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Is the cost of living really lower there?
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| Is the cost of living really lower there? I am thinking of retiring to Uruguay in 5 years, maybe sooner if my job plays out. I have read that the cost of living is lower in Uruguay and I also read where a lot of things are expensive. So, is it really cheaper to live there? I live in a pretty low cost of living area, Alabama but with mostly Social Security to live on once retired, I need to know if I can manage. My biggest concern about staying here is medical insurance for my wife. I understand that medical plans are less expensive than Blue Cross here. What about food, clothing? I expect to live a relatively simple life and want to try to assimilate into the Uruguayan way of life once there. |
| "Llifestyle"
Lower than what? What are you comparing it to?Who says it is lower? What lifestyle are you looking for? I think comparisons will leave you disappointed. It is better to explore, go on adventure and if you like the place better stay longer (or forever) and if not move on. Part of that decision will of course be cost of living based, but there are many other equally important factors to consider. Expert Page: Quick Tips for Getting Settled in Uruguay |
| "Medical Care"
John, you say "My biggest concern about staying here is medical insurance for my wife." Does she have some special needs?The cost of living here is not cheap so, yes, I would say it is more expensive than Alabama. Give us some prices to compare (rent, weekly food bill, ect.) How much do you expect to get from Social Security? |
| "Living Costs"
Well, if I can hold out 6 years until retirement, Social security says I should get about $2800 a month. That is more than my take home now. But medical insurance has been deducted. My wife has glaucoma, currently controlled by medication and is otherwise healthy. I have it too and take the same meds. Our grocery bill from WalMart runs about $125 a week for the two of us and her daughter whom I expect to be own her own by the time I retire. We don't eat a lot of red meat. Mostly fish and poultry. We live a barely middle class lifestyle. I do own my home outright so no house payment or rent. I would prefer to live more in the country since that's where we currently live. |
| "Price of food"
You can browse Tienda Inglesa's website to get a handle on the price of food:Divide Kilos by 2.2 to get pounds. Remember $ = pesos. All the prices listed include the IVA which could be zero % on a few things, 10% on some, and 22% on most. Expert Page: Quick Tips for Getting Settled in Uruguay |
| "Cost of Lodging."
You can browse rental listings and property for sale on Buscando Casa. It is of course not the final word on property or prices, but will give you a good starting point to work from. They have a lot of listings in some Montevideo neighborhoods and fairly sparse listings in other places.Expert Page: Quick Tips for Getting Settled in Uruguay |
| "You're right. It's not cheap."
Thanks for the links. Looks like we would have to be more vegetarian, which might be a good thing. My wife would have difficulties since she is Filipino and some of her favorite ingredients might be expensive or hard to come by. Also, I doubt there are very many Filipinos in Uruguay and she values having a community to interact with. The real estate prices seem high to me but then I haven't tried to buy a house here lately either. If I sell out completely before I go, I could probably swing a decent place there. One of my biggest hurdles is language. I would want to learn the local dialect but I really suck when it comes to languages. My wife speaks Tagalog and we have been married almost 5 years but I just know words and a few phrases. I am looking at some Spanish courses and it would be good to learn it even if I don't end up in Uruguay. Thanks again for your kind help. |
| "Big world..."
It is a big world out there... with lots of choices and many variations of the adventure of life! Many Americans see the Philippines as a dream destination for expat life.. since you have a Filipino wife, have you considered that?I am also curious what directed your interest toward Uruguay? Expert Page: Quick Tips for Getting Settled in Uruguay |
| "Why Uruguay?"
