What is the typical rent for a 1BR apartment in Pocitos, Montevideo?

A furnished 1-bedroom apartment in Pocitos typically runs $900–1,300/month on a short-term or flexible lease. Unfurnished on a standard 2-year UYU-indexed lease is lower — around UYU 30,000–45,000/month ($750–1,125). Premium waterfront units push higher. Punta Carretas commands a 10–20% premium over Pocitos for similar sizes.

Can I rent an apartment in Uruguay without a Cédula de Identidad?

It is harder but possible. Some landlords and agencies targeting the expat market will accept a passport plus proof of income for a short-term or furnished lease. For formal long-term leases, a Cédula is generally required along with a garante (guarantor) or rental insurance policy. Using a real estate agent (inmobiliaria) who specializes in expat clients simplifies this process significantly.

Is it better to rent furnished or unfurnished in Montevideo?

Start furnished for the first 1–3 months while exploring neighborhoods and completing your residency paperwork. Then transition to an unfurnished lease — typically 30–50% cheaper — once you have a Cédula and are certain of your preferred neighborhood. Furniture is affordable locally at Tienda Inglesa, Geant, and MercadoLibre Uruguay.

Is the water safe to drink in Montevideo?

Yes. Montevideo's tap water (OSE municipal water) is safe to drink and regularly tested to EU-equivalent standards. Most expats drink it directly from the tap. Bottled water is available everywhere but is an unnecessary expense in the city. In rural areas or smaller towns, bottled water is more common.

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🇺🇾 Uruguay

Housing

Montevideo's rental market is well-organized and expat-friendly, with furnished apartments abundant in coastal neighborhoods like Pocitos and Punta Carretas. Long-term leases are peso-denominated but often indexed to inflation — USD-denominated leases are common in premium areas.

$900–1,300/mo

1BR Rent (Pocitos)

Most popular expat neighborhood; coastal

$1,100–1,600/mo

1BR Rent (Punta Carretas)

Premium, tree-lined; slightly more upscale

$650–1,000/mo

1BR Rent (Cordón / Parque Rodó)

Central, upcoming; good value for budget-conscious

~UYU 21,500/mo

Average Citywide Rent

City average; ~$540 USD at UYU 40/USD

$80–140/mo

Utilities (Electricity + Water)

UTE electricity; OSE water; gas optional

Last updated: March 2026

Overview🌆Montevideo 🏖️Punta del Este

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Overview

Key Takeaways

Furnished short-term (1–3 months): widely available on Airbnb, Infocasas.com.uy, and 'Expats in Uruguay Housing' Facebook group; cost premium of 30–50% over unfurnished long-term
Pocitos: most popular expat neighborhood — walkable to the rambla, dense restaurant and café scene, English-speaking services, abundant rental inventory; younger digital nomad energy
No restrictions on foreign ownership — foreigners buy property with identical rights to Uruguayan citizens
Electricity (UTE): monthly cost $60–120 for a 1BR apartment; accounts opened with Cédula and proof of address; automatic bank debit (débito automático) available

Understanding the Montevideo Rental Market

Montevideo's rental market divides cleanly between furnished short-term apartments (common on arrival), unfurnished long-term leases (typically 2 years), and USD-denominated leases popular in premium coastal neighborhoods. Most expats enter via a furnished lease and transition to an unfurnished annual arrangement once they have a Cédula.

Furnished short-term (1–3 months): widely available on Airbnb, Infocasas.com.uy, and 'Expats in Uruguay Housing' Facebook group; cost premium of 30–50% over unfurnished long-term
Unfurnished long-term leases: typically 2-year minimum; rent set in UYU indexed to UI (Unidad Indexada — inflation adjustment unit) or in USD for premium properties
USD-denominated leases: common in Pocitos, Punta Carretas, and Carrasco for properties targeting the expat market — provides some protection against peso depreciation for landlords
Lease requirements: Cédula de Identidad (or passport), proof of income, guarantor (garante) or 'seguro de alquiler' (rental insurance) — the rental insurance option is increasingly accepted and costs ~1 month's rent per year
Deposits: typically 1–2 months' rent; held in escrow or returned within 30 days of lease end in good condition
Key rental portals: Infocasas.com.uy, Gallito.com.uy, MercadoLibre Uruguay — all in Spanish; many listings have WhatsApp contact
Real estate agent fees: typically 10% of one month's rent + IVA for the finder's fee — paid by the tenant at signing

