Eating vegan in Uruguay well, on a budget
Where to shop, what to buy, and how we eat well for under $100 USD a week.
Where to buy
The good thing: vegan food in Uruguay is cheaper than its reputation suggests. Supermarkets and open-air markets (ferias) have plenty of fruit, vegetables, rice, legumes, and increasingly tofu and plant milk. Shop the feria in season and you will save a lot.
What to stock
Rice, beans, lentils, chickpeas, and seasonal vegetables are the backbone. Oats, peanuts, and seeds are affordable for homemade milk, spreads, and snacks. Turmeric, paprika, and fresh herbs do a huge job of making simple meals feel generous.
Putting a plate together
A week on a budget looks like base grains and legumes, a colorful handful of whatever is in season bought from several vendors, plus one or two prepared staples like hummus or fried plantains to add texture.
The honest budget
Two people can eat very well for around $80–100 USD a week by cooking most meals home: shop the ferias, buy in season, buy in bulk for staples, and treat eating out as the occasional celebration rather than the rule.