Advertisement: Want more customers?
Recent Notes and Tags
Related Resources
Top Searches: • jobs for americans in uruguay • uruguay jobs for americans • cost of living in punta del este uruguay • jobs in uruguay for americans • jobs in punta del este • jobs in punta del este uruguay • punta del este jobs • punta del este cost of living • punta del este uruguay jobs • jobs punta del este • americans living in uruguay • cost of living in punta del este • retiring in punta del este uruguay • what does uruguay produce • punta del este american retirment • uruguay punta del este expat • americans living in punta del este • chat with expatrits living in uruguray • employment in punta del este • what americans need to know relocating to punta del este uraguay • opportunities in punte deleste • job punta del este • americans in uruguay • living in punta del este uruguay • punta del este american • punta del este job • meeting of expats in punta del este • cost living in punta del este uruguay • jobs punta del este uruguay • punta del este uruguay retirement • living punta del este • how much do things cost in punta del este • |
Meet Americans in Uruguay
| Meet Americans in UruguayWe are vacationing in Uruguay in Dec of 05 and want to talk to Americans living there to ask about the cost of living, services, other expats there, etc. We may consider Uruguay for retirement. |
| I would like to hear from some Americans who are living in Uruguay. |
| We are looking for a home in Uruguay. Maybe a small farm or a Bed and Breakfast. We need a little income our Boy Scout pension is small. Information from Americans or English speaking locals would be greatly appreciated. Thanks |
| I will be visiting Uruguay from Feb23 to march 4, visiting with friends in Pinas. They have recently returned to their home after seven or eight years living here in Rhode Island. I would like very much to chat with expats that have lived in Uruguay for some time. I would like to learn more about health benfits, costs, can an American own property?, can I bring my dog, things like that. I would be very appreciative for any assistance. Very Truly Yours; steve balme |
| My husband and I are thinking of retiring in Uraguay but would like to talk to someone that knows about the country or even lives there. |
|  I had considered it but wasn't sure how hard it would be to actually do it. I would be interested in knowing how American are adjusting to their new homes. |
| Montevideo is the only metropolitan city in Uruguay and I don't think you can really compare it to any city in the US. It is as modern as it can be in a third world country. The cost of living is very cheap there as far as housing, maids, food, etc. but you will find that products like clothing, etc are the same as the US especially if you want the same quality. The culture you will find to be very similar to Columbia, however, a little more European since they chased out all of the indigenous people early on in their history and they are mostly of Spanish or Italian or German decent. Montevideo is a very busy and somewhat dirty city. If you travel out to the East Coast of Uruguay you will find it much calmer but more touristy. If you plan on checking it out for a few months, I would visit Montevideo, Maldonado, Pirioapolis, Punta del Este and towns in between. |
| I am retiring soon, and considering retiring in Uruguay. I would like to spend some time in the area… among the local peoples; and experiencing first-hand the local way of living… I am planning a vacation in Uruguay I would appreciate any information’s on Bed & Breakfast Inn… or a furnished apartment… in the Punta del Este area, Thank you Sal… |
| I haven't been to Uruguay but one can't help but to fall in love with the country with just pictures of its majestic and scenic destinations. |
| We love living in Uruguay. And I have to agree. You really can't compare it to any city in the US. The cost of living is much lower for us coming from San Diego. But you'll find that some things are more expensive like electronics and baby items. Your cost of living will really depend on the type of lifestyle you want to live here. |
| Aside from the low cost of living, I have to say that what attracts me in this country is its natural beauty and the slow way of living of the people there. Retiring people should really include this country on their retirement place list. I hope that much more retiree would consider living in this country, you will never regret living in there. |
| "Who lives in Uruguay"
Is there anyone that lives in Uruguay that would refer to the cost of living as "low"?Yesterday at the Sunday Expat meeting there was a couple from Canada that is visiting for a while and when I asked them how they liked everything... they said everything was great except they had an idea it was inexpensive before they go here and have found everything to be expensive! |
| "depends on what you are buying"
I tend to agree that living here generally couldn’t be described as "low", but when i compare with uk/ireland for example there are many things that do represent value here. I was also discussing yesterday about the market and the great quality of fresh vegetables and how cheap they are. A general "supermarket" in the uk would be very expensive if you were to choose the organic option, yet here we buy twice a week spending tops 20 dollars for fruit and vegetables (only 2Rather than being "low" I think if you have sufficient income Uruguay can represent value for money, depending on how your lifestyle is. |
