The Cuban makeup artist and content creator Nadyelis Valle posted a reel on Instagram where she describes the exhausting experience of searching for accommodation in Montevideo as a Cuban without residency.
In the 45-second video, Valle doesn't hold back in his honesty: "Why is no one talking about how exhausting it can be to find a rental? I mean, looking for a job and looking for a place to rent is just another hassle. No words, really.”
The first obstacle identified is the guarantee system: "The issue of guarantees for a Cuban who is not a resident is quite a hassle. The options where residency is not required still demand you to provide five minimum wages."
Additionally, there are the insurers, which Valle describes as "the same garbage." He also stated that "they ask you for five months of deposit, plus paying for the paperwork, plus paying..."
The comments section of the reel sparked an unexpected debate. Several Uruguayans stepped in to highlight that the issue is not exclusive to Cubans.
"Dear, it's not because you're Cuban; we Uruguayans experience the same thing, so don't think this is the United States."
Others shared the frustration from a place of solidarity: "Finding a rental is tough everywhere. In Montevideo, I remember it was complicated. It can be done, but it’s quite a hassle at the start; after that, it gets easier. I hope they find what they’re looking for."
Someone suggested a practical solution: "You can go to a boarding house, which doesn't ask for anything until you meet the requirements to rent a place. The vast majority of us went through that process."
The hostile voice didn't hold back: "If you don't like it, you know where the airport is, and that way they won't take work away from us Uruguayans." There was also the uncomfortable reflection: "I'm surprised at how people have normalized a five-month deposit."
Uruguay has experienced in recent years the largest wave of Cubans in its history. The net migration was 5,870 Cubans in 2024 and skyrocketed to 14,959 in 2025, according to data from Infobae. The 2023 census already recorded 12,400 individuals born in Cuba living in the country.
This migratory pressure clashes with a structurally demanding rental market. Rents in boarding houses in Montevideo range from 9,000 to 12,000 Uruguayan pesos per month, while independent housing starts from 13,000 to 18,000 pesos.
Settling in one of these latest options may require between 1,800 and 4,500 dollars just for the entry fee, according to testimonials from Cuban women living in the country.
The 4Mi Cities Montevideo report from the Mixed Migration Centre confirms that housing and employment are the two main obstacles to the integration of migrants in the Uruguayan capital.
The government offers a subsidy of 20,800 pesos per month for up to 24 months for migrants in vulnerable situations, although accessing this benefit also requires certain paperwork.
Valle's experience is not isolated. Up to 13 Cuban migrants have come to share the same pension in Uruguay as the only alternative while they accumulate the requirements to access formal rental housing, a reality that the makeup artist's video has once again brought to light.
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