Uruguay🇺🇾

At a Glance

How Uruguay compares across key indices

Quality of Life142Safety59Healthcare67Affordability73ClimateClean Air21

Cost of Living

73 vs NYC

100 = NYC

Safety Index

59/100

Healthcare

67/100

Quality of Life

142/200

Cost of Living

How far your money goes in Uruguay

Cost of Living

73

100 = NYC baseline

Rent Index

55

100 = NYC rent

Groceries

73

100 = NYC groceries

Restaurant Prices

77

100 = NYC dining

Safety & Crime

Moderate Risk

How safe residents feel in Uruguay - based on surveys of people living there

Safety Index

59/100

Crime Index

45/100

Lower is better

Walking Safety

Daytime100
Nighttime100

0 point drop from day to night

Cities in Uruguay

Uruguay has 31 cities with Freedom Abroad estimates. Monthly costs for a single person range from $1,443 in Mercedes to $1,883 in Montevideo. Mercedes leads on safety, scoring 63/100. Mercedes ranks highest for quality of life at 145/200.

💸Most Affordable

Mercedes

$1,443/mo

Safest

Mercedes

63/100

Best Quality of Life

Mercedes

145/200

Best Healthcare

Montevideo

78/100

City filter
Featured
Curated and popular cities first.
31 of 31 shown
CityMonthly CostSafetyQuality of LifeHealthcarePollution
Montevideo$1,88354/100139/20078/10029
Salto$1,49561/100144/20065/10016
Paysandú$1,47162/100144/20064/10015
Las Piedras$1,46862/100144/20064/10014
Rivera$1,46262/100144/20063/10014
Maldonado$1,45162/100144/20063/10014
Tacuarembó$1,44663/100144/20063/10013
Melo$1,44463/100144/20063/10013
Mercedes$1,44363/100145/20063/10013
Artigas$1,44363/100145/20063/10013
Minas$1,44363/100145/20063/10013
San José de Mayo$1,44363/100145/20063/10013
Durazno$1,44363/100145/20063/10013
Florida$1,44363/100145/20063/10013
Barros Blancos$1,44363/100145/20063/10013
San Carlos$1,44363/100145/20063/10013
Treinta y Tres$1,44363/100145/20063/10013
Rocha$1,44363/100145/20063/10013
Pando$1,44363/100145/20063/10013
Fray Bentos$1,44363/100145/20063/10013
Colonia del Sacramento$1,44363/100145/20063/10013
Trinidad$1,44363/100145/20063/10013
La Paz$1,44363/100145/20063/10013
Canelones$1,44363/100145/20063/10013
Carmelo$1,44363/100145/20063/10013
Delta del Tigre$1,44363/100145/20063/10013
Dolores$1,44363/100145/20063/10013
Young$1,44363/100145/20063/10013
Santa Lucía$1,44363/100145/20063/10013
Progreso$1,44363/100145/20063/10013
Paso de Carrasco$1,44363/100145/20063/10013

Freedom Abroad estimates are modeled for a single person including rent. Pollution: lower score = cleaner air. Click column headers to sort.

Compare Cities Side by Side

Detailed comparison of cost of living, safety, and quality of life

Families

Schools

Verified school profiles for families comparing language model, grade range, credentials, and admissions next steps in Uruguay. Tuition appears only when published in verified public sources.

Open School Finder

10

Verified records

0

Cities covered

4

Credential signals

St Brendan’s School

Verified
International

Ages and grades

Ages vary by program

Primary, Middle school, High school

Tuition

Contact school

Confirm current fees directly with the school.

International Curriculum
Ib Career Related
Ib Diploma
Ib Middle Years
Ib Primary Years
Ib pathway
Sources checked May 14, 2026View primary source

Escuela Integral Hebreo Uruguaya

Verified
International

Ages and grades

Ages vary by program

Primary, Middle school, High school

Tuition

Contact school

Confirm current fees directly with the school.

International Curriculum
Ib Diploma
Ib Middle Years
Ib Primary Years
Ib pathway
Sources checked May 14, 2026View primary source

Escuela y Liceo Elbio Fernandez

Verified
International

Ages and grades

Ages vary by program

Primary, Middle school, High school

Tuition

Contact school

Confirm current fees directly with the school.

