uruguay
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 11.6% less
Groceries
pay 18.0% less
Transportation
pay 30.6% more
Housing
pay 49.0% less
Childcare
pay 64.5% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 25.0% 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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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from United States to Uruguay, based on official data.
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from United States to Uruguay.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
United States generally does better on safety, though Uruguay leads in road traffic deaths.
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
United States 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 States 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
United States 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
United States 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 States performs better than Uruguay across all family life metrics.
Data: Internal Revenue Service, 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 | Washington | Montevideo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 48°/28°F (9°/-2°C) | 81°/63°F (27°/17°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 75°/51°F (24°/11°C) | 65°/50°F (19°/10°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/62°F (29°/17°C) | 61°/46°F (16°/8°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 57°/35°F (14°/2°C) | 75°/57°F (24°/14°C) |
View all months
| Month | Washington | Montevideo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°/24°F (5.8°/-4.5°C) | 83°/64°F (28.4°/18.0°C) |
| Feb | 46°/26°F (8.0°/-3.3°C) | 82°/64°F (27.5°/17.9°C) |
| Mar | 56°/33°F (13.1°/0.5°C) | 78°/61°F (25.5°/16.2°C) |
| Apr | 67°/42°F (19.3°/5.6°C) | 72°/55°F (22.0°/12.9°C) |
| May | 75°/51°F (23.9°/10.7°C) | 65°/50°F (18.6°/10.2°C) |
| Jun | 84°/61°F (28.8°/16.1°C) | 59°/46°F (15.1°/7.7°C) |
| Jul | 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.6°C) | 59°/45°F (15.0°/7.2°C) |
| Aug | 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.9°C) | 61°/46°F (16.2°/7.8°C) |
| Sep | 79°/56°F (26.3°/13.5°C) | 64°/48°F (18.0°/9.1°C) |
| Oct | 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.6°C) | 69°/53°F (20.5°/11.5°C) |
| Nov | 58°/35°F (14.2°/1.8°C) | 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.2°C) |
| Dec | 46°/27°F (7.8°/-2.7°C) | 80°/61°F (26.5°/16.3°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Instituto Uruguayo de Meteorologia
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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 States passport holder visiting Uruguay
Visa Free
Uruguay passport holder visiting United States
Visa RequiredData: 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 States?
Yes — Uruguay is on average about 26% cheaper than United States. 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 UYU557,242 in Uruguay on a $75,000 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?
United States generally does better on safety, though Uruguay leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Uruguay is 11.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 6.4 in United States.
How is healthcare in Uruguay compared to United States?
United States 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 36.1 in United States. Uruguay scores 82 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United States: 86).
What's the weather like in Uruguay compared to United States?
The average high temperature in Montevideo is 71°F, compared to 66°F in Washington. Montevideo receives around 43.3 in of rainfall per year, while Washington gets 41.5 in.
What language do they speak in Uruguay?
The official language in Uruguay is Spanish. In United States, the official language is English.
