Uruguay: The Most Expensive Country in South America, According to a Russian Traveler

A Russian travel blogger has labeled Uruguay the most expensive country in South America, sharing her firsthand impressions on her Telegram channel, Dos cervezas, por favor. Ekaterina flew into Montevideo from Buenos Aires, Argentina, and immediately faced an unusual hassle. “Right before we left the airport, they pulled us aside for a second baggage check. They suspected we were selling sunglasses on the side. That’s never happened to us before,” she recalled.

The first thing she noticed in the capital was the number of Brazilian tourists. It turned out there were holidays in Brazil at the end of April, so many had crossed the border for a getaway. “The claim that Uruguay is the most expensive country in South America turned out to be true,” she wrote. A trip to the supermarket can easily cost $80 for just two or three days’ worth of breakfasts. Restaurant meals for two, however, were priced about the same as in Buenos Aires or Santiago. Taxis, she noted, were “outrageously” expensive.

Despite the high costs, Ekaterina pushed back against the idea that Uruguay is boring. “I’d read and heard a lot that Uruguay is dull. But in a big city, there’s always something to do, even if you’re broke—many museums here are free,” she said. Still, she pointed out that the city is marred by constant motorbikes and terrible sidewalks.

Previously, Ekaterina described giving birth in Brazil as “something you’d never see in Russia,” noting that newborns receive citizenship within two months, and parents become eligible for it after a year.