A coffee for $3.50: Argentina is the most expensive country in Latin America

[RN in BA]

Cafe Restretto on Santa Fe, close to Alto Palermo mall

That is great. Is that the norm? I found coffee fairly expensive even when I went last year. Can you post some photos of restaurants if this is the norm?

 

[James Bond]

That is great. Is that the norm? I found coffee fairly expensive even when I went last year. Can you post some photos of restaurants if this is the norm?

I'm just sitting here with my cafe con leche, dos medialunas and jugo de naranja for ARS4500 wondering where these outrageous prices are...

There are still some affordable places but look and see some places @daveholman and you will find prices aren't as low as they used to be. Even before I moved to Spain last year prices went up and they have continued to go up even more. Go around and sample things and you will find many places that are more expensive than the USA or Europe. My mates are in BA now and commented several places are expensive.

Just like you can't say all places are expensive for one expensive meal you can't say they are all inexpensive because you found a great bargain either.

 

[daveholman]

Inveterate bargain hunter here. Lol.
I know prices have gone up from where they were, but I'm from California, and BsAs is still cheaper than there.

 

[James Bond]

Inveterate bargain hunter here. Lol.
I know prices have gone up from where they were, but I'm from California, and BsAs is still cheaper than there.

I hear you Americans have the highest prices in the country. What have you found he most shockingly most expensive thing so far in moving here?

 

[earlyretirement]

Food especailly at restaurants in Buenos Aires have gotten more expensive. No one can deny that. Sure, there are probably a few good deals as well but over all it has gotten expensive relative to wages but also in USD. I'm here in London the past few days and food here is cheaper overall than Buenos Aires. And you can get a wide variety of fresh food from any country.

I went to to the Battersea Powerer Plant which is really cool. It was an old converted power plant converted into a shopping mall with restaurants. Beautiful mall. They have up upstairs Arcade with different restaurants from around London. I was impressed and had an amazing pizza. Delicious. For my wife and 2 of my kids even with 21% iva and 12.5% tip it was only $83.15 USD. There are many placers in BA where a pizzz is 30,000 pesos now.

2 big pizzas, box of delicious chicken wings, bowl of edamame, glass of Rosa win, big bowl of rice.

 

[daveholman]

I hear you Americans have the highest prices in the country. What have you found he most shockingly most expensive thing so far in moving here?

Starbucks veinti Cold Brew for ARS 7000 was outrageous. I won't go back there.

 

[Betsy Ross]

Inveterate bargain hunter here. Lol.
I know prices have gone up from where they were, but I'm from California, and BsAs is still cheaper than there.

My sister lives in Southern California and prices are outrageous there. When I visit her I am shocked how people can afford to live there.

Starbucks veinti Cold Brew for ARS 7000 was outrageous. I won't go back there.

Starbucks is nuts. But it's not just Starbucks. Many cafes have gotten very expensive in BA.

 

[Betsy Ross]

Food especailly at restaurants in Buenos Aires have gotten more expensive. No one can deny that. Sure, there are probably a few good deals as well but over all it has gotten expensive relative to wages but also in USD. I'm here in London the past few days and food here is cheaper overall than Buenos Aires. And you can get a wide variety of fresh food from any country.

I went to to the Battersea Powerer Plant which is really cool. It was an old converted power plant converted into a shopping mall with restaurants. Beautiful mall. They have up upstairs Arcade with different restaurants from around London. I was impressed and had an amazing pizza. Delicious. For my wife and 2 of my kids even with 21% iva and 12.5% tip it was only $83.15 USD. There are many placers in BA where a pizzz is 30,000 pesos now.

2 big pizzas, box of delicious chicken wings, bowl of edamame, glass of Rosa win, big bowl of rice.

View attachment 8665

London is actually a place where you get any variety of food and it actually is affordable. You can get a great meal there probably for less than many places in BA now.

 

[Nasdaq]

Food especailly at restaurants in Buenos Aires have gotten more expensive. No one can deny that. Sure, there are probably a few good deals as well but over all it has gotten expensive relative to wages but also in USD. I'm here in London the past few days and food here is cheaper overall than Buenos Aires. And you can get a wide variety of fresh food from any country.

