Carrasco Airport is about 20 km from central Montevideo. Transport costs are moderate by South American standards but higher than neighboring Argentina or Brazil.
Price breakdown by destination
Pocitos / Punta Carretas (popular tourist area, closest to airport)
- Distance: ~15 km, 20-25 minutes
- Taxi: USD 25-35
- Pre-booked transfer: USD 22-32
- Uber: USD 18-25
- Bus: ~USD 2-3
- Distance: ~22 km, 30-40 minutes
- Taxi: USD 30-45
- Pre-booked transfer: USD 25-40
- Uber: USD 20-30
- Bus: ~USD 2-3
- Distance: ~5 km, 8-15 minutes
- Taxi: USD 10-18
- Pre-booked transfer: USD 10-15
- Uber: USD 8-12
- Distance: ~130 km, 90 minutes
- Pre-booked transfer: USD 100-150
- Taxi: Not practical, negotiate a flat rate
- Bus: USD 10-15 (from Tres Cruces terminal, not airport)
Understanding the pricing
Uruguay uses the Uruguayan Peso (UYU), but many prices are quoted in US dollars, especially for tourist services. The exchange rate fluctuates, so the dollar equivalents above are approximate. When paying in pesos, the fare to Pocitos typically runs around UYU 1,000-1,500.
Metered taxis charge a base fare plus per-kilometer rate. The meter should be running from the moment you depart. If the meter is not on, ask the driver to start it or agree on a price before departing.
Cost comparison
For a typical journey to Pocitos or central Montevideo:
| Option | Price range | Best for | |--------|-----------|----------| | Bus | USD 2-3 | Budget travelers with minimal luggage | | Uber | USD 18-30 | Tech-savvy travelers wanting lowest car price | | Pre-booked transfer | USD 22-40 | Certainty, late arrivals, families | | Taxi | USD 25-45 | Immediate departure, no planning needed |
Tips to manage costs
- ATMs in the terminal give better rates than currency exchange counters. Withdraw pesos for the taxi if you want to avoid the dollar-to-peso conversion that drivers apply.
- Uber is the cheapest car option but requires phone data. The terminal has free Wi-Fi.
- Tolls on the highway to Punta del Este are included in most transfer quotes but may be added to taxi fares.
- Tipping taxi drivers is not mandatory in Uruguay, but rounding up the fare is common.
- Shared transfers are occasionally available for the Punta del Este route, bringing the cost down to around USD 40-60 per person.
The honest perspective
The airport-to-city transfer in Montevideo is not expensive by global standards. Even the most costly option (taxi to Ciudad Vieja) is under USD 50. The real value question arises if you are heading to Punta del Este, where a pre-booked transfer at a fixed rate saves you from a potentially expensive metered journey or the inconvenience of reaching a bus terminal first.