| "it's not as inexpensive as we'd hoped"
Our family of 3 arrived here 5 weeks ago and while we knew before arriving that imported items would be costly, we're finding that everyday items at the supermarket (from UY) and restaurant meals are not nearly as cheap as we had hoped. The fruit and veggies at the ferias are very affordable and delicious, however, if that particulat item is in season. I priced asparagus, for example, a few weeks ago, and it was $2.50/lb US; the guy told me it was $$ b/c it was going out of season. Part of the problem I think is that we arrived at the same time the US dollar started falling. When we we planning our year down here, everything we read about calculating cost of living was using between 22-25 pesos the the dollar. Now it's 18 or 19, depending on the day and where you exchange. One thing we're shocked at is the cost of drycleaning! One of my husband's shirts costs 65 pesos ($3.40 US)to launder and press; ditto for a pair of cotton slacks. Now, perhaps it's cheaper in other neighborhoods, but who wants to schlep all over town to get the best price? Guess who's going to be ironing a lot more while we live here? All in all, we're saving a lot of money on some things, (transportation, fresh produce, rent, housecleaning) but spending more on others (anything made of paper, sporting goods, stuff at the mall). But the weather sure beats Connecticut right now, our daughter is learning Spanish and we're looking forward to travelling to other parts of UY and beyond. |
| "ironing board"
and Juana wait til you try find an ironing board! 700 pesos at the local hardware store! I told the girlfriend she'd have to wait until her birthday ;)Seriously if anyone has found one reasonably priced let me know |
| "misconception that Uruguay is cheap"
Juana I know exactly what you mean, and this topic has been raised many times - Uruguay is NOT cheap. If you lived in a pretty expensive place before (big cities in the US or Europe in general) and you are lucky enough to be able to earn the same level of income but live elsewhere then yes, you may find Uruguay affordable, but by no means bargain town.If however you are not lucky enough to earn a foreign salary and will move here with the intention of working here and earning a Uruguay salary expect a significant drop in your spending capabilities! For the most part Uruguay doesn't produce anything (except agri products), so fresh food in the feria is goo value, but any produced things - furniture, clothes, technology etc are almost all imported, and the import tax is very high. Then add in something like 22% value added tax (called IVA here if you see it on a receipt) then you are looking at some pretty inflated prices! There are only so many ways you can answer the vague question "how much does life in Uruguay cost" before getting frustrated, especially seeing as prices and currency values fluctuate. As such I wrote this article with some helpful links in the hope it might help people get an idea of how much THEY personally will be likely to spend here. Then it is up to them to decide if it is cheap, affordable, expensive etc. |
| "Cost of living in Uruguay"
We're reading about, many different points of view about Uruguay being cheap or not.My wife and I lived in New York for many years(she was born there)when we started working in a Federal job(that paid the same anywhere in USA). We started looking for a place cheaper than New York. In 1993 we moved to Florida USA were the cost of living was a lot cheaper than the Big Apple. Our numbers indicated that we would be saving 250.00 a week, just by transfering to sunny Florida. We call this, moving up about two or three steps in our cost of living status. Moving to Uruguay will be the same, if you're not rich in the States or others countries you are not going to be rich in Uruguay. What anybody will find, is moving up two or three steps in your standard of living. What they should do, is what all the expats are doing, learn and adapt. Other benefits about Uruguay is you will blend in and only going to be noticed when you speak. Try that in others countries. The more you know Spanish, the easier it will be to adapt and enjoy. There should be meetings on Saturday when Spanish should be the only language. Good luck to all |
| "Standard of Living in Uruguay"
Jorge I posted a response to a similar message of yours on another thread so I'll try not to repeat myself too much, I just feel people should see/read a range of response so they are not mislead.You said "What ANYBODY will find (in Uruguay) is moving up two or three steps in your standard of living". This very much depends on your specific situation. If you are moving to Uruguay but will be able to maintain the same level of income you earned when you lived in the US then yes, you should be able to afford a pretty comfortable life here, but I'm not so sure you could move up 3 steps in your standard of living. Uruguay is not anything like South East Asia where your money goes very far and can buy you a life of luxury for the budget you live on at home. Most prices are equivalent if not actually MORE than they are in the states. What you do save money on (maybe