Newcomer Basic salary and cost of living in BA

[Betsy Ross]

I have been commenting for a while how expensive Buenos Aires is and often say it is as expensive for many things than the United States or even Europe. I am glad some agree with me now and you will see more articles stating this.

Inflación en dólares: Ya es más barato vivir en París que en Buenos Aires, con el mismo sueldo en pesos

El gobierno acelera la licuación y apura la dolarización para contener la suba de precios pero se choca contra la pérdida del poder adquisitivo de la divisa norteamericana.

www.lapoliticaonline.com

@Larry sure SOME things are cheaper in Paris vs. Buenos Aires but you would have to be crazy to try to argue that it's cheaper to live in Paris vs. Buenos Aires!

 

[StatusNomadicus]

minimum wage, what is it nowadays?

in Pesos, good luck guessing and finding the government's official guess, but someone told me yesterday the monthly salary for regular people like him is $250 USD (this was the lowest-level cashier job for a young person, with of course all the State-required benefits and amazing employee discounts at a mall).

 

[Wally]

in Pesos, good luck guessing and finding the government's official guess, but someone told me yesterday the monthly salary for regular people like him is $250 USD (this was the lowest-level cashier job for a young person, with of course all the State-required benefits and amazing employee discounts at a mall).

Wow that seems low. If so I am guessing they don't have any education at all. I pay my maid more than that each month.

 

[Digital Nomad]

I keep reading how inflation is slowing but every time I read one of these articles it takes more and more just to feed a family of 4. Saw this article this morning. Two things that we mention on this forum. Tomatoes and toilet paper went up a huge amount!

Una familia porteña de clase media necesita más de $ 41.000 por día para cubrir sus gastos

Según datos a mayo, el gasto mensual llega a $ 1.249.313.Subte, ABL, celulares, verduras y frutas lideraron las subas

www.clarin.com

A middle-class Buenos Aires family needs more than $41,000 per day to cover their expenses​

• According to data as of May, the monthly expenditure reaches $1,249,313.
• Subte, ABL, cell phones, vegetables and fruits led the climbs

A middle-class family living in the City of Buenos Aires needed a budget of $1,249,313 last month to meet all their expenses. The costs of the subway, ABL, fruits and vegetables, mobile telephony and the TV and Internet service, were the items that increased the most.

For its part, toilet paper (of four units) went from $563.82 to $ 3,509.56, which represents a variation of 522.46% in a year. The kilo of tomatoes was worth $ 969.34 a year ago, while it is now at $ 4,719.61 (386.89% more expensive).​

 

[Betsy Ross]

I keep reading how inflation is slowing but every time I read one of these articles it takes more and more just to feed a family of 4. Saw this article this morning. Two things that we mention on this forum. Tomatoes and toilet paper went up a huge amount!

Una familia porteña de clase media necesita más de $ 41.000 por día para cubrir sus gastos

Según datos a mayo, el gasto mensual llega a $ 1.249.313.Subte, ABL, celulares, verduras y frutas lideraron las subas

www.clarin.com

A middle-class Buenos Aires family needs more than $41,000 per day to cover their expenses​

• According to data as of May, the monthly expenditure reaches $1,249,313.
• Subte, ABL, cell phones, vegetables and fruits led the climbs

​

A middle-class family living in the City of Buenos Aires needed a budget of $1,249,313 last month to meet all their expenses. The costs of the subway, ABL, fruits and vegetables, mobile telephony and the TV and Internet service, were the items that increased the most.​

​

For its part, toilet paper (of four units) went from $563.82 to $ 3,509.56, which represents a variation of 522.46% in a year. The kilo of tomatoes was worth $ 969.34 a year ago, while it is now at $ 4,719.61 (386.89% more expensive).​

@Digital Nomad keep in mind this is for a middle class family. Some of these articles has different classes so you should always take note of that.

 

[Larry]

I keep reading how inflation is slowing but every time I read one of these articles it takes more and more just to feed a family of 4. Saw this article this morning. Two things that we mention on this forum. Tomatoes and toilet paper went up a huge amount!

