Money in Uruguay: cash, cards and tipping
What holds for the whole country, in one place: where a card is enough and where it is not, where to change money, whether to tip, and the taxes nobody mentions until the bill.
The currency is the Uruguayan Peso (UYU). $1 ≈ UYU 40 · rate of October 6, 2026
Where a card is enough
Only the places a source speaks about. Where it says nothing, neither do we.
| Where | How you pay |
|---|---|
| In general | Card From the source |
From the source means we read it where it is set: the operator, the bank, the city or the statistics office. Reported means a guide or the press says so and we have not seen the original. Where sources disagree we show both figures and leave the price out of every sum.
Where to change money
The cheapest route is usually an ATM and a card that does not charge for converting; whether yours does is up to your bank. These are the places that change cash.
- Exchange counters
Most exchange offices open Monday to Friday from 1 to 6 pm; those in large shopping centres, every day from 9 am to 10 pm.
US dollars are generally accepted in shops, supermarkets and restaurants.
Tipping
| Restaurants | Customary |
|---|---|
| Taxis | Customary |
Taxes and charges
- Consumption tax: 22%.
- Lodging tax varies from city to city: each city page has its own rule.
Rules that change on a known date
The restaurant VAT rebate ends
Until the day before, non-residents who pay with a card issued abroad get 9 points off VAT in restaurants, bars and cafés. From May 1, 2027, unless it is extended again, they pay full VAT. Hotels, by contrast, charge them no VAT all year round if they show a foreign ID.
What each city costs
Per person per day, mid-range, for two travelling together. Without accommodation, flights or the airport transfer, so the cities can be compared.
| City | Per person per day |
|---|---|
| Montevideo | UYU 2,600–3,300 |
Where every figure comes from
Every fact on this page carries its source. Reviewed: October 2026.
This page tells you how much to take. The app keeps count of what you spend.
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