<!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> With a benefit of a hindsight, what are a top few things that you wish you knew before coming to Uruguay?
how expensive gas is!!! I was born and raised here so I've always known it is expensive to live in Mdeo...... but I just got back from holidays in Miami........ I stayed at a friends house so she'd let me borrow her car while she was at work. To fill up the tank of her brand new car was about USD 30/35, to fill up the tank on my crappy 97, VW Gol, small engine USD 65!!!! CRAZY!!!!!!!
I'm disappointed about the price of medicines here. While it's nice to get inhalers and trileptal without a prescription, the price is too high. One inhaler is $40. One of my sons has had eight small seizures since he's been here -- they had mostly stopped in the States-- but the medicine Trileptal was $40 for 20 pills. Also, another one of my sons needs a medicine that will cost about $130 a month, whereas in the States we paid $9 a month at Walmart. That's pretty hefty, I'd say.
Wow, that's interesting. I've found that for most medicines we've needed the price is much lower than in the States. But, we haven't needed any specialty type medications.
Most pharmacies give a discount if you make a purchase with a prescription. Since the pharmacy downstairs knows us, we typically get the discount even if we don't have a prescription now
Nutritional supplements are likewise more expensive in Uruguay than I was used to (2.5 times as much as I paid in the US).
For medications, I've found that some are more expensive and some are cheaper (compared to the US). In a way you can get the best of both worlds in Uruguay: Most drugs are available without a prescription, which is awesome, but if you do have a prescription, you get a discount on the price (15% to 25%, I think). And if you are a member of a local health care plan, you get a further discount with a prescription (50% with my plan). There are some plans (Hospital Británico, at least) that offer an add-on option that will let you purchase any prescribed medication for a single low price.
Also, check for equivalents. If you ask for the specific brand you use in the US, it might be available here, but at a premium price. Sometimes the same drug is available under a different brand that is more common here in Uruguay, and therefore cheaper. You can research the possibilities on the internet, and the pharmacists here should also be able to help.
Consider that Uruguay has almost no industry and most things are imported, so if you are bringing a container, bring anything and everything you can. We brought our entire house and all the furniture as well. Here are some specifics: - furniture - it's impossible to find IKEA style and prices here. If you like traditional, solid wood pieces and can pay for it, then you should be fine. - electronics - we bought everything 220v in specialized internet stores before coming. Blender, toaster, water boiler, toster oven, etc. But the big appliances we bought them here because of service. - a good hepa compliant vaccum 220v from a brand you would be able to get filters here, or lots of filters. I paid US$500 for mine and it's not anything special. - all kitchen stuff, plus organizer, office supplies - not easy to find here, low quality and expensive.
These are some items we still buy in the US, either because of price or quality - toothpaste and deodorant because we love Tom's of Maine - zip locks - because a package with 8 flimsy ones costs as much as 80 in the US - vitamins, supplements, etc - quality here is terrible, potency is 1/3 of what you easily get at any GNC - clothes - good quality stuff is expensive and not easy to find here. - any special or gourmet food, like teas (you will only find twinnings here and very expensive), spices, etc.
We often buy things in Buenos Aires or Sao Paulo as well.
I hope you don't find it disheartening, but I really think that Uruguayan experience is best rely on imported stuff for all your manufactured needs...And then you can enjoy the clean air, fresh fruits, lack of traffic and affordable services that make this such a special place.
what is cheap? HEALTH services...ie think of the cost IF EVEN POSSIBLE to bring to your house a doctor to home visit, a specialist, a pediatrician??!!! fresh fruit? not any more, specially as compared to some local's salary! but what choice do they have, right?
id say if you are moving, bring almost anything you can in that one container, and if you are moving BACK to US, LEAVE everything you can behind. :)
Flying Goat wrote:I would like to ask, however, if I purchase these items online, won't I receive them by mail just as I would in the US?
The answer is Yes, with two huge BUTs: 1. Customs will charge you a duty that usually amounts to about 60% of the value of the items + the shipping cost. 2. To receive drugs or nutritional supplements you will need to show a prescription from a Uruguayan physician.
