Working in Montevideo Uruguay
The capital and largest city in Uruguay, Montevideo has a population of more than 1.3 million. Montevideo is located on the southern coast of Uruguay and is regarded as a vibrant, cultural South American city.
Montevideo was founded by Portuguese explorers in the late 17th century before Spanish settlers took control of the city in 1724. Modern Montevideo is a cosmopolitan city which enjoys a warm, subtropical climate for much of the year.
- Airport
- Railway Station
- Transportation
- Cost of Living
- Accommodation
- Emergency
- Shopping
- Insurance and Healthcare
Location
Tourism Video
Airport
Carrasco International Airport
The largest airport in Uruguay is located 19km from central Montevideo and services close to 2 million passengers each year. It is a hub to several international airlines, including many based in South America and European carriers like Air France and Air Europa.
Travellers can use a number of local bus services for transport between Carrasco International Airport and central Montevideo. Bus travel usually takes at least an hour. For a shorter trip, approximately 30 minutes, visitors should look at either a taxi or hire car.
Railway Station
The rail network in Uruguay is almost non-existent. In 1985, the National Transport Plan discontinued the remaining passenger lines and focused on freight trains only. Now there are very limited commuter train services linking Montevideo to some of the northern suburbs. There are some tourist trains, which do not have a fixed schedule, but no long distance train services.
Transportation
Montevideo has a very efficient public transportation system that makes getting around an easy task. The city’s central terminal is called Tres Cruces. From there, commuters can reach all parts of the city, including the outer residential suburbs. Outside of buses, travel by car is about the only other option for visitors to Montevideo.
Cost of Living
The cost of living in Montevideo is low by western standards and the average monthly wage is typically less than $1000 equivalent.
According to online cost of living database Numbeo (www.numbeo.com), prices for typical items on current exchange rates (June 2013) are as follows:
| Food | |
| Cheap meal (inexpensive restaurant) | $11.00 |
| Three-course meal for two at mid-range restaurant | $41.20 |
| Domestic beer (500mL) | $2.20 |
| Coke (330mL) | $1.75 |
| Milk (1 litre) | $1.05 |
| Loaf of bread | $1.40 |
| Eggs | $2.50 |
| Transport | |
| One way ticket (local transport) | $1.00 |
| Petrol (1 litre) | $1.90 |
| Rent (monthly) | |
| One bedroom apartment (central area) | $565approx |
| Accommodation | |
| Hostel bed (one night) | $2 |
| Five star hotel room (one night) | $250 |
Accommodation
Accommodation in Montevideo varies, but in the main isn’t overly expensive. While a small city Montevideo does have several budget hotels, a decent selection of mid-range hotels and a few luxurious options. A few options to consider include:
Budget
Piedras de Afilar Art Hostel
Pocitos Hostel
Mid-range
Four Points Sheraton
Radisson
High-end
Nh Columbia Hotel
Casa Sarandi
Emergency
Emergency telephone numbers
police, fire and medical emergency 911
Shopping
Montevideo’s most popular market is Mercado de los Artesanos, located on the corner of Paraguay and Colonia streets. It features a vast array of artists and craftspeople selling arts and crafts. The city has two major shopping malls: Punta Carretas Shopping Mall and Montevideo Shopping Mall. The city is also known for its big range of leather products, with the best outlet for these products being Montevideo Leather Factory.
Insurance and Healthcare
Quality health care is readily available throughout Uruguay for residents, who are eligible to participate in the national health care system. This includes a free network of clinics and hospitals. However, be aware that Uruguay’s clinics and hospitals are often slow and crowded.
On top of the readily available public health system, expats in Uruguay can also take out private care, with an extensive range of services available for those willing to pay extra. Costs for private health treatment in Uruguay are inexpensive compared to those in Australia.
Despite a good standard of health facilities in Uruguay, DFAT recommends all Australians travelling to the country take out comprehensive travel insurance to cover any overseas costs.