Una familia porteña de clase media necesita más de $ 41.000 por día para cubrir sus gastos

Según datos a mayo, el gasto mensual llega a $ 1.249.313.Subte, ABL, celulares, verduras y frutas lideraron las subas

www.clarin.com

A middle-class Buenos Aires family needs more than $41,000 per day to cover their expenses​

• According to data as of May, the monthly expenditure reaches $1,249,313.
• Subte, ABL, cell phones, vegetables and fruits led the climbs

​

A middle-class family living in the City of Buenos Aires needed a budget of $1,249,313 last month to meet all their expenses. The costs of the subway, ABL, fruits and vegetables, mobile telephony and the TV and Internet service, were the items that increased the most.​

​

For its part, toilet paper (of four units) went from $563.82 to $ 3,509.56, which represents a variation of 522.46% in a year. The kilo of tomatoes was worth $ 969.34 a year ago, while it is now at $ 4,719.61 (386.89% more expensive).​

Cost of living keeps going up and unemployment numbers are also going up. Many companies in big trouble and will probably have to close soon.

 

[noname]

Well, the results released in May for the month of April showed a surprising outcome: to belong to the middle class in Buenos Aires, you need to earn between $1200 and $1500 USD per month, depending on whether you pay rent or not. This threshold keeps rising, mainly due to food prices slowing down while utility rates and services accelerate. All of this has caused the basic cost of living for the middle class to increase more than the poverty and indigence thresholds.

Cuánto tenés que ganar para ser de clase media si vivís en Buenos Aires en abril 2024

Según la Dirección de Estadística de CABA, ya supera el $ 1,2 millón. Con el alquiler, llega a más de $ 1,5 millones.

www.clarin.com

 

[Johnny]

Well, the results released in May for the month of April showed a surprising outcome: to belong to the middle class in Buenos Aires, you need to earn between $1200 and $1500 USD per month, depending on whether you pay rent or not. This threshold keeps rising, mainly due to food prices slowing down while utility rates and services accelerate. All of this has caused the basic cost of living for the middle class to increase more than the poverty and indigence thresholds.

Cuánto tenés que ganar para ser de clase media si vivís en Buenos Aires en abril 2024

Según la Dirección de Estadística de CABA, ya supera el $ 1,2 millón. Con el alquiler, llega a más de $ 1,5 millones.

www.clarin.com

That's for a family of 4 yes? 2 adults and 2 kids? That still is very very affordable by world capital city standards but I know the salaries there are lower. I wish cost of living was that low in the States.

 

[Larry]

That's for a family of 4 yes? 2 adults and 2 kids? That still is very very affordable by world capital city standards but I know the salaries there are lower. I wish cost of living was that low in the States.

Yes for family of 4 but remember the salaries are very low here

 

[Surfer]

That's for a family of 4 yes? 2 adults and 2 kids? That still is very very affordable by world capital city standards but I know the salaries there are lower. I wish cost of living was that low in the States.

I'm curious what the income needed for 4 now? A very good life. It seems like data is getting changed quickly. I read that inflation is getting better but everyone I talk to in Argentina tells me that prices at ridiculous. I read a lot of posts by expats that talk about 300% more from last year. Is this true?

 

[Uncle Wong]

I'm curious what the income needed for 4 now? A very good life. It seems like data is getting changed quickly. I read that inflation is getting better but everyone I talk to in Argentina tells me that prices at ridiculous. I read a lot of posts by expats that talk about 300% more from last year. Is this true?

I just saw a post about this on X. Mostly locals responding and it seems like you need at least 3 to 4 million pesos for this kind of life in BA now.

 

[Blockchain]

I just saw a post about this on X. Mostly locals responding and it seems like you need at least 3 to 4 million pesos for this kind of life in BA now.

Wow prices are going up quickly then. Some are saying it's much higher than that and people are saying this is IF you own your own place. If you have to rent it's much higher.

I read a bunch of posts from this guy on X saying that prices are 300% higher and how he is struggling. He looks like he deleted some posts.

 

[Vince]

Wow prices are going up quickly then. Some are saying it's much higher than that and people are saying this is IF you own your own place. If you have to rent it's much higher.

I read a bunch of posts from this guy on X saying that prices are 300% higher and how he is struggling. He looks like he deleted some posts.

He isn't wrong. Most of the expats in BA are complaining with the loss of purchasing power. Even some restaurant owners are sounding the alarm that their places are dying now and not many tourists and prices are cheaper in Paris than BA at many restaurants.

 

[Larry]

I told you guys earlier this year prices were getting crazy in BA. It is like people are in denial or something. Never seen people more in denial. Tourism is starting to suffer. This owner, Narda wonders why people aren't coming. Look at the prices on her menu! This is nuts! I just got back from Europe. Prices are much lower for much better food both in Spain, Italy and France.

