I’ve lived in Uruguay for more than five years now, long enough that I’m preparing to apply for citizenship, and I think your video captured many of the things that initially drew me here. Uruguay really is peaceful, politically stable and generally more relaxed than its neighbors. The coastline is beautiful, people value time together, and there is something very pleasant about the slower pace of life. It can be an excellent country for the right person.

However, living here permanently is quite different from spending three months around La Barra and Punta del Este. Uruguay is surprisingly expensive, groceries, electricity, gasoline, cars and imported goods can cost as much as, or more than, they do in the United States. Local salaries generally do not match those prices. The charming old cars are not always a lifestyle choice; newer ones are simply extremely expensive.

You should also arrive knowing Spanish, or seriously prepared to learn it. English may carry you through the international and tourist community around Punta del Este, but government offices, medical care, contracts, banking, taxes and normal daily life operate in Spanish.

The most unexpected nightmare for me has been getting institutions to recognize foreign income. You may earn a perfectly adequate and reliable income from abroad, but try convincing a bank, landlord, garantía provider, car dealer or government office that it should count. Each institution seems to want different documentation, legalization, translations or local proof, and sometimes no amount of documentation fits neatly into its system. Uruguay welcomes foreign money much more readily than it understands foreign income.

So yes, Uruguay can be a wonderful place to live, and I have clearly chosen to remain here. But anyone considering a permanent move should look beyond the sunsets, mate and asados. Come with dependable income, plenty of patience, functional Spanish and a high tolerance for bureaucracy. The peaceful life is real, but you may have to survive an astonishing amount of paperwork before you’re allowed to enjoy it.

My wife, our 6 cats, and I retired here in 2022 from Cherryville, BC. It is about living in a culture of contentment and an understanding of what is important in living a life without fear.

Brazilian here. I have been living in Uruguay for 9 months, before that i used to live in Sao paulo.
I feel like in Uruguay it is Ok just to live and to be presente in the moment. No rush, no hurry to get somewhere else, no planning 10 steps ahead. It is a amazing lifestyle to still have in a fast paced world like ours. Although i have to go back to Brasil i will carry the lessons i learned here trough my whole life.

Lived in Uruguay for a few years a couple decades ago. At the time I thought it was kind of a boring place, with not much to do. But now I miss that peaceful, slow pace of life. Would love to go back for a biscocho and a paseo on the rambla. Thanks for your video. ❤️

The word you’re looking for is “content.”  It’s a simpler, purer form of joy.

No es más rico el que más tiene, si no el que menos necesita. ☺️

“When you’re moving your body, and the sun is rising, it just sets up the whole day for success.”  👍

Parilla is pronounced (pareesha) … the double l is a “sh” sound.  I immigrated here 11 years ago with my family & it must be noted that although Uruguay scores high on the happiness scale, it also scores high on the suicide rate scale in South America.  There are many wonderful things about the country but when you live here permanently there are challenges - a moist climate with a battle against mildew/mold, longer gray & wet winters, bureaucracy, etc.  Interesting video. 🙂

Yay, Uruguay! Great job. Makes me miss it there already! The estancia was my favorite part by far. 🐎

My wife and I wanna visit next year to check it out. Can’t wait.

Such a great video! I visited Montevideo for too short of a time in January of this year and LOVED it! It’s now on my list of countries to re-visit to spend more time exploring the entire country.
BEST news, I just got back from visiting country #101 and achieving my goal of 100 by 70❣️
Happy Adventuring!

Nice video. We were there in March and bought a small chacra near Minas. Really nice country. Thanks for sharing this video!

I'm from NE Ohio and have lived in Argentina since 2002. The economy, inflation, and unemployment here now are absolutely insane and are making it almost impossible to continue living here. My daughter is still a minor, and I can't leave the country without her, but I am seriously considering moving to Uruguay.

"Talk with as many people as you can to get a sense of the local culture". INCREADABLE advice!! What an awesome video!

Thank you so much for doing this! I’m an Uruguayan living in Connecticut. Culturally, it’s so hard to adapt no matter how many years I’ve been here. Of course I miss my family and friends, but mostly the way of life. What you captured so beautifully.

Interesting.  Never thought about going to Uruguay but will consider whenever I start traveling to South America.

So, now I have to visit Uruguay.  It looks beautiful.  My favorite happy place is Mexico. But I think the happiness in the Mexican people is due to their rich culture, proud history and ancestry, and strong spiritual, family, and community ties with an infrastructure that supports it and promotes it. Mexico is truly the happiest country I’ve visited.  Bhutan is a close second.

Really loved this. You’ve inspired me in so many directions. Thanks.

Sounds fascinating! 🌎

Welcome to Uruguay 🇺🇾 !!!