Moving to Suriname from Uruguay

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Uruguay to Suriname, and you’d need to navigate life in Dutch. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Paramaribo averages 92°F vs 71°F in Montevideo, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

UY
11.2
SR
7.3
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

UY
13.0
SR
16.2

Uruguay generally does better on safety, though Suriname leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

UY
$3,135
SR
$1,143
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

UY
46.3
SR
14.8

Uruguay generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Suriname 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

UY
16.0
SR
39.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

UY
2.6t
SR
4.1t

Uruguay performs better than Suriname across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

UY
33.2
SR
20.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

UY
9.8%
SR
4.0%

Uruguay generally does better on infrastructure, though Suriname leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

UY
8.3%
SR
7.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

UY
$30,700
SR
$19,000

Uruguay generally does better on employment & economy, though Suriname leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

UY
78.4 yrs
SR
72.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

UY
8.3
SR
30.2

Uruguay generally does better on family life, though Suriname leads in education spending.

Data: Dirección General Impositiva, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Paramaribo Rain: 84.6 in/yr (2148 mm)
92° / 72°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Montevideo Paramaribo
Jan–Mar 81°/63°F (27°/17°C) 89°/71°F (32°/22°C)
Apr–Jun 65°/50°F (19°/10°C) 91°/73°F (33°/23°C)
Jul–Sep 61°/46°F (16°/8°C) 93°/73°F (34°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 75°/57°F (24°/14°C) 94°/73°F (34°/23°C)
View all months
Month Montevideo Paramaribo
Jan 83°/64°F (28.4°/18.0°C) 89°/71°F (31.8°/21.6°C)
Feb 82°/64°F (27.5°/17.9°C) 88°/71°F (31.3°/21.6°C)
Mar 78°/61°F (25.5°/16.2°C) 90°/71°F (32.1°/21.8°C)
Apr 72°/55°F (22.0°/12.9°C) 91°/73°F (32.6°/22.6°C)
May 65°/50°F (18.6°/10.2°C) 91°/73°F (32.9°/22.7°C)
Jun 59°/46°F (15.1°/7.7°C) 92°/72°F (33.2°/22.5°C)
Jul 59°/45°F (15.0°/7.2°C) 92°/72°F (33.5°/22.5°C)
Aug 61°/46°F (16.2°/7.8°C) 93°/73°F (34.1°/22.7°C)
Sep 64°/48°F (18.0°/9.1°C) 94°/73°F (34.7°/22.9°C)
Oct 69°/53°F (20.5°/11.5°C) 95°/73°F (35.1°/22.9°C)
Nov 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.2°C) 94°/73°F (34.3°/22.6°C)
Dec 80°/61°F (26.5°/16.3°C) 92°/72°F (33.4°/22.5°C)

Data: Instituto Uruguayo de Meteorologia Instituto Uruguayo de Meteorologia, Meteorological Service Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Uruguay and Suriname. To live, work, or study long-term in Suriname, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Suriname's immigration authority.

Uruguay passport

Uruguay passport holder visiting Suriname

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

Suriname passport holder visiting Uruguay

Visa Required
Suriname passport holders need a visa to enter Uruguay.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Suriname?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Suriname has 20.2 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 Suriname safe for expats?

Uruguay generally does better on safety, though Suriname leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Suriname is 7.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 11.2 in Uruguay.

How is healthcare in Suriname compared to Uruguay?

Uruguay generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Suriname leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 14.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Suriname, compared to 46.3 in Uruguay. Suriname scores 63 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Uruguay: 82).

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

The average high temperature in Paramaribo is 92°F, compared to 71°F in Montevideo. Paramaribo receives around 84.6 in of rainfall per year, while Montevideo gets 43.3 in.

What language do they speak in Suriname?

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

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At a Glance

UY SR
Population 3,407,213 632,638
Currency Uruguayan Peso (UYU) Surinamese Dollar (SRD)
Languages Spanish Dutch
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +598 +597
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911