I'm guessing many restaurants and bars will go out of business if things don't turn around next year.

 

[Uncle Wong]

I wonder how all of this will end up? Salaries seem like they are going up but not at the level of what prices are going up. Brazil's currency just took a dump. Saw this on X with people saying how cheap Brazil is. Doesn't this just highly how expensive Argentina is?? It almost seems like locals are happy that it is not cheap for tourists anymore. Can't wrap my head around this. Tourism is dying with how expensive things are in BA. Why are locals happy about it?

 

[Vince]

I told you guys earlier this year prices were getting crazy in BA. It is like people are in denial or something. Never seen people more in denial. Tourism is starting to suffer. This owner, Narda wonders why people aren't coming. Look at the prices on her menu! This is nuts! I just got back from Europe. Prices are much lower for much better food both in Spain, Italy and France.

I'm guessing many restaurants and bars will go out of business if things don't turn around next year.

View attachment 8132

Places like Narda are struggling now. Clientele has drastically slowed down. Even at these elevated prices I am not sure how much money they are making. I have a friend that owns a restaurant and he told me that if things keep up they will probably close their restaurant.

I wonder how all of this will end up? Salaries seem like they are going up but not at the level of what prices are going up. Brazil's currency just took a dump. Saw this on X with people saying how cheap Brazil is. Doesn't this just highly how expensive Argentina is?? It almost seems like locals are happy that it is not cheap for tourists anymore. Can't wrap my head around this. Tourism is dying with how expensive things are in BA. Why are locals happy about it?

It will be interesting to see how many will stay in Mar del Plata or Pinamar because it will be expensive compared to Brazil. Brazil's currency woes typically will translate into problems for Argentina. I don't think people are happy that it is expensive for tourists but some feel like tourists only came because it was cheap and now the show is on the other foot and tourists have to deal with inflation.

Tourism is down 40% and Argentines are just traveling outside of Argentina instead of staying here. This will continue. 2025 will be challenging if things don't change. I just moved out of BA back to NYC and several things in BA are more expensive than NYC now. Ordering a pizza in BA got to the point as it's as much as NYC at many places.

 

[Blockchain]

I told you guys earlier this year prices were getting crazy in BA. It is like people are in denial or something. Never seen people more in denial. Tourism is starting to suffer. This owner, Narda wonders why people aren't coming. Look at the prices on her menu! This is nuts! I just got back from Europe. Prices are much lower for much better food both in Spain, Italy and France.

I'm guessing many restaurants and bars will go out of business if things don't turn around next year.

View attachment 8132

This was one of the places I ate at. It was ok but nothing special. I thought the portions were small and it wasn't as expensive when I went but still thought it was priced too high. These prices are just crazy. Bibimbop dish for $40 dollars??! That is more than I would spend anywhere in the US. In fact, I can go to an all you can eat Korean BBQ for that price here.
I just looked and the reviews are horrible on Google. Onlty 3.7 stars.

Restaurante Narda Comedor · Sucre 664, C1428 Cdad. Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentinien

âââââ · Restaurant

maps.app.goo.gl

 

[Vero]

I told you guys earlier this year prices were getting crazy in BA. It is like people are in denial or something. Never seen people more in denial. Tourism is starting to suffer. This owner, Narda wonders why people aren't coming. Look at the prices on her menu! This is nuts! I just got back from Europe. Prices are much lower for much better food both in Spain, Italy and France.

I'm guessing many restaurants and bars will go out of business if things don't turn around next year.

View attachment 8132

Wow these prices jumped up a lot. I have been to Narda last year. No wonder the owner is seeing less patrons. I have also noticed restaurants not as busy. I used to enjoy meeting friends and family out more but now we eat more at home.

Maybe @Larry was right finally that prices are more expensive than Europe and same price as America. My daughter lives in the US and she tells me that now the prices in BA are the same as US. She has cousins that come to Buenos Aires often and they complain about prices now.

The same thing happened in Argentina in the 1990's. People not staying in Argentina for vacation and going to Brazil and abroad all over the world. Dollar was very weak, industries were very slow. Foreign direct investments into Argentina started and salaries were very high for us. But the country did not take off. We had mortgages and credit take off like it is now.

