Salto, Uruguay

By David Hammond

Salto is the second-largest city in Uruguay, with a population of around 105,000. It’s a picturesque place in a region known for hot spring resorts and wineries. And you can live in Salto for less than in Montevideo, Uruguay’s capital.

Founded in 1756, Salto, Uruguay, is a city of mostly low-rise buildings. It’s in the northwest part of the country on the Uruguay River. Salto is 300 miles north of Montevideo, and just across the river from Concordia, Argentina.

Salto’s average summer high temperature is 88 F. The average summer low temperature is 64 F. In winter, the average high temperature is 62 F. And the average low is 44F. (Uruguay is in the Southern Hemisphere. So, the seasons flipped. January and February are summer months. July and August are winter months.)

The Salto area’s economy is fueled by three major industries:

• Agriculture
• Tourism
• The operation and maintenance of the nearby Salto Grande hydroelectric dam.

Agricultural activities close to the city of Salto includes vineyards and citrus groves.

The main tourist attraction in the greater Salto area is the many hot spring parks and resorts, which tap into the hot mineral-rich water of the Guaraní Aquifer. These faculties range from a hot spring municipal park to a 5-star hot-spring resort with an 18-hole golf course.

Eight miles north of the city of Salto, on the Uruguay River, is the Salto Grande Dam. It provides energy for both Uruguay and Argentina. On top of the dam, you find a roadway and railroad connecting the two countries.

Retire in Salto, Uruguay

You find many stores and interesting shops along Uruguay Street (Salto’s main street). You also find the Salto Shopping mall. It’s the largest shopping mall north of Montevideo, complete with a multiplex.

For medical care, you find both private and public hospitals in Salto.

Restaurants in Salto offer barbecued beef, lamb, and chicken, as well as Spanish and Italian dishes, for less than you’d pay in Montevideo.

If you live in Salto’s centro, you can get by without a car. However, many in Salto prefer to own a car for convenience as well as for outings and day trips.

Lifestyle in Salto, Uruguay

If you like animals, you may enjoy visiting the zoo in Salto. It’s right in town with 150 animal species.

Just six miles southeast of Salto is the hot-spring resort village of Termas del Daymán. It’s where you find Parque Termas de Daymán. It’s a municipal hot spring park with pools for adults and children, as well as thermal showers. You can spend the day here for less than $4.

Salto is a long-time wine region with both vineyards and wineries. A good winery for a day trip is Bodega Bertolini y Broglio about 12 miles south of Salto.

North of town, just above the dam is Parque del Lago (Park of the Lake). The park includes a sand beach on the lake, a forest, and a picnic area with tables and barbecues.

From Salto, you can go across the river to lunch and browse around the city of Concordia, Argentina, either by driving on the top of the Salto Grande Dam, or in a small passenger boat that departs from the Salto waterfront. In just a few hours, you can enjoy an international adventure and get your passport stamped.

Real Estate in Salto, Uruguay

Following are a few examples of what your money can buy in Salto:

• A 753-square-foot two-level three-bedroom one-bathroom duplex in Salto’s centro. Downstairs you find the living room, kitchen, and dining area. Upstairs are three bedrooms and the bathroom. The kitchen is bright with white tile walls and white cabinets. The kitchen countertop is granite. The top of the cabinet and serving bar between the kitchen and dining area is wood. In much of the home, you find wood parquet flooring. The stairs are made of cedar. Outside is a patio with a barbecue. This home, built-in 1999, includes a full garage. Price: $110,000.
• A modern 925-square-foot two-bedroom one-and-a-half-bathroom apartment in Salto. It includes two spacious bedrooms, one full bathroom, and a social bathroom. In the kitchen, you find white cabinets with a granite countertop. The flooring in the living area, kitchen, and bathroom is beige porcelain tiles. The kitchen and bathroom walls are also clad in tile. In the bedrooms, you find laminate flooring with built-in closets. Price: $150,000.
• A four-bedroom one-bathroom home in a prime area of Salto’s centro. This restored place, originally constructed in 1920, includes high ceilings and custom wood doors. Inside you find a kitchen with a pantry and a living room with a fireplace. The home includes 2,600 square feet of built space. The lot is 6,500 square feet and includes a central patio, a backyard with a covered patio, a brick barbecue, and a garage. Price: $300,000.

As mentioned, rents in Salto are lower than in Montevideo, with lots of apartments and small homes to choose from between $350 and $600 per month.

Cost of Living in Salto, Uruguay

Here’s a sample monthly budget for a couple renting a two-bedroom apartment in Salto: