Why is uruguay so expensive

Near the Cuidad Vieja Old City , Punta Carretas has shopping malls and a golf course; Pocitos has the Playa Pocitos, a curving strip of white sand beach, and the upscale Rambla boardwalk that lies alongside it; and farthest east, expensive Carrasco has beautiful architecture and a number of international schools.

The draw in historic Colonia are the 17th- and 18th-century Portuguese and Spanish colonial homes. Punta del Este, an hour and a half from Montevideo, has condominiums and high rises lining the beaches that reach out into the water, with the Rio de la Plata on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other. Half an hour from Punta del Este, the beach town of Jose Ignacio attracts American movie stars, supermodels, European industrialists and others seeking privacy.

The town government eschewed high-rise development, but allowed a few boutique properties such as Playa Vik to open. As a result of limited options, the demand for lots and houses increased, but there is still a finite number of properties available. Further up the coast, the province of Rocha still has miles of undeveloped beachfront. Inland, there are many working estancias ranches where tourists can live out the gaucho cowboy lifestyle.

Salto, miles north of Montevideo, is known for its hot springs. Buenos Aires is only a minute flight or a two and a half hour ferry ride from Montevideo. Rio de Janeiro is about a three-hour flight away and Miami takes 10 hours, nonstop.

There are many spectacular luxury properties dotted along the coast or surrounded by rainforests, but they often come with a larger price tag. If you prefer to have some more privacy and a bit of space, renting a home may be a better option. Although the design style of homes in Uruguay is quite varied, they are all built to a high standard and comparable to what you might rent in the United States.

The prosperity of Uruguay means there is no shortage of luxury properties. They are modern homes with all of amenities you might expect from a property in the U. However, you will need a big budget as they typically rent for several thousand USD a month.

If you have decided that you love Uruguay and want to stay for several years, you might be better off buying a property. To purchase a house or apartment, you will need is a passport and the necessary funds.

Before the sale is finalized, four non-encumbrance certificates must be obtained. They are listed in the section on Taxation included below. In terms of price, you can expect to pay about:. Utility bills can be quite expensive in the United States and EU. However, this is not the case in Uruguay, with both general utilities and Internet costs being quite affordable. It is possible for expats to work while in Uruguay, as long as you have the right visa. If you choose to work, you will have plenty of opportunities to find a position, as the economy is quite strong.

However, you will be able to find a much higher paying job if you are a highly skilled worker. The quality of the public primary and high schools is quite good and free for all children.

Uruguay has an excellent health care system compared to most other South American nations. The doctors are highly skilled and it is relatively easy to make an appointment at a clinic or hospital.

There are currently 56 public hospitals and 48 private hospitals across the country. They have modern equipment and a high standard of care. There is also a British hospital in Montevideo, which has a staff of English speaking doctors. Expats can use either the public or private health care system. However, expect to pay more for insurance and fees in the private system. Many expats use a health insurance program called Mutualista. These limits may make the program unsuitable for retirees who have chronic illnesses.

There are also other private healthcare insurance options available including BlueCross and BlueShield of Uruguay. The majority of residents are in the national healthcare system, which is called Fondo Nacional de Salud. It provides free healthcare for low income residents and low cost healthcare in public hospitals for other citizens.

Retirees receive this card when starting the legal process of becoming a resident of Uruguay. Expats who run out of health insurance and cannot afford to pay for healthcare can obtain free healthcare in public clinics. However, there be long wait times and limits on what treatments are available. Related: Health Insurance for Expats. Uruguayans like dressing up and have a great sense of fashion. They dress in a wide variety of styles from traditional outfits with gauchos and ponchos through to modern outfits from high-end European designers.

Once you become a regular in local stores and feria stalls, your shopping experience will likely include a warm greeting and personalized attention. Most expats in Montevideo get by fine without a car. The bus system is reliable. Here, buses go and come from destinations throughout the country. Most city-to-city buses in Uruguay are clean and modern with large luggage bays, reclining seats, air conditioning, and WiFi. How much does it cost to live in Uruguay?

It depends on a number of factors, such as where you live, your lifestyle, and the performance of the dollar. Most Uruguayans are descendants of Italian and Spanish immigrants. And in the European tradition, most Uruguayans are accustomed to smaller living spaces than what is typical in the US and Canada.

Many one-bedroom apartments in Montevideo are around square feet, with many two-bedroom places between and square feet. If you decide Uruguay makes sense for a real estate investment, and buy an apartment instead of rent, your monthly living costs will be less. While you find a variety of healthcare options in Uruguay , the most popular and affordable option is a hospital membership plan called a mutualista. As a mutualista member, you go to your hospital or one of its satellite clinics for all your care.

It covers your doctor visits, tests, treatments, surgeries, emergencies, and hospital stays. Many mutualistas also provide discounts for medications. The cost of electricity can vary a lot depending on the efficiency of your heating or air conditioning unit, how you use it, and the size of your apartment. Because of this, actual costs can range from significantly less to significantly more than the sample budget estimate.

For example, my electrical costs are much less than the budget estimate. I currently live in a square-meter apartment in Montevideo and am careful with energy. In winter, I dress warmly. However, others with larger homes for example, 1,plus square feet , with electric in-floor heating systems, that set a thermostat to keep an even temperature, will likely pay significantly more than the budget estimate during the winter months. The internet plan listed on the sample budget is for unlimited use over a fiber optic line with an approximate download speed of 60 Mbps and upload speed of 10 Mbps.

The service includes an incoming phone line with phone number. People living in rural areas of Uruguay often pay less for rent, groceries, and other household items. So the monthly cost of living in a rural area often comes out to around the same as living in Montevideo. On the eastern edge of Montevideo is the neighborhood of Carrasco. And further east, outside the city limit, gated private communities, such as La Tahona. These areas, popular with successful professionals, business people, and embassy workers, are characterized by large single-family homes, elite sports clubs, and top-flight private schools.

Most of the homes are summer places.