Uruguay vs Argentina

[rdcooper]

I'm still planning on visiting Argentina, but I've been researching Uruguay. Uruguay has a tax treaty with the US, which means you won't be double taxed on your income. They also offer other benefits like a tax holiday for expats, and retirees are able to import a car duty free. I don't want to base my perceptions on YouTube videos, because much of it is AI generated fakery, but they seem to have better infrastructure. Has anyone ever considered the country before they decided on Argentina, and if so, why did you change your mind?

 

[Ries]

Smaller, slower, more expensive. Beautiful and peaceful, but sleepy. While imports like computers are cheaper, unlike Argentina they make almost nothing there, so almost all consumer products are imported.
You have to visit and see.
The people I know who live there full time are very low key, slow paced, nature loving and not high maintenance. Some things are only available in Montevideo, they drive to town once a month. Its a country full of hippies, with a month of international jetsetters on the beach in lambos and ferraris, and then, in March, no more $100 a ticket beachside raves, and buckets of champagne. The private jets fly off, and the gauchos in rubber boots ride their horses on the roads.

 

[Música]

We were in this exact situation—deciding between Uruguay and Argentina. For years, while we had been coming to both Argentina and Uruguay and had traveled throughout both countries, when we were deciding and started planning to actually move, it was to Uruguay. While a more expensive cost of living than Argentina, we liked that it was more stable economically and politically, the healthcare system seemed easier to understand and qualify for, and also really liked the more laid-back ‘countrified’ slower lifestyle of Uruguay—even in the cities—which would be a contrast to our lives in the States. So a few years ago we visited Uruguay again with a specific purpose to meet with a realtor and look at a number of property. We had already had a couple of discussions with a lawyer about immigration, researched about the healthcare by then, and so were pointed toward and making our moves for Uruguay. But as we have a younger kid, and we were coming from NYC, living out in the country of Uruguay—which is what we had planned to do—while would be peaceful and lovely, we started to think that it might not be the best option for us. Yes there is Montevideo, and had visited a number of times and really like it, but it is not Buenos Aires. Also researching schools there, it just seemed like not as many good options as in BA, although there were some good international schools. Yes the tax situation is better in Uruguay for immigrants, well at least easier to understand than Argentina, but like in the States, there are legal ways and methods to minimize your burden so that wasn’t much of a factor in our decision. Ultimately we chose Argentina, with its multiple issues and problems and the more difficulties in moving here than Uruguay, because overall it was the better choice for our family than Uruguay. Uruguay is wonderful and we still love it! But the vibrancy and more cosmopolitan nature of Buenos Aires, and that we already have some Argentine friends from our years of previous visiting, made it an easier transition from NYC than anywhere in Uruguay would have been. We bought property and moved to Argentina within the last three months and while still working on the adjusting to actually living here, Argentina is the right choice for us to build our new lives.

 

[zensailor]

We were in this exact situation—deciding between Uruguay and Argentina. For years, while we had been coming to both Argentina and Uruguay and had traveled throughout both countries, when we were deciding and started planning to actually move, it was to Uruguay. While a more expensive cost of living than Argentina, we liked that it was more stable economically and politically, the healthcare system seemed easier to understand and qualify for, and also really liked the more laid-back ‘countrified’ slower lifestyle of Uruguay—even in the cities—which would be a contrast to our lives in the States. So a few years ago we visited Uruguay again with a specific purpose to meet with a realtor and look at a number of property. We had already had a couple of discussions with a lawyer about immigration, researched about the healthcare by then, and so were pointed toward and making our moves for Uruguay. But as we have a younger kid, and we were coming from NYC, living out in the country of Uruguay—which is what we had planned to do—while would be peaceful and lovely, we started to think that it might not be the best option for us. Yes there is Montevideo, and had visited a number of times and really like it, but it is not Buenos Aires. Also researching schools there, it just seemed like not as many good options as in BA, although there were some good international schools. Yes the tax situation is better in Uruguay for immigrants, well at least easier to understand than Argentina, but like in the States, there are legal ways and methods to minimize your burden so that wasn’t much of a factor in our decision. Ultimately we chose Argentina, with its multiple issues and problems and the more difficulties in moving here than Uruguay, because overall it was the better choice for our family than Uruguay. Uruguay is wonderful and we still love it! But the vibrancy and more cosmopolitan nature of Buenos Aires, and that we already have some Argentine friends from our years of previous visiting, made it an easier transition from NYC than anywhere in Uruguay would have been. We bought property and moved to Argentina within the last three months and while still working on the adjusting to actually living here, Argentina is the right choice for us to build our new lives.

Good luck ... I hope you enjoy Argentina as much as I have ... one good side effect is that I have developed a more patient personality in the process.

 

[LuckyLuke]

Uruguay has a tax treaty with the US, which means you won't be double taxed on your income. They also offer other benefits like a tax holiday for expats, and retirees are able to import a car duty free.

The double taxation depends on a lot of factors... it's worth explaining what your type of income is that you plan to bank down here and what assets you intend to maintain in the US. Some income is not taxable down here, some assets don't really show up on anyone's radar. There's also Foreign Income tax exclusions, which is quite helpful.

As for the car import, it's not so much getting the car down here that is the problem insofar as having accessible replacement parts and auto mechanics familiar with it to repair. Unless of course, money and shipping foreign parts is no deterrent, I think it's a better idea to get a local car that is well known than import a US car that is largely unknown.

I used to own a 93 4Runner with a custom engine swap and though it was a one of a kind, nobody would touch the ECU or could figure out why the oil filter wasn't where it should be. Having a unique car has it's downsides.