What if you were born in Uruguay?

If you had grown up in Uruguay instead of Pakistan, here is what your money, your home and your day in Montevideo could look like.

Try it with my numbers

Cobbled street with vintage car, Colonia del Sacramento. Photo: Flc1980, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Three alternate lives in Uruguay

Each person keeps the same place on the income ladder they have in Pakistan. Amounts are per month, after tax, in UYU and in rupees at today’s rate.

Single, starting out

Earns Rs 60,000 a month in Pakistan, on your own.

Take-home in Uruguay: UYU 54,800Rs 375,000
Rent (city centre): UYU 15,800
Transport (public transport): UYU 2,790
Food: UYU 7,920
Saved: UYU 8,220

Family of four

Earns Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, as a family of four.

Take-home in Uruguay: UYU 126,000Rs 860,000
Rent (suburbs): UYU 32,100
Transport (public transport): UYU 6,420
Food: UYU 21,400
Saved: UYU 18,900

High-earning couple

Earns Rs 300,000 a month in Pakistan, as a couple.

Take-home in Uruguay: UYU 204,000Rs 1,390,000
Rent (city centre): UYU 50,000
Transport (car): UYU 19,100
Food: UYU 25,000
Saved: UYU 57,100

Try it with my own income

A day in Montevideo

The family of four above, with one parent working as an engineer.

Morning
You wake up in Montevideo, a city of mild winters around 10°C and warm summers around 23°C.
Commute
You take a bus and a train: about 40 minutes, a bit longer in bad weather.
Work
As an engineer: You spend the morning on site and the afternoon on drawings and calls with suppliers.
Language
You speak Spanish at work; English helps in the big cities.
Lunch
Lunch might be chivito: a huge steak sandwich with ham, cheese and egg.
Evening
You get home with UYU 18,900 saved each month. You stay alert in some areas at night.
Weekend
Weekends are for the coast.

Uruguay compared with Pakistan

	Uruguay	Pakistan
Prices of everyday things	3.1× Pakistan	1×
Average life expectancy	78 years	68 years
Air pollution (PM2.5)	11 µg/m³	58 µg/m³
Unemployment	7.5%	5.4%
Average temperature, main city	17°C	26°C
Languages	Spanish	Urdu, English, regional languages
Currency	UYU	PKR

Sources: World Bank (price levels, household spending, life expectancy, PM2.5, unemployment), NASA POWER (climate), Dareecha’s daily exchange rates.

Thinking of really moving? See Pakistan vs Uruguay, living in Uruguay and the visa checker.

Questions

How much would I earn if I was born in Uruguay?

It depends on where you are on the ladder. A family earning Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, above the national average, would take home around UYU 126,000 a month at the same level in Uruguay (about Rs 860,000 at today's rate). Try your own numbers in the simulator.

Is Uruguay more expensive than Pakistan?

Yes. Everyday goods and services cost about 3.1 times as much as in Pakistan (World Bank price levels), but incomes there are higher too, so what matters is how far your pay goes.

What language would I speak in Uruguay?

Mainly Spanish. English is spoken by some people, mostly in cities.

Can I actually move to Uruguay?

This page imagines being born there. For a real move, compare costs, safety and jobs on the Pakistan vs Uruguay page, and check visa rules in the visa checker.