I went to to the Battersea Powerer Plant which is really cool. It was an old converted power plant converted into a shopping mall with restaurants. Beautiful mall. They have up upstairs Arcade with different restaurants from around London. I was impressed and had an amazing pizza. Delicious. For my wife and 2 of my kids even with 21% iva and 12.5% tip it was only $83.15 USD. There are many placers in BA where a pizzz is 30,000 pesos now.

2 big pizzas, box of delicious chicken wings, bowl of edamame, glass of Rosa win, big bowl of rice.

View attachment 8665

Wow those prices look very reasonable. I thought food prices there would have jumped up with inflation over the years but that is not bad at all especially considering 20% of that is vat taxes.

Starbucks veinti Cold Brew for ARS 7000 was outrageous. I won't go back there.

I absolutely avoid Starbucks in the US but many places have such bad coffee in BA so sometimes Starbucks is a go to but it is too expensive now.

Inveterate bargain hunter here. Lol.
I know prices have gone up from where they were, but I'm from California, and BsAs is still cheaper than there.

What is your impression on general prices in BA @daveholman from someone that just moved here. Do you think overall prices are good? It sounds like you are comparing things to California which probably makes things seem reasonable but what do you think based on local salary levels. I happen to think they are insanely high based on salary levels here.

 

[CraigM]

London is actually a place where you get any variety of food and it actually is affordable. You can get a great meal there probably for less than many places in BA now.

That is wild, because 30 or so years ago London food was expensive, pretty limited in range and not very good. Most people described it as "terrible" actually but they were probably comparing to other European cities.

 

[VINO]

That is wild, because 30 or so years ago London food was expensive, pretty limited in range and not very good. Most people described it as "terrible" actually but they were probably comparing to other European cities.

The UK does not have a great reputation on their foodie scene. However the one thing it has going for it is you can get any number of ethnic foods there. I think London gets a bad reputation. I have always had good meals here.

 

[earlyretirement]

Inveterate bargain hunter here. Lol.
I know prices have gone up from where they were, but I'm from California, and BsAs is still cheaper than there.

The ONLY upside to living in Southern California is that I don't get shocked by prices anywhere. Just about anywhere in the world I go it's not more expensive than San Diego. Food prices are very high here so like @daveholman mentioned, almost anywhere is less.

That is wild, because 30 or so years ago London food was expensive, pretty limited in range and not very good. Most people described it as "terrible" actually but they were probably comparing to other European cities.

I'm here in London now and have been here for the past few days. I think London is one of those cities where you can get just about ANY type of food you want to eat. You can spend a little or a lot depending on what you're in the mood for. For example, here are some receipts for a few dinners. Our favorite Vietnamese place we go for Pho in Chinatown is less than we would pay back home in San Diego. You can see for a meal with 5 people we paid 97.10 Pounds which is about $122 USD for dinner.



And on the higher end, we ate at Fenchurch Restaurant at the top of the Sky Garden tonight. Excellent food and a lot of food and delicious. 194 Pounds which is $246 USD and included the tip of 13.5%. Not cheap but considering the experience and view it is not too bad. A mediocre dinner back home we can easily spend this amount.

 

[Bharat]

That is wild, because 30 or so years ago London food was expensive, pretty limited in range and not very good. Most people described it as "terrible" actually but they were probably comparing to other European cities.

That was a long time ago. Much change over the years. London is melting pot and all the world people live here. You can find anything and much food authentic because so many immigrant.

Many competition too so companies can't charge crazy prices now. I always find many good meals here.

The ONLY upside to living in Southern California is that I don't get shocked by prices anywhere. Just about anywhere in the world I go it's not more expensive than San Diego. Food prices are very high here so like @daveholman mentioned, almost anywhere is less.


I'm here in London now and have been here for the past few days. I think London is one of those cities where you can get just about ANY type of food you want to eat. You can spend a little or a lot depending on what you're in the mood for. For example, here are some receipts for a few dinners. Our favorite Vietnamese place we go for Pho in Chinatown is less than we would pay back home in San Diego. You can see for a meal with 5 people we paid 97.10 Pounds which is about $122 USD for dinner.