Best Neighborhoods for Expats in Montevideo

Expat life in Montevideo concentrates in the coastal neighborhoods along the rambla. Pocitos and Punta Carretas are the most popular, with Carrasco for the truly upscale. For lower budgets, Cordón and Parque Rodó are excellent alternatives with good transit access.

Pocitos: most popular expat neighborhood — walkable to the rambla, dense restaurant and café scene, English-speaking services, abundant rental inventory; younger digital nomad energy
Punta Carretas: slightly more bourgeois than Pocitos — tree-lined streets, landmark Punta Carretas Shopping (former prison turned mall), safe, established expat community; families and professionals
Carrasco: Montevideo's most upscale suburb — large houses and villas near the airport, quiet residential feel, elite schools nearby; higher costs, car required
Cordón: urban, central, rapidly gentrifying; hip cafés and restaurants, lower rents than the coast, good walkability; popular with younger expats and remote workers
Parque Rodó: arts-focused neighborhood around a large park; bohemian energy, independent galleries, good value; close to Pocitos but more authentic
Ciudad Vieja (Old City): Montevideo's historic downtown — colonial architecture, lively Sunday Tristán Narvaja flea market, improving safety; niche choice for those wanting urban grit with character

Buying Property as a Foreigner

Uruguay's property market is one of Latin America's most secure for foreign buyers. No special permits are needed, title research is conducted by a notary (escribano), and the process is predictable if properly handled.

No restrictions on foreign ownership — foreigners buy property with identical rights to Uruguayan citizens
Process: select property → hire a notary (escribano) → title search (estudio de títulos, 30 years) → preliminary contract (promesa de compraventa) → balance payment and deed transfer
Buyer closing costs: ~3–4% transfer tax (ITP) + 1–2% notary fee + registration fee; total buyer-side approximately 4–6% of purchase price
Seller closing costs: ~2–3% transfer tax; real estate agent commission 3–5% (paid by seller in most cases)
Mortgage loans: available to residents; BROU, Itaú, and BBVA offer USD-denominated mortgages at 4–7% interest for qualified buyers
No capital gains tax: property appreciation is never taxed in Uruguay — zero tax on profit from sale of residential or commercial real estate
Annual property tax (Contribución Inmobiliaria): municipal tax of 0.25–1% of fiscal value (catastral value, typically well below market value); effective annual cost $200–800 for a typical Pocitos apartment

Utilities, Internet & Home Setup

Uruguay has reliable utilities with minimal blackout risk. ANTEL (state telecom) provides the best fiber internet speeds. UTE (electricity) and OSE (water) are state monopolies with straightforward setup processes.

Electricity (UTE): monthly cost $60–120 for a 1BR apartment; accounts opened with Cédula and proof of address; automatic bank debit (débito automático) available
Water (OSE): state water utility; very low monthly cost $15–30; automatically billed; Montevideo tap water is safe to drink throughout the city
Internet (ANTEL fiber): best option — up to 600 Mbps plans available; typical expat plan 200 Mbps at $35–50/mo; ANTEL is state-owned and network quality is consistently high
Internet alternatives: Movistar fiber available in most of Montevideo; speeds and pricing comparable to ANTEL
Mobile SIM: ANTEL (best coverage), Claro, and Movistar; prepaid SIMs available at ANTEL offices and kiosks from UYU 200; monthly data plans from UYU 500 ($12) for 10GB
Gas (optional): most Montevideo apartments use electric cooking and heating; some older buildings have natural gas (Gaseba) — $30–60/mo if connected
Furniture and appliances: buy locally from Tienda Inglesa, Geant (Walmart), or Sodimac; MercadoLibre Uruguay for second-hand — good quality and reasonable prices

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