Punta del Este: Uruguay's beach resort on about $2,100 a month

Two different towns. From December through February the Argentine and Brazilian summer crowd arrives, and traffic, nightlife and prices all rise to match. The rest of the year the permanent population of roughly 9,300 has the beaches to itself, many restaurants close, and life gets very quiet. Anyone weighing a move should visit in June or July, not January, before deciding.

Mild, and Southern Hemisphere, so the seasons are flipped. January is warmest, averaging highs near 76F and nights around 67F, which is pleasant rather than tropical. July is coldest, averaging highs near 56F and nights near 48F, cool enough that you will want heating. Rain totals about 44 inches a year and falls fairly evenly across the months, so there is no real dry season. Wind off the water is constant.

Yes, and a fair number of people do. Uruguay has no dedicated retirement visa and no minimum income written into law. You apply for legal residency after arriving, show stable income such as a pension or Social Security, and stay in the country while the file processes, which usually takes a year or more. Retirees can join a mutualista health plan directly instead of paying American-style premiums. Budget around $3,000 a month for a couple.

On the peninsula, no. The core is compact enough to walk, CODESA buses reach Maldonado in about 20 minutes, and Uber operates in town. Anywhere else, a car is close to essential, because the city spreads for miles along the coast and bus service thins in winter. Cars carry heavy import taxes in Uruguay and cost noticeably more than in the U.S., so many residents rent as needed rather than buy.

By the numbers, yes. Punta del Este scores 72 on our safety index, with a crime index of 28. Two caveats belong next to those figures. The U.S. State Department has Uruguay at Level 2, exercise increased caution, and lists Maldonado, the department Punta del Este sits in, among the four where crime is most common. OSAC adds that summer crime migrates with the crowds to resort towns. In practice that means opportunistic theft in high season.

One person should plan on about $2,100 a month, a couple about $3,000, and a family about $4,400. Typical ranges run roughly $1,700 to $2,500 for a single person. Rent is the biggest variable at about $900 for a one-bedroom in the center and $650 further out. A cheap restaurant meal is around $15 and home internet about $40. Summer rentals cost far more than those year-round figures.

Partly. The terrain is close to flat and the seafront rambla gives you long, level walking. Curb cuts are inconsistent, most beach access is not adapted, and accessible public transit is limited. It is workable for some people and difficult for others, so view any apartment and its immediate streets yourself before committing.