Well, I was looking at some website article that listed what were supposed to be the top overseas retirement places and Uruguay was either number one or two. So, I looked at what the weather was like, very good, the requirements for permanent residence, pretty easy especially compared to places like New Zealand or Canada, and thought "Why not?" Also, I can, though it won't be a breeze, take a boat to Uruguay. I could not find any mention at all of taking a boat to the Philippines. I have decided not to fly anywhere, ever. The crime rate in the Philippines is pretty bad. My wife even admits to that. And, it is always hot there. There is one place where it cools down a little but that is a tourist destination and very expensive. One of the biggest questions concerning retirement anywhere out of country is whether or not I can give up my Americanisms. I want to become part of wherever I go but I don't know if I can change my American ways. I hope so. I know, and I'm sure everyone does, people who have come here 25 years ago and still can't speak English and won't give up their native culture. I don't want to be that person. I would hope that after a few years, I would be just another Uruguayo. |
| "Boats and Culture... "
I know one American who came to Uruguay from Washington DC without going by air... he took Amtrack to Florida and then a month long cruise... I suspect it was quite a bit more expensive than going by air... but of course a much different experience.I am sure you can do the same for the Philippines... but of course a much longer cruse. I think one can never completely give up their original culture, but hopefully can find a balance between it and their new culture. However, if you search for Peanut Butter Uruguay google, you'll see that for some that can be very difficult. To quote a little bit from one of the articles you'll find (linked below): "Can We Live Without the Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich?" "Yes, of course we can, but we shouldn't have to." Now, I don't think that it is hard to get Peanut Butter... especially in Montevideo, but let's look at the cultural aspect, continuing from the article: "This concoction is a quintessential symbol of a North American childhood. Yet in Uruguay, the mix of flavors is unheard of." Obviously this simple think is very American... and not very Uruguayan. "So how do Uruguayan mothers cope with the absence of a classic PB and J sandwich?" I would respond that the question itself is invalid. There is no absence because there is no significance to that combination of food. Just as an Uruguayan might ask the same question of a common food eaten in Uruguay and not the USA. "What can we do to fill this void?" The void of course is not in the availability of those products (which isn't really a void at all), but in trying to be American in Uruguay rather than integrating into local culture. Expert Page: Quick Tips for Getting Settled in Uruguay |
| "Yes, exactly"
Yes, that's what I was talking about. I don't know that there are any special "American" foods I have to have. I believe my diet is pretty adaptable. I do know that when in line at the grocery, my food cart doesn't contain many of the same items I see others buying. I just hope I can shed my American attitudes about things and adopt the local outlook. I don't think my attitudes are all that "American" anyway. I find very few locals I feel have similar feelings about most anything you could name. That is one of the reasons I want to retire elsewhere. I feel somewhat alien already. I was in Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm some years ago and really felt out of place there. I did like Germany though. I just hope I can adopt the Uruguayan point of view on things. I am constantly pointing out to my wife that "Well, this isn't the Philippines." when she tells me how it is done over there. My professional life and main lifelong hobby has centered on electronics. I plan on not continuing that in retirement. That may just be the hardest thing. I want to improve my guitar playing and do some writing. Both shouldn't be a problem in Uruguay. |
Comment #1101/19/12 10:36Rural east Colonia departmento | "Cost of living"
The two of us live well on 28k US dollars a year (excluding foreign holidays) down here in rural Colonia inc healthcare and BPS (social security) contributions but we own a small farm so don't have to pay rent. The ROU has a long history of booms and busts... when I arrived in 2005 the place did seem very cheap but with the local economy in boom mode, the currency super-strong and the 1st World still in recession, it seems expensive to me at the moment.The standard (and in my view sensible) advice is to come on down and look at the place for yourselves. |
| "Taking a look"
That seems to be the consensus. My as yet imaginary plans were to sell off, pack up the few household belongings left, catch a boat there, find a suitable place to live and get my Social Security and 401K into a Uruguyan bank, then send for the wife last. Perhaps I should be thinking of postponing the sell off, going with the wife, and if we like things, let her go back and do the sell off and packing. This is more complicated but gives us more options up front. As to cost of living going up there, even though our government says the cost of living isn't increasing here, a trip to the grocery will convince you otherwise. I small farm would be my ideal situation there. I live on a "farm" now. I grow trees and lease the rest for pasture. The rent doesn't quite cover the property taxes. I would love to be able to grow at least some of my food. So, that is what the plans will be. Go first and have a look. Not the easy way, but probably the best way. Got to get started on those Spanish lessons. If I get to the point where I can converse with the local Mexicans, will I be able to at least "get by" until I pick the local dialect? |
| "Get by"
"...will I be able to at least "get by" until I pick the local dialect?"Sure, if you can get them to stop speaking so dang fast! ;-) The dialect isn't the problem, it's the pronunciation. But you get used to it. |
| "Fast talking natives"
Yes, of course. I have watched the movie "Gigante" which takes place in Montevideo several times and frankly, it just sounds like a lot of mumbling. About the only thing I was able to clearly understand was the main character's name which was Jara. Most of the time they called him Jarita. As to the fast talk, my wife and step daughter will sometimes have a heated discussion and the higher the emotional level, the faster they speak. I can sometimes pick up a word or two when they speak in a normal cadence but when it gets fast and loud, forget about it. Especially the stepdaughter. My wife, not being from the Manila area has a very distinct accent that I have learned to somewhat understand. But her daughter has always lived in the suburbs of Manila and I have trouble getting anything she says. Of course, her English is better than her mom's. The real challenge will be going from textbook Spanish to Spanish spoken at normal conversational speeds with local pronunciation to boot. I have heard Mexicans say they have trouble understanding other Mexicans from different parts of the country and they speak the same language. It will be difficult for someone who is lousy at languages to start with to get proficient. A friend who learned Portuguese and lived there a while says that if I get to where they understand me, I will be alright. But, I think the real problem will be with me understanding them. I will probably always be the gringo with the strange accent. That's not so much a problem as long as I know what they are saying. |
| "Don't worry...."
