Uruguay is one of South America’s most developed and card-friendly countries — and one of its more expensive — but it also offers foreign visitors some of the best tax breaks on the continent. Here’s how money works and how to make the most of those savings.
The currency is the Uruguayan peso (UYU), written with the “$” sign — so, as in several neighbouring countries, check whether a price is in pesos or US dollars (dollars are often shown as “U$S”). Uruguay is highly banked and very card-friendly, so you can pay by card almost everywhere; carry some pesos in cash for small purchases, markets, and tips.
Credit and debit cards are accepted widely, and ATMs are easy to find in cities and towns (many dispense both pesos and US dollars). Bring two cards as a backup, tell your bank your travel dates, and — importantly in Uruguay — pay by a foreign card wherever you can, because that’s how you unlock the tourist tax savings below.
Uruguay gives non-resident foreign visitors two genuinely valuable VAT breaks:
The catch: these benefits require payment by a foreign-issued card (not cash), which is the single best reason to favour your card in Uruguay. (The reduced-VAT measure on dining is renewed periodically by the government — current at the time of writing; worth a quick check before you travel.)
Set expectations accordingly: Uruguay is among the priciest countries in South America, with costs in Montevideo and the beach resort of Punta del Este closer to North American or European levels than to its cheaper neighbours. The tax breaks above genuinely help offset this, so factor them into your budget.
Tipping is modest: around 10% in restaurants for good service, a dollar or so per bag for porters, and rounding up for taxis. Tour guides and drivers appreciate a few dollars per day.
Look for locally made handicrafts — yerba mate gourds and bombillas (the metal straws for Uruguay’s beloved mate), along with fine wool textiles and leather goods.
Ready to discover it for yourself? Browse our Uruguay tours — we handle the logistics so you can focus on the experience.
