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Currency in Uruguay UYU - Things to know

Foreign exchange guide to Uruguay and the Uruguayan peso

Uruguay

What currency is used in Uruguay?

The official currency of Uruguay (country code: UY) is the Uruguayan peso, with symbol $U and currency code UYU.

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Things to know about the Uruguayan peso

Here are some things you might want to know about the Uruguayan peso:

  1. The Uruguayan peso is the official currency of Uruguay. It is represented by the symbol "$" and is abbreviated as UYU.
  2. The peso was introduced in 1828, replacing the Spanish colonial real. It is divided into 100 centésimos.
  3. The physical currency consists of coins and banknotes. The coins come in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 centésimos, and 1 peso. The banknotes come in denominations of 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 pesos.
  4. The banknotes feature images of famous Uruguayan historical figures, such as José Artigas and Fructuoso Rivera. The design of the currency is constantly being updated, so the physical appearance of the coins and banknotes may vary slightly over time.
  5. The value of the peso has fluctuated over time, due to factors such as inflation and economic instability in the country. In recent years, the value of the peso has been relatively stable, although it has depreciated against the US dollar due to the country's high rate of inflation.

Travel money for Uruguay

Save money and time by Ordering your Uruguayan peso online from Travelex, you get better rates and can pick up the UYU cash locally or even on travel day at the airport.

Another popular option is to use a Pre-paid Travel Card. Your Debit/Credit Card provider will charge you 2% from market mid-rate, but your bank may also charge an extra 3% as an “Overseas Transaction Charge” plus “Overseas ATM” fees for withdrawing cash.

For card purchases if offered a choice of currencies always select to Pay in Uruguayan peso otherwise you may get much worst exchange rates.

 
 

Travel Ideas and Money Tips for Uruguay

Wedged like a grape between Brazil’s gargantuan thumb and Argentina’s long forefinger, Uruguay has always been something of an underdog. Yet after two centuries living in the shadow of its neighbors, South America’s smallest country is finally getting a little well-deserved recognition. Progressive, stable, safe and culturally sophisticated, Uruguay offers visitors opportunities to experience everyday ‘not made for tourists’ moments, whether caught in a cow-and-gaucho (cowboy) traffic jam on a dirt road to nowhere or strolling with maté-toting locals along Montevideo’s beachfront.

Short-term visitors will find plenty to keep them busy in cosmopolitan Montevideo, picturesque Colonia and party-till-you-drop Punta del Este. But it pays to dig deeper. Go wildlife-watching along the Atlantic coast, hot-spring-hopping up the Río Uruguay, or horseback riding under the big sky of Uruguay’s interior, where vast fields spread out like oceans.

What currency to use in Uraquay?

The currency in Uruguay is the Uruguayan peso. There are plenty of currency exchange locations throughout Montevideo and the big cities, but you should convert your money before going to a smaller town, just in case there isn’t one there. The airport, as in most cities, is the worst place to exchange your currency, as it’s more expensive. It’s sometimes best to convert your local currency to US dollars before travelling, because even though you’ll be converting the currency twice, it can save you money. Uruguay is not as cheap as some other Latin American nations, and tourist destinations at peak season can be difficult if you’re on a budget.

How to get around in Uraquay?

Buses are comfortable, the government-regulated fares are reasonable and distances are short. Many companies offer free wi-fi on board. In the few cities that lack terminals, all companies are within easy walking distance of each other, usually around the main plaza. Reservations are unnecessary except during holiday periods. On peak travel dates a single company may run multiple departures at the same hour, in which case they’ll mark a bus number on your ticket; check with the driver to make sure you’re boarding the right bus, or you may find yourself in the ‘right’ seat on the wrong bus. Most towns with central bus terminals have a reasonably priced left-luggage facility.

La Mano is a sculpture in Punta del Este by Chilean artist Mario Irarrázabal

Visitors to Uruguay who are staying less than 90 days need only bring a valid driver’s license from their home country. Uruguayan drivers are extremely considerate, and even bustling Montevideo is quite sedate compared with Buenos Aires. Due to government regulation, all service stations, including the ubiquitous state-owned Ancap, charge the same price for fuel. At the time of research, regular unleaded gasoline cost UR$54.95 per liter, premium UR$57 per liter. Economy cars rent locally for upwards of UR$1500 a day in high season, with tax and insurance included. Advance online bookings are often significantly cheaper than in-country rentals. Most credit-card companies’ automatic LDW (loss-damage-waiver) insurance covers rentals in Uruguay.

Taxis, remises (private cars) and local buses are similar to those in Argentina. Taxis are metered; between 10pm and 6am, and on Sundays and holidays, fares are 20% higher. There’s a small additional charge for luggage, and passengers generally tip the driver by rounding fares up to the next multiple of five or 10 pesos. Uber and similar ride-sharing services are also widely used in Montevideo. City bus service is excellent in Montevideo and other urban areas, while micros (minibuses) form the backbone of the local transit network in smaller coastal towns such as La Paloma.

