Why do Uruguayans cross the pond and buy in Argentina? Study reveals it

By Juan Pablo Álvarez

The Uruguayan government has shown concern about citizens crossing to Argentina to make purchases as it hits border businesses at home.

Even the president, Luis Lacalle Pou, has expressed annoyance with this situation.

Is it so convenient for a person living in Uruguay to go to Argentina to buy goods?

The answer is simple: yes.

The weakness of the Argentine peso against the US dollar and the Uruguayan peso makes the price gap between one side of the Uruguay River and the other side enormous.

THE PRICE DIFFERENCE

The Catholic University of Salto recorded a bimonthly sample of the price difference between the Uruguayan city of Salto, the capital of the department of the same name, and Concordia, an Argentine city located in the province of Entre Ríos.

The price survey for May showed that it is 59% cheaper to buy products in the city of Concordia than in the city of Salto.

In other words, Salto is 144% more expensive than Concordia.

The item with the greatest difference is “miscellaneous goods” (245% more expensive in Salto).

Next, come: alcoholic beverages and tobacco, which cost 220% more in Uruguay than in Argentina, while the price difference in food and non-alcoholic beverages is 159%.

Eating out costs 130% more in Salto than on the shore of Entre Ríos, and household products cost 153% more.

In March, the month corresponding to the previous report, the price difference was 127%.

With information from Bloomberg

News Uruguay, English news Uruguay, Uruguayan society