Living in Punta del Diablo, Uruguay: A lesbian couple’s first year
Shelley and Chas moved from Georgia to Punta del Diablo, Uruguay. Real monthly costs, LGBTQ community, bringing cats, residency + advice.
Personal recommendations are essential to getting good service in Uruguay. Think of Guru’Guay as a friend sharing her favourite contacts. We only recommend people and companies we know personally and professionally and have vetted.
This is a series from Guru’Guay on all the aspects you need to know about living in Uruguay. We talk to experts who spend their professional lives advising foreigners about relocating to Uruguay. We’ll be talking about residency, citizenship, buying property, opening a bank account, buying property, renovating property, getting insurance coverage and more.
The series is on YouTube. Make sure you hit ‘subscribe’ to never miss a new episode.
Uruguay is becoming a more and more attractive place to live. Especially in an increasingly unstable world. Uruguay has a notable history and society. It’s been an outlier in South America—for mostly good reasons—for centuries. Learn all about the country—history, culture and society, as well as the beaches and wine. Plus read (and watch on YouTube) other foreigners’ experiences living in Uruguay, especially the pros and the cons.
Uruguay is a developed country and quite expensive by Latin American standards. Most people are considered middle class, however the majority cannot afford a car or to consider buying a home until they are well into their thirties.
Uruguay is probably one of the easiest countries in the world to immigrate to and obtain residency. You need a clean criminal record and be able to prove a monthly income of around 1500 USD per person. Learn about requirements, documentation, applying as a retiree, vaccines and more.
An award-winning relocation expert advises you how to navigate the Uruguay citizenship process and the requirements for it.
All the burning questions you have about retiring to Uruguay and other important stuff regarding wills and the rights of a surviving spouse that you will never have expected if you don’t come from this part of the world.
Property requirements, taxes, the buying process, investing in farmland, what’s it like buying a new build and our recommendations for reliable realtors.
By Latin American standards Uruguay has a highly educated population. Education in Uruguay has been free, compulsory and secular in primary schools for over 150 years and public university is free. However, did you know that the typical school day lasts just four hours? And that the school year starts in February/March? Learn the most important facts that parents need to know about education and schools in Uruguay.
Uruguay has a very affordable public-private healthcare system. Anyone can buy membership in Uruguay’s forty or so health institutions—the majority of which are known as ‘mutualistas’. Find out the coverage available and how to join the afforable ‘mutualista’ system as a tax-payer or employee.
Starting a business
Learn about what’s involved in setting up a business in Uruguay (from freelance to corporation), taxation as it effects foreigners living in Uruguay and also insurance.
The point at which a foreigner needs to start paying tax, tax obligations when you live in Uruguay but work for a company abroad, taxes on royalties and tax breaks for business owners.
Guru’Guay creator Karen A Higgs is a frequent guest in the media and podcasts to talk about Uruguay as a place to live, work and travel. If you like this, check out her other media appearances.
Living in Punta del Diablo, Uruguay: A lesbian couple’s first year
Shelley and Chas moved from Georgia to Punta del Diablo, Uruguay. Real monthly costs, LGBTQ community, bringing cats, residency + advice.
Carolina Sprengel Real Estate – Investing & selling
Investing in Uruguay real estate or selling your property? We love this realtor for sharp financial analysis and honest, hands-on service.
Alto de la Ballena – Pioneering Maldonado winery
Tiny Maldonado winery producing some of Uruguay’s finest wines. Alto de la Ballena was the first to make wine in Uruguay’s top wine region.
Casa Mara Uruguay – Designer hillside hideaway
Casa Mara Uruguay: a sierra hillside hideaway with three cabins, a natural infinity pool and not a single power line in sight.
Uruguay – most gay friendly nation in South America
…and 3rd friendliest in the world according to Equaldex. Homosexuality has been legal here almost 100 years.
Montevideo Carnival 2027 dates
Hot off the press! The world’s longest carnival is in Montevideo Uruguay and we’ve got the dates.
Treehouse Ecolodge – La Barra eco-hotel
Your treehouse perched in a pine-forest 2 minutes from the beach. The most unique La Barra hotel experience ever.
Baco – Montevideo’s top wine restaurant
A French bistro with probably the longest wine list in the city and multiple by-the-glass choices is one of the best Montevideo restaurants.
Namasté — Vegetarian restaurant in Montevideo
Looking for vegetarian restaurants in Montevideo? Namasté is a family-run restaurant serving home-style food in a relaxed, colourful setting.
Dance tango in Uruguay. Whether a complete newbie or you already dance, the tango scene in Montevideo is a great way to make friends.
You will be introduced to our trusted agents in Colonia
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You will be introduced to our trusted agents in Montevideo
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You will be introduced to our trusted agents in Punta del Este & Maldonado
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25 responses
Hi Karen,
We travelled from the US to Uruguay in 2022 and had a wonderful time. We are even thinking of coming back this year for another visit and may be considering a move there.
Your website and facebook group have been super helpful. It is informative and a great resource for anyone considering making a trip there.
I do have an idea for another article though. Perhaps you could provide some information about what it is like living with a dog in Uruguay. What is it like to bring a dog through customs? What is the dog culture like? What is vet care like? Are there apartments with dog amenities? Are dog parks a thing?
I apologize if you already addressed this somewhere but I didn’t find anything obvious on your site. I imagine there are a lot of folks who would be interested in this topic. We have two Spanish Greyhounds/Galgos.
Great ideas, thanks, Brett!
Hi Karen! So excited to share that I have decided to buy a home in Ocean Park. Thank you for all the information you posted. I am using Mark Teuten & Assoc. They have been very informative and have guided me through the process nicely.
That’s so wonderful, Aida! Huge congratulations. Ocean Park is lovely. And I’m so glad you’re having a great experience with Teuten & Assoc.
