Currency & Payment

Uruguay uses the Uruguayan peso (UYU), shown with the $ sign, sometimes written $U to tell it apart from US dollars. The peso is divided into 100 centésimos. US dollars are also widely used for hotels, larger purchases and in tourist areas, so it can help to carry a small amount of dollars alongside pesos.

You can change money at banks, exchange offices (casas de cambio) and at the airport. US dollars in cash are the easiest to exchange and are often accepted directly. Rates vary, so compare a couple of casas de cambio in the city. Keep some smaller bills, and note that banks may keep shorter hours than exchange offices.

Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in cities and tourist areas, in hotels, restaurants and shops, and contactless is common. A notable benefit for visitors is that foreign tourists paying by card for services such as restaurants and accommodation receive a VAT reduction under a tax-benefit scheme. In small towns or markets, keep some cash as backup.

ATMs are plentiful in cities and towns, mainly on the Redbrou and Banred networks. Many machines let you withdraw either Uruguayan pesos or US dollars, so choose carefully on screen. Watch out for foreign-card fees and low per-transaction limits, and always decline home-currency conversion (DCC) to get a better rate.

Contactless card payments, including phone and smartwatch wallets, are widely used in Uruguayan cities. Locals also use prepaid and app-based options such as Prex for everyday spending. As a visitor, the simplest approach is to rely on a contactless bank card or a linked mobile wallet, since local app accounts usually require a Uruguayan ID.

Tipping is customary but modest in Uruguay. In restaurants a tip of around 10% is usual, as a service charge is often not shown on the bill. Rounding up for taxis and leaving a little for hotel staff is appreciated. Tips are not obligatory, and paying by card sometimes means leaving the tip in cash.

Uruguay is one of the more expensive countries in South America, and prices in Montevideo and the coastal resort of Punta del Este are especially high, particularly in the summer season. Everyday costs for meals, transport and accommodation are noticeably higher than in neighbouring countries. Budget a little more than you might expect and look for set lunch menus for better value.

Uruguay applies a value-added tax (IVA) with a standard rate of 22%. Rather than a classic export refund at the airport, the main benefit for tourists is a VAT reduction applied at the point of sale when foreign visitors pay by card for services such as meals and accommodation. Keep your receipts and pay by card to make sure the reduction is applied.