I’ve been down here awhile and I haven’t really addressed the cost of living issue down here compared to the US. So, what is the situation? Before coming here, I definitely go the impression that it would be dirt cheap to eat, drink and socialize. Being here for awhile, I would say it is part true…depending on choice. How so? I’ll tell you….
The first thing to note when talking about costs is the odd exchange rate of the US dollar compared to the Uruguayan peso. Right now the rate is about 22:1. Makes for quite an easy translation on the fly, right? It’s so interesting to be carrying around 100 or 200 peso bills, when in actually they are worth roughly $5 or $10. While this is strange, I will note that Chile’s exchange rate is even more bizarre. There, the exchange rate is about 500:1. There is always this odd feeling when you translate upon payment….”let’s see, 1,000 pesos is $2, therefore 14,000 pesos equals $7″….of course.
But back to Uruguay. In general, public transportation, entertainment, hotels, services (haircuts, etc) and most foods are very affordable. What’s expensive is clothing! Actually, this pertains only to clothing bought in a store (vs. bought in one of the many markets), because that clothing is taxed heavily with import taxes. So, this is good and bad for me….at least it helps to not tempt me into too much shopping. I had to escape to Argentina for that!
So, what is the standard of living around here? Here are some sample costs that I have incurred:
Basket of Laundry (which is actually all my laundry) - cleaned and delivered to my hotel room = 85 pesos (approx. $4)
Haircut = 100 pesos (approx. $5)
Bottle of Wine - Normal bottle of average wine bought in a store = 120 pesos (approx. $6)
Bottle of Wine - Normal bottle of average wine bought in a restaurant = 240 to 300 pesos (approx. $10-$15)
15 minute taxi ride across town = 85 pesos (approx. $4)
Bus fare = 13.5 pesos (approx. $.45)
Sit down lunch including entree and beverage = 120 to 150 pesos (approx. $6-$8)
Sit down dinner including entree, dessert and wine = 200 to 500 pesos (approx. $10-$25) - obviously varies by restaurant
Ticket to Barro Negro = 150 pesos (approx. $6)
But I want to rewind…to the $5 haircut. You cannot imagine my surprise at this! In the US, I go to a hair salon…a very nice, but certainly not the snootiest salon on the block. My hair takes about 1 hour total and costs me $60 (including tip). I went to a hair dresser that was recommended to me here. Granted, the place was not wafting with the scents of Aveda - rosemary and mint prickling your nose. Nor, did it come with the lounging table that you relax on while you hair is being washed. I also did not receive a head massage that usually nearly puts me to sleep and makes drool after a long day at work. BUT, in 15 short minutes and for the bargain price of 150 pesos (total including tip…I felt too bad about such a small price), I got a fantastic haircut. I literally, stood up from my chair and asked her how much and couldn’t believe my ears.
I’ve recently also had dinners that have completely surprised me. For instance, I went to dinner with three friends just two night ago. We ordered meals, a few beers and a bottle of wine. The bill was $50 total. Wow. You just can’t beat it. The one area for improvement would be the service with drinks. It’s easy to find yourself stranded with an empty wine glass. My tip is to always order another glass (if you think you want one) when the waiter comes around. You’re just not sure when the next time they show their face may be.
Another thing to mention about the cost of living in Uruguay is the art of tipping. Tipping on food is customary - you usually tip around 10% for food, which definitely feels cheap for us Norte Americanos. It’s also interesting that tipping for taxis is not necessarily standard. You are told to round up to the nearest peso, but that doesn’t exactly make sense to me and generally doesn’t result in much of a tip (usually on 5 or 6 pesos). My friends and I have generally been tipping between 10 to 20 pesos. This seems to really brightened their day and we get an emphatic “Muchas gracias! Chau!” I know that when you go to other countries, you should abide by their customs, but in this case, the extra dollar just seems worth it. The taxi drivers can be so nice. They are very patient as you struggle to speak a lick of Spanish and are always asking questions about why you’re here, do you miss your family, what is the US like? It kind of makes my day, too, to get a good taxi driver.
I think you get the picture of the costs down here. Knowing this, hopefully it helps explain why all I’ve been doing since getting here is working, eating, drinking, dancing and sleeping. Food and drink are cheap and are fantastic as well. I’m assuming I’ll have a total culture shock when I return home and go to my first restaurant. First of all, I’m certain they will insist I order upon sitting down. And then they will bring me my bill before I even have a look at the dessert menu. I’ll be shocked when they bring the bill as I’m still enjoying my entree. And the kicker will be the expectation to receive a 20% tip. The nerve!
Posted on November 18th, 2007 by katiejocannon
Filed under: Customs, Entertainment, Food, Shopping, Transportation, Uruguay
Leave a Reply