rent and food) you will no doubt have to spend elsewhere (cars are VERY expensive, good clothes are very expensive, high quality -usually imported- food in the nice supermarkets is expensive). Also, certain parts of this luxury life just don't exist here. There isn't a big nightlife for example. There are some nice restaurants but the very nice ones can be shockingly expensive. Basically (from what I have seen, witnessed and discussed with Uruguayan friends) is that there is a certain segment of Uruguayan society that have A LOT of money. They are willing to spend almost any amount on clothes, fancy restaurants, holidays etc. So the upper class services are aimed at them, and the prices match the status and reputation that goes with that. Therefore the cost of the moving up 2 or 3 steps in standard of living costs a lot more here that in the US. |
| "Cuarteto de nos"
Well, first, seriously talking, generalizing in general is very dangerous. Any national classification implies being racist. The definition of racist is to judge someone not based on its personal behaviors or characteristics, but the ones attributed to a group. I personally try to avoid any mention to "the uruguayans", "the latins", "the yanquis" etc. Each one cosmogony is very important, and it will be certainly be shared with others, but I am always open to find a very silent Italian, a very open German, a rude Canadian or a very cultured American. And please, I do not want anyone to feel offended, I am just trying to prove a point. Now, talking about this specific point, there is a very funny song, as long as you take it as what it is, a joke, by El cuarteto. It is "No somos latinos" If you have a change google it or look for it in Youtube. It talks about this subject. |
| ""Cuarteto de Nos""
Esteban: "...I am always open to find...a very cultured American." Nahh!!! Yer kiddin' aren't ya??? ;-)) |
| "Facts about Uruguay"
Regarding comment #15: "For the most part Uruguay doesn't produce anything (except agri products)" There are plenty of websites that offer reliable facts about countries such as Uruguay. Among others is the website supported by the United States Department of State which indicates the following about Uruguay's economy: AGRICULTURE (10% of GDP): Products--beef, wool, rice, wheat, barley, corn, soybeans, fish, forestry. INDUSTRY (16% of GDP): Types--food processing, electrical machinery, wool, textiles, leather, leather apparel, beverages and tobacco, chemicals, cement, petroleum products, transportation equipment. Obviously, Uruguay produces quite a bit more than just agricultural products. |
Comment #2102/07/10 15:21Rural east Colonia departmento | "Agribusiness"
Most of those industries have close connections with agriculture but let's face it... the biggest ROU "industry" by far is the massed ranks of the funcionarios :-) BTW I'd be fascinated to know what sort of "transportation equipment" we make. |
| ""Agribusiness""
No doubt Patrick, public "funcionarios" are Uruguay's favorite "industry"...Now, about Uruguay's non-tradional industries...they make more than a few of the parts that go into the body of vehicles, which they call the "carroceria". I believe tires are also made in Uruguay (FUNSA?). They also make quite a bit of stuff related to construction, electrical machinery and wiring of all sorts, paper, glass, plastic, cement, they have more than a few labs, forestry has become huge in recent years (BOTNIA), software (a small but rapidly growing industry), and of course, ANCAP, the national oil company, produces all kinds of oil derivatives, etc. etc. True, two thirds of the economy depends on agribusiness, but there is that one third that cannot be ignored. |
| "Buying finished goods in Uruguay"
I guess I didn't phrase it very clearly, of course Uruguay makes more than just fruit and vegetables, but from my experience they don't really produce any finished products that regular consumers can buy, they produce materials and parts that are shipped to other countries to make things.As the conversation was in reference to the cost of living, the things that I wrote were in reference to what is available here: "produced things - furniture, clothes, technology etc are almost all imported, and the import tax is very high". Dan the CIA World Factbook is a handy website alright, but saying that 16% of GDP comes from industry may be misleading in this context. Of course industry exists, but outside of food/drink and leather goods I don't think you'll be able to buy many "made in Uruguay" products. That un-ignorable one third you speak of is exported so doesn't really apply to the cost of living or what is available for people to buy here. |
| ""Buying Finished Goods in Uruguay""
Thank you for explaining and clarifying your point Elaine. Of course, Uruguay is a developing country that has quite a ways to go in terms of establishing a solid manufacturing industry. |
Reply Options Share your opinions, advice, questions or comments on this post. | You must a registered user and logged in to use this feature: It is quick easy and offers many advantages when using our site. |
Social NetworkingShare this with your friends on facebook, twitter and Google+ | | Social sharing because it feels good:
| |
|
RelatedSome related posts that may be of interest to you. | Related posts: Related posts on other sites: Related eBooks: |
|