A few tips with the language:- Point a lot! - Write down directions to show a taxi driver - Print images of stuff (google image search) - Use fewer not more words. Often people try to explain when someone doesn't understand... do the opposite. Try to summarize with 1 word to get the context set and then one more word... Ordering in a restaurant: "I'll have the chicken with rice, but no sauce, no, give me the beef steak with red wine search and not too much rice or potatoes". Chances are you just ordered two meals. - Enjoy making a fool of yourself and learn to laugh a lot at yourself... then you won't notice if others are. Expert Page: Quick Tips for Getting Settled in Uruguay |
| "Good advice"
Sounds like good advice. I will keep that in mind. Thanks! |
Comment #1701/20/12 18:17Rural east Colonia departmento | "Very sound advice."
An Italian friend of mine in Valdense asked me if all Irish people used such dramatic gestures and facial expressions when speaking Spanish. The easy answer was "Si" :-) |
| "Everything is relaltive..."
Seven years ago, I sold everything I had in the US and moved to Uruguay. It took my husband and me a couple of months to find a 60 farm we liked, which we purchased outright for $38, 000. You couldnīt come close to that price now! We have a big garden, which helps a lot on food prices. My husband, who is from here, keeps cows, sheep, sometimes pigs, chickens and rabbits. We live very well on just under my social security benefit of about $1, 000 a month. I have been very happy with the medical care I have gotten and some of the doctors even speak English. I love it here, but I really didnīt have much choice. My husband was going "home" with or without me! Iīm glad I came with him!Expert Page: Aguas Dulces Cabin Rentals |
| "Changes will have to be made"
Thanks Kathy for that positive reply. I'm glad such a huge change worked out well for someone. They say that as you get older you are less welcoming of change. I have lived in Alabama most of my life and on the farm for most of that. There are a lot of things I would miss like being able to go for a really long walk and not encounter a single person. Also, I have grandkids I would miss terribly. But, on the other hand, things are changing here in the good old US of A and most not for the better. There has been a growing sense of inner conflict which has led me to seriously consider moving elsewhere for my last years. This is a huge change for me and I am not sure I am up to it. Uruguay seems like the kind of place I am looking for. Stable and quiet. It has been suggested that I go for a look before I decide to commit. That is what I will begin planning for. It will not be easy but living out my remaining years here would not be easy either. I am still open to alternatives. If I sell out completely, I could swing a small farm with a modest house which would be my ideal situation. Not being a city person, I don't think I would like living in Montevideo, as neat as everyone says it is. If there is still Social Security when I retire, I think it would suffice for a comfortable, if modest lifestyle. |
Comment #2101/22/12 17:51Rural east Colonia departmento | "Rural lifeforms"
Some of us just aren't cut out for urban life... even if living in the campo does require a vehicle of some sort :-)As far as I know you can still find (rough) rural houses you can rent for 300 to 400 U$S/month around here and Colonia is not the cheapest of departmentos. Farm amalgamations often result in spare houses but unless they are near some fashionable area or the beach, the owners often leave them to decay instead of advertising them as local attitudes are that only a serious farmer, a recluse, someone on the run or a madman would want to live in the campo rather than the city (aka village.) The only way to find such places is by word of mouth. I have lost count of the people who have asked me why I built my dream home in the campo rather than in Valdense or Nueva Helvecia. I tell them that I'm mean and don't like paying domestic taxes but local scuttlebutt reckons that I'm a dissident spy on the run from the British... thus satisfying their preconceptions about why people live in the campo. I suppose its marginally better than being stereotyped as a madman :-) |
| "Rural life"
A small farm kind of out of the way sounds like what I am looking for. I hadn't intended on buying a car but, being American, a car is as much a part of my life as a house. Is a driver's license difficult to get there? I lived in the suburbs of the closest city, population between 25 and 50, 000 depending on who you talk to, for a few years and thought I would like it, but didn't. I am currently planning on staying 90 days to see how I like things and see about buying a place of some kind. Right now, I think I will go ahead and apply for residency as soon as I get there. I assume there are no restrictions on leaving in case things don't turn out. As to being considered eccentric, well, folks think that already. Maybe I will fit right in there. |
Comment #2301/23/12 08:57Rural east Colonia departmento | "Rural transport"
I live 5 kms outside Valdense (pop 4000) yet we are well supplied with public transport. 6 local buses pass the bottom of my farm daily and they connect with long haul buses at Valdense which leave for MVD and Colonia del Sacramento every 30 and 90 minutes.Many rural dwellers get by with just a small Chinese motorbike but I must admit that some sort of pick-up truck is a useful thing to have. |
| "Pickup truck"
Yes, definitely a pickup. mine is old and crappy but I don't know how I would get by without it. Is automobile insurance expensive there? If they aren't prone to lawsuits at every turn like here, it shouldn't be too bad. I do hope the drivers aren't crazed maniacs like in Saudi Arabia. Come to think of it, there is no shortage of craziness behind the wheel most anywhere here in the US. |
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