Ciao Karen,
Siamo una famiglia italiana che vorrebbe trasferirsi a vivere in Uruguay.
Abbiamo una figlia di 10 anni.
Io e mia moglie abbiamo un lavoro dipendente.
Cosa dobbiamo fare per chiedere la residenza permanente?
Il lavoro lo cercheremmo una volta arrivati in Uruguay.
Attendo tuoi gentili consigli.
Grazie
Nicholas
Caro Nicholas,
Mi chiamo Laura e sono una specialista in Residenza e Migrazione. Ho la doppia cittadinanza, uruguaiana-italiana e mi piacerebbe poterti aiutare. Karen mi ha chiesto di rispondere in modo da poter facilitare il suo trasferimento.
Prima di poter iniziare il loro processo di residenza in Uruguay, ti consigliamo di essere in grado di pianificare e preparare tutta la documentazione pertinente, soprattutto se hai un minore in famiglia.
Saremo felici di aiutarvi con l’intero processo. Ti preghiamo di inviar un’e-mail a residency@mobilitylc.com in modo che possiamo condividere i dettagli del processo, i passaggi da seguire, i requisiti e i suggerimenti per preparare il loro trasloco. Possiamo anche organizzare una teleconferenza per conoscerci e rispondere a tutte le vostre domande/dubbi.
BENVENUTI IN URUGUAY!!
Laura
Hi Karen. I read that Uruguay has had a stable political climate for some time, which is important to me. I have looked at countries in Europe, but there is growing instability there, pretty much everywhere (Malta, Portugal, Spain, France, UK, The Netherlands, Italy; wouldn’t want to go east of there, because of Russia). Anyway, I really need to know what the political climate is like today in Uruguay (in 2024), and whether it is shifting. I am from the U.S., and my wife and I would like to move someplace less stressful. Can you contact me?
Hi Roger, sure, please look out for an email from me. Sorry for not getting back to you right away, I was out of the office. — Karen
Hi Karen, I’m just starting my planning and I would love to know some about the political climate and diversity attitudes.
Hi Deborah, that’s great! In that case check out everything here https://www.guruguay.com/category/uruguay-101/ and our guidebooks. Oh, and sign up for our newsletter. Greetings from the Old City — Karen
I am looking into moving to Uruguay, from the US. I have worked primarily in restaurants, grocery stores, and hospitality.
Hi Eric, happy new year. Great to hear from you, how can we help? — Karen
This was a great interview! Karen provided LOTS of useful information for those wishing to visit and possibly relocate to Uruguay! Thanks so much for requesting this interview! It was quite helpful.
Thank you so much for the kind words, Vanessa!
Hi Karen. Some tips of private less of spanish language in Montevideo? Thanks
Hey Antonio, absolutely! Academia Uruguay is our recommended language school. Great location in the old city, friendly teachers and content written in and about Uruguay. — Karen
I’m 55 years old and I’ve lived in USA since 1994. I thinking to retire in Uruguay. I get about 1300 us in disability. can I move to Uruguay?
Hi George, you’ve probably read in our residency articles that the amount required by the government is around 1500 USD. So you’re just short. Please note that Uruguay is not a cheap country to live, unless you live in the countryside, though then you will need to take into account your distance to healthcare (and a car would be too expensive on that budget). If you are serious about considering Uruguay, book a relocation session with me and get a realistic appraisal of your particular circumstances. It will be a pleasure to assist you. — Karen
Hi Karen,
Just to clarify: Is it that you need to prove $1,500 per person per month in a bank account for a couple? Or is it a different amount for a Retiree couple? I’m picking up conflicting information. This would only be in a Uruguay bank account or can I present a bank statement showing this from the country I’m currently a citizen of? Thanks!
Hey Dee, the general concensus (as nothing is written down by the Immigration Dept) is that the minimum to reside is 1500 USD for a single person and $2500 for a couple. You just have to be able to prove your income, not that the money comes to Uruguay. I hope this helps to give you and idea, but do consult with a specialist regarding your particular case. Best wishes, Karen
Sono una insegnante di storia e ho sempre insegnato e frequentato scuole internazionali dato che sono meta’ inglese e meta’ italiana. il 29 luglio 2022 mio marito e’ morto a Genoa dove vivevamo sono stata a full time care giver per 5 anni e ora che lui non c’e (nostro figlio studia lavora a Norwich e anche mio fratello vive e lavora in Inghilterra) non ho piu legami qui. Sto pensando di trasferirmi dato che mio marito amava il calcio e guardava con grande ammirazione la squadra di calcio dell’Uruguy. Io ricevo la pensione di reversibilta’ di mio marito 1700 euro al mese ma vorrei anche poter magari ricominciare ad insegnare Humanities in una scuola internazionale se fosse possibile. Sto cercando un nuovo inizio dove magari fare amiciazia e scoprire le pequliarita nel vivere a Uruguy. Se partissi non avendo nessun contatto mi chiedo se esistano persone che aiutano nel processso di amibientamento e magari collegarsi con altri italiani che vivono gia li.
Grazie mille
Cinzia
Hello Karen
I am from India , how I can get residency or temporary residency visa ? I have a well established business in India . i am doctor of eye care .
thanks
Hi Yatish, you will need to apply for a visa and residency. Do write to our relocation specialists listed at the top of the page. They will be able to help/advise you. Good luck! Karen
Hi Karen, I was born in Uruguay, but living in USA for years, I’m planning to visit in April, my question is which American bank is there o you recommend if I decide to stay longer or maybe retire ?? Thanks. I’m already subscribed.
Hi Roberto, any bank here is unaffiliated to the US. I’m not sure I understand your last question. Best wishes — Karen