International Curriculum
Ib Diploma
Ib Middle Years
Ib Primary Years
Ib pathway
Sources checked May 14, 2026View primary source

St Clare’s College

Verified
International

Ages and grades

Ages vary by program

Primary, High school

Tuition

Contact school

Confirm current fees directly with the school.

International Curriculum
Ib Diploma
Ib Primary Years
Ib pathway
Sources checked May 14, 2026View primary source

The British Schools, Montevideo

Verified
International

Ages and grades

Ages vary by program

Primary, High school

Tuition

Contact school

Confirm current fees directly with the school.

International Curriculum
Ib Diploma
Ib Primary Years
Ib pathway
Sources checked May 14, 2026View primary source

Colegio Stella Maris

Verified
International

Ages and grades

Ages vary by program

High school

Tuition

Contact school

Confirm current fees directly with the school.

International Curriculum
Ib Diploma
Ib pathway
Sources checked May 14, 2026View primary source

International College

Verified
International

Ages and grades

Ages vary by program

High school

Tuition

Contact school

Confirm current fees directly with the school.

International Curriculum
Ib Diploma
Ib pathway
Sources checked May 14, 2026View primary source

St Patrick’s College

Verified
International

Ages and grades

Ages vary by program

Middle school

Tuition

Contact school

Confirm current fees directly with the school.

International Curriculum
Ib Middle Years
Sources checked May 14, 2026View primary source

Uruguayan American School

Verified
International

Ages and grades

Ages vary by program

High school

Tuition

Contact school

Confirm current fees directly with the school.

International Curriculum
Ib Diploma
Ib pathway
Sources checked May 14, 2026View primary source

Woodside School

Verified
International

Ages and grades

Ages vary by program

High school

Tuition

Contact school

Confirm current fees directly with the school.

International Curriculum
Ib Diploma
Ib pathway
Sources checked May 14, 2026View primary source

School records are maintained from direct school pages, public credential directories, public registry claims, and carefully labeled directory/community sources. Admissions, seat availability, and tuition can change quickly, so Freedom Abroad treats unpublished costs as “Contact school” instead of estimating.

Healthcare

Healthcare system overview for Uruguay

Healthcare67Safety59Quality of Life142
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Environment

Clean

Air quality, water, and environmental conditions in Uruguay

Pollution Index

21/100

Lower is better

PM2.5

10.6ug/m3

Good

Environmental Quality

Air Quality100/100

Based on 0 survey responses. Perception scores are 0–100 where higher is better unless noted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about living in Uruguay, answered with data

What is the cost of living in Uruguay?

Uruguay has a cost of living index of 73 relative to New York City (100). It is comparable in cost to most US cities. Monthly costs for a single person start around $1,883 in Montevideo.

Is Uruguay safe for expats?

Uruguay has a safety index of 59/100, making it generally safe for expats and travellers. Among cities with data, Montevideo scores highest on safety at 54/100.

What is the best city in Uruguay for expats and digital nomads?

Montevideo ranks highest for quality of life in Uruguay, scoring 139/200 in Freedom Abroad's modeled quality-of-life estimate. Monthly costs there run around $1,883/mo for a single person.

How good is healthcare in Uruguay?

Uruguay scores 67/100 in Freedom Abroad's modeled healthcare estimate, making it good by global standards. This estimate reflects open public indicators for health outcomes and system capacity.

Is Uruguay cheaper than the United States?

Yes. Uruguay's cost of living is roughly 27% lower than New York City and generally cheaper than most major US cities. Rent specifically is around 45% cheaper. This makes it a popular destination for remote workers looking to stretch their dollar.

What is the air quality and pollution like in Uruguay?

Uruguay has a pollution index of 21/100 (lower = cleaner). This is relatively clean by global standards, making it appealing for those prioritising air quality and outdoor lifestyle.

Before You Go

Your pre-departure checklist for Uruguay

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Set Up International Banking

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Cost of living, safety, school, and quality-of-life figures on this page are Freedom Abroad estimates or verified public records modeled from open sources. Data sources

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