Montevideo, the capital of Uraquay.

Travel tips for Uraquay.

Uruguay’s climate is relatively mild year-round, so plan your Uruguay visit at your leisure. While Uruguay’s summer, which lasts from February to December, attracts the most tourists, visiting the country in the winter, spring or fall has its advantages. The temperatures are cool but rarely freezing, and you’ll avoid the price hike that accompanies peak-season.

In Uruguay, you will be doing everything a bit later than you’re used to. Here, 11pm is a perfectly normal time for dinner, and even though some restaurants open at 7pm to cater to tourists, don’t expect them to be full until at least 9.30pm. Feel free to hit a bar from 12am onwards, as most are open until 4am or 5am. Clubs are usually open until 8am or 9am, just in time to get breakfast the day after. You will see movement in the city streets at all hours, as people are coming and going places at all times.

Cabo Polonio.

In Uruguay, and specially in Montevideo, there are plenty of things to do for free if you’re on a budget. For example, all public museums (which means most museums in Uruguay) are free by law. Another way of experiencing some free culture is by going to a street market to people-watch, or finding out when the neighbourhood comparsas will be playing the drums. There’s always something going on in the streets of the city centre, so you might even unknowingly join a march! There are a lot of beautiful parks and squares, and amazing architecture that you can see just by walking around.

A lot of Uruguayans speak some English, but you shouldn’t expect very fluid communication. The best way is to learn some basic Spanish phrases to get around with, and brace yourself for a lot of hand gestures. Uruguayans will graciously try to understand and talk to you with great patience and politeness, as these qualities are characteristic of this welcoming nation. Uruguayans are very friendly and curious, and they will try to communicate, even if it’s difficult and frustrating for both of you.

 
   

USD/UYU Market Data

The below interactive chart displays the USD/UYU change and UP📈 DOWN📉 trends over the past 1 Year.

 
1 USD =
37.57We compare provider deals to this wholesale mid-market rate. Read more
UYU
  1 UYU = 0.026620 USD   (Inverse rate)
 
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Frequently Asked Questions

What currency should I use in Uruguay?

The domestic currency in Uruguay is the Uruguayan peso.

What is the Uruguayan peso currency code and symbol?

The three letter currency code for the Uruguayan peso is UYU — symbol is $U.

Which countries use the Uruguayan peso?

It is the domestic currency in    Uruguay.

Is the Uruguayan peso a closed currency?

No, the Uruguayan peso is freely available and convertible. See guide: What is a closed currency?

What are equivalent amounts of USD and UYU?

Here are some popular conversion amounts for USD to UYU (US dollar to Uruguayan peso)*.

USD UYU
$ 1 $U 37.57
$ 5 $U 187.85
$ 10 $U 375.70
$ 20 $U 751.40
$ 50 $U 1,879
$ 100 $U 3,757
$ 250 $U 9,393
$ 500 $U 18,785
$ 1,000 $U 37,570
$ 2,000 $U 75,140
$ 5,000 $U 187,850
$ 10,000 $U 375,700
$ 20,000 $U 751,400
$ 50,000 $U 1,878,500
$ 100,000 $U 3,757,000
USD UYU
$ 0.0266 $U 1
$ 0.1331 $U 5
$ 0.2662 $U 10
$ 0.5324 $U 20
$ 1.3310 $U 50
$ 2.6620 $U 100
$ 6.6550 $U 250
$ 13.31 $U 500
$ 26.62 $U 1,000
$ 53.24 $U 2,000
$ 133.10 $U 5,000
$ 266.20 $U 10,000
$ 532.40 $U 20,000
$ 1,331 $U 50,000
$ 2,662 $U 100,000

More amounts

*Converted at the current USDUYU interbank exchange rate. Calculate actual payout amounts for Send Money and Travel Money exchange rates.

Send Money to Uruguay - Best Rates

To get a good (and fair) exchange rate when sending money to Uruguay you need to find and compare exchange rates for International Money Transfers (IMTs).

The available FX rates for sending money abroad can be very different to the mid-market (wholesale) rate which you see reported online and in the News.

You should especially compare your own bank's exchange rates to those available from Money Transfer specialists to see how much you can save - we make that calculation easy in the below table.


Get a better deal for foreign transfers to Uruguay

When sending money to Uruguay it’s important to compare your bank’s rates & fees with those we have negotiated with our partner money transfer providers. To get a better deal you should follow these 4 simple steps :

  1. Open an account with a BER reviewed FX provider (id docs may be required)
  2. You specify the local or Uruguayan peso amount you want to transfer
  3. Make a local currency domestic transfer for the requested amount to the provider's bank account in your country
  4. Once your funds are received by the provider the converted UYU amount will be transfered to the recipient account you specify in Uruguay.

Use the above calculator to compare the exchange rates of FX specialist providers rates versus your bank's standard rates you can hopefully save around 5% and maybe more - end result is more Uruguayan peso deposited into the recipient bank account and less margins and fees kept by the banks!

 

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