It was 1:1 back then so people were making good salaries in dollar/peso terms. Then at the end of 2001 it all collapsed quickly. Companies cashed out into dollars and fled out of pesos and poof. Crash. This was the carry trade problem.

I don't know how the economy will grow so much. The people that are making money now are sophisticated and financially intelligent which is not most people in Argentina. People's salary are increasing but most of the best ones are people with white collar jobs not the service industry so much.

This expensive scenario can get even worse. My daughter jokes that soon the USA will be cheaper than Argentina and she says that it already is for many things.

 

[Uncle Wong]

Wow these prices jumped up a lot. I have been to Narda last year. No wonder the owner is seeing less patrons. I have also noticed restaurants not as busy. I used to enjoy meeting friends and family out more but now we eat more at home.

Maybe @Larry was right finally that prices are more expensive than Europe and same price as America. My daughter lives in the US and she tells me that now the prices in BA are the same as US. She has cousins that come to Buenos Aires often and they complain about prices now.

The same thing happened in Argentina in the 1990's. People not staying in Argentina for vacation and going to Brazil and abroad all over the world. Dollar was very weak, industries were very slow. Foreign direct investments into Argentina started and salaries were very high for us. But the country did not take off. We had mortgages and credit take off like it is now.

It was 1:1 back then so people were making good salaries in dollar/peso terms. Then at the end of 2001 it all collapsed quickly. Companies cashed out into dollars and fled out of pesos and poof. Crash. This was the carry trade problem.

I don't know how the economy will grow so much. The people that are making money now are sophisticated and financially intelligent which is not most people in Argentina. People's salary are increasing but most of the best ones are people with white collar jobs not the service industry so much.

This expensive scenario can get even worse. My daughter jokes that soon the USA will be cheaper than Argentina and she says that it already is for many things.

Thank you @Vero for your first hand info. This is what others tell me that this expensive situation was in Argentina before a few times. My friend told me it lasted 10 years. I am still confused how salaries can be so low and prices of things can be so high. And on X many locals seem to be gleeful that a price of a Big Mac is more in BA than it is in the US. That doesn't make sense to me.

If the currency restrictions are lifted, will the exchange rate become more realistic?

 

[Avocado]

Wow these prices jumped up a lot. I have been to Narda last year. No wonder the owner is seeing less patrons. I have also noticed restaurants not as busy. I used to enjoy meeting friends and family out more but now we eat more at home.

Maybe @Larry was right finally that prices are more expensive than Europe and same price as America. My daughter lives in the US and she tells me that now the prices in BA are the same as US. She has cousins that come to Buenos Aires often and they complain about prices now.

The same thing happened in Argentina in the 1990's. People not staying in Argentina for vacation and going to Brazil and abroad all over the world. Dollar was very weak, industries were very slow. Foreign direct investments into Argentina started and salaries were very high for us. But the country did not take off. We had mortgages and credit take off like it is now.

It was 1:1 back then so people were making good salaries in dollar/peso terms. Then at the end of 2001 it all collapsed quickly. Companies cashed out into dollars and fled out of pesos and poof. Crash. This was the carry trade problem.

I don't know how the economy will grow so much. The people that are making money now are sophisticated and financially intelligent which is not most people in Argentina. People's salary are increasing but most of the best ones are people with white collar jobs not the service industry so much.

This expensive scenario can get even worse. My daughter jokes that soon the USA will be cheaper than Argentina and she says that it already is for many things.

Very true. We have been through this before. It usually does not end well. Time will tell. We shall see.

Thank you @Vero for your first hand info. This is what others tell me that this expensive situation was in Argentina before a few times. My friend told me it lasted 10 years. I am still confused how salaries can be so low and prices of things can be so high. And on X many locals seem to be gleeful that a price of a Big Mac is more in BA than it is in the US. That doesn't make sense to me.

If the currency restrictions are lifted, will the exchange rate become more realistic?

No locals are happy with the expensive things. Some maybe are laughing because tourists can see what it is like for us now with evaluating currency and expensive prices. Locals make pesos not dollars. Tourists and expats were coming to Argentina to live life cheap just because you have dollars. Just because cepo ends does not mean blue will go up. Remember last time we had no cepo the blue was less than white.

Look at Uruguay. It is very expensive. No reason why Argentina would not be much more expensive than Uruguay. We need our salaries to go up like Uruguay which they look to do.