 There are various kinds of heat you find. In the apartment buildings:Central Losa (this is a central boiler that pipes hot water through pipes in the floor/ceiling). My experience in an older building with it was that the inside was always comfortable. In a newer building it was not warming enough to sit comfortably at a computer and work. I have returned to an older building and when the owner of the apartment saw I had a propane powered heating... he said I would definitely NOT be needing it. Individual Losa. This would be the same system but each apartment would have an individual (usually gas) powered boiler. Radiators. These could be central or individually heated. "Euro cable", also referred to in various other forums "individual" heating. This is a little similar to the "Losa". Except electric cables are in the floor surface. With losa there are water pipes in the cement floor structure. The losa can take a good 24+ hours to warm up when it is first turned on. It builds up a tremendous thermal mass that keeps you warm (rather than heating the air). The electric cables work on the same theory, but take about 3 hours to warm up the surface of the floor so there it much less thermal mass. The electric cable systems are also zoned, so you just turn on the area you want. I've seen two separate heating zones in a small living room. When I ask the cost of the electricity, the answer is always that it is inexpensive and you get cheaper electricity at night. First, I want the heat during the day as I enjoy sleeping in a cool environment. Second, I don't think the price will come anywhere close to the central losa systems if you heat your apartment comparably. ie: if you don't use the heat, then it is cheap. I also don't think that for example, heating one half of your living room will result in a comfortable environment. Electric panel heat. Electric panels attached to the walls like radiators. The advantage is these heat up the air rapidly. So it warm a spot where you are sitting or the bathroom they are probably ok, but not to make a whole apartment comfortable. The first apartment I lived in had the electric panel heat. The one in the bedroom was broken. The one in the bathroom worked, but I almost never used it. There was no others. Split units. Electric heating/air conditioning. This may be the best electric heating option as they usually have a thermostat and fan. No heat. Many apartments (even in Pocitos) simply have no heat. That leaves you to bundle up, buy electric space heats, or propane. I'd opt for the propane. Houses. The houses seem to be more likely not to have a heating system (except maybe a fireplace), and if they have one, it will be the radiators, electric panels or split units. You might find that some (many?) Uruguayans don't use the heating system if it is available. You might also find that the apartment buildings with central heat and a large number of older people resident will provide the best heat. Weather proofing can be an issue as well. Sometimes it seem that old junk is peddled down here too. But I've bought my share of junk in the USA too. With computer stuff just make sure your buying current technology and not 2 or 3 year old stuff. Ie: if 1gb camera memories are current, don't buy 128mb chips here. You can't compare Costa Rica and Uruguay. I don't think you can compare any Latin American countries. They all have their unique cultures, weather, etc. My opinion on IL is they are WAY OFF BASE and way overboard on hyping all kinds of places as "CHEAP".. rather than hyping them for the reasons each individual place should be hyped. They need to get out of the walmart mentality. | 
