Uruguay
Currency in Uruguay: what to use and how to exchange
Uruguay uses the Uruguayan peso (UYU, written $). Bring some US dollars in cash for big-ticket items and change, use a card for hotels and larger restaurants, and withdraw pesos from bank ATMs rather than exchanging at airports or hotel desks. Switch to cash-first if your card charges foreign-transaction fees.
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GuideUruguay
Key facts
- Currencycheck
- Uruguayan peso (UYU), symbol $; prices often written as $U or UYU to avoid confusion with USD
- US dollarscheck
- Accepted for many big-ticket items (hotels, tours, some restaurants); change usually given in pesos
- Best value exchangecheck
- Bank ATMs in Montevideo and larger cities; casas de cambio (exchange houses) in city centres
- Worst valuecheck
- Airport and hotel-front desks, and informal street changers
- Cardscheck
- Visa and Mastercard widely accepted in cities and resorts; Amex less so outside Montevideo and Punta del Este
- Cash needed forcheck
- Buses, small cafés, markets, taxis outside apps, rural areas
- Tipping
- About 10% in restaurants; not added automatically
Details
Uruguay's currency is the Uruguayan peso, code UYU. Locals write it with a dollar sign, so a menu price of $450 means 450 pesos, not 450 US dollars. To avoid confusion, prices are often shown as $U or UYU. US dollars are widely accepted for larger purchases such as hotel rooms, car hire and some tours, but day-to-day spending — buses, cafés, markets, small shops — runs on pesos.
The practical split is simple. Pay in pesos for anything small and everyday, and use a card or US dollars for big-ticket items where the vendor quotes in dollars. If you pay a dollar price in cash, expect change in pesos at a rate you did not choose, so ask first.
For exchanging money, bank ATMs in Montevideo and the larger cities are usually the best combination of rate and convenience, though fees vary by bank and by your home card. Casas de cambio (exchange houses) in city centres are a reasonable alternative for cash, and they are common in Montevideo, Colonia del Sacramento and Punta del Este. Airport desks and hotel front desks are convenient but typically give a worse rate. Avoid informal street changers.
Cards work well in cities and resort areas. Visa and Mastercard are the most reliable; American Express is less widely taken outside Montevideo and Punta del Este. Smaller businesses, rural shops and some bus counters may be cash only, so keep a few hundred pesos on you. Contactless is common in Montevideo cafés and supermarkets.
Prices in Uruguay are high by South American standards, closer to southern Europe than to neighbouring Argentina or Brazil. Budget travellers should plan for that; see the budget and cost pages for numbers.
Summary table
| Item | What to do | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Currency | Uruguayan peso (UYU, $) | US dollars also accepted for big-ticket items (check) |
| Best exchange | Bank ATMs in cities; casas de cambio for cash | Rates and fees vary by bank and card (check) |
| Worst exchange | Airport and hotel desks; street changers | Convenience costs you (check) |
| Cards | Visa, Mastercard widely accepted | Amex patchier outside Montevideo and Punta del Este (check) |
| Cash needed for | Buses, small cafés, markets, rural areas | Keep a few hundred pesos (check) |
| Tipping | About 10% in restaurants | Not added automatically |
| Time zone | UTC−3 all year | Same as Buenos Aires |
Rates, fees and card acceptance change; confirm with your bank and the vendor (check).
Tips
- Withdraw a larger amount less often to reduce per-withdrawal fees.
- Decline the ATM's or card terminal's own conversion offer and let your bank convert.
- Carry small peso notes; large notes can be hard to break in small shops.
- Keep a backup card separate from your main one.
- Ask for the price in pesos if a vendor quotes in dollars, so you can compare.
- Tell your bank you are travelling if it blocks foreign transactions by default.
FAQ
Questions people ask
What currency is used in Uruguay?
The Uruguayan peso (UYU), written with a dollar sign. US dollars are also accepted for many big-ticket items such as hotels and tours, but everyday spending runs on pesos.
Where is the best place to exchange money in Uruguay?
Bank ATMs in Montevideo and larger cities usually give the best combination of rate and convenience. Casas de cambio in city centres are a good option for cash. Airport and hotel desks are convenient but typically worse value.
Is it better to bring cash or use a card in Uruguay?
Use a card for hotels, larger restaurants and supermarkets, and keep pesos in cash for buses, small cafés, markets and rural areas. Bring some US dollars for big-ticket items if you prefer paying cash.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialBanco Central del Uruguay
- secondaryWikivoyage – Uruguay