And on the higher end, we ate at Fenchurch Restaurant at the top of the Sky Garden tonight. Excellent food and a lot of food and delicious. 194 Pounds which is $246 USD and included the tip of 13.5%. Not cheap but considering the experience and view it is not too bad. A mediocre dinner back home we can easily spend this amount.

Sky Garden has best view in London! I never eat there. Too expensive but it look very beautiful. I imagine prices would be more.

 

[Larry]

I'm here in London now and have been here for the past few days. I think London is one of those cities where you can get just about ANY type of food you want to eat. You can spend a little or a lot depending on what you're in the mood for. For example, here are some receipts for a few dinners. Our favorite Vietnamese place we go for Pho in Chinatown is less than we would pay back home in San Diego. You can see for a meal with 5 people we paid 97.10 Pounds which is about $122 USD for dinner.

Try eating same things in Buenos Aires for Asian meal for 5 people and you will see prices probably exceed this price of this meal. Prices are very dear now. Too expensive!

 

[import export]

Starbucks veinti Cold Brew for ARS 7000 was outrageous. I won't go back there.

Yes coffee at a lot of places in BA is at same price or even more. Starbucks is one of them.

That is wild, because 30 or so years ago London food was expensive, pretty limited in range and not very good. Most people described it as "terrible" actually but they were probably comparing to other European cities.

To be fair any place 30 years ago was just different and didn't have the variety or the immigration. Buenos Aires just 20 years ago had no variety and was nothing like it is today. London is actually one of my favorite places because I can take the Tube or bus and go to different neighborhoods and find delicious food for not too much money. London is like anywhere else you can spend a lot if you want or a little.

 

[oil rush]

Inveterate bargain hunter here. Lol.
I know prices have gone up from where they were, but I'm from California, and BsAs is still cheaper than there.

That is the problem. You shouldn't have to be an inverterate bargain hunter in a country like Argentina. Things should not be this expensive. You found one isolated case of a good deal. Sure there are bargains to be had but you can't hide from price indexes like the Big Mac index where Argentina has the 2nd most expensive Big Mac in the world.

Prices are out of line. Usually when this happens it eventually ends up crashing again. I don't see it any different this time around. Add into the fold Milei's problems and blue dollar will probably start to head up.

 

[daveholman]

What is your impression on general prices in BA @daveholman from someone that just moved here. Do you think overall prices are good? It sounds like you are comparing things to California which probably makes things seem reasonable but what do you think based on local salary levels. I happen to think they are insanely high based on salary levels here.

I spent the last two months cruising the ex pat forums, so I was prepared for the high prices. If I had to eat here on locals wages, I'd be screwed. I do feel for the porteños struggling to make ends meet.
I'm going apartment hunting today, though, and I have to say, housing still seems dirt cheap compared to other world capitols.

 

[LongIslander]

I spent the last two months cruising the ex pat forums, so I was prepared for the high prices. If I had to eat here on locals wages, I'd be screwed. I do feel for the porteños struggling to make ends meet.
I'm going apartment hunting today, though, and I have to say, housing still seems dirt cheap compared to other world capitols.

Yes housing is one of the true deals still in Buenos Aires. Fortunately although rental prices have gone up the prices are still a relative bargain compared to how expensive everything else is. What have been your favorite meals/restuarants so far? How are you finding the move?

 

[daveholman]

Parrilla Peña was a pretty good steak. Got a small rib eye and brought 1/3 of it home for breakfast. And I had a great choripan at some hole in the wall near the Obelisco for like $8 with papas fritas and a drink.
So far, everything has been good with the move. Doing too much walking, though. I need to get a sube card and figure out the busses and Subte

 

[Bharat]

Parrilla Peña was a pretty good steak. Got a small rib eye and brought 1/3 of it home for breakfast. And I had a great choripan at some hole in the wall near the Obelisco for like $8 with papas fritas and a drink.
So far, everything has been good with the move. Doing too much walking, though. I need to get a sube card and figure out the busses and Subte

Parilla Peña is always solid. How much is the ojo de bife these days there? Can't go wrong with Choripan. Great to hear all was good with the move. BA is a good walking city. Just use Google Maps. It works ok. https://moovit.com Is also a great app.