Did many expats move out of Buenos Aires due to the higher cost of living?

[Digital Nomad]

I had to end up moving back to the US. I had a remote job and my company was forcing everyone to move back to 3 X a week in the office. I thought about staying in BA but I couldn't find any decent remote jobs. I ended up breaking up with my ex-girlfriend in BA. I found out she was cheating on me with one of her friends. To make things worse I also found out she was hooking up with her best girlfriend too. What's with the girls in Argentina?

More and more of the expats that I met in BA left because of higher cost of living. It looks like prices are even more now. I know people likes @James Bond threw in the towel and some others like Vince.

I really don't know how people in BA make it on their incomes. It is not cheap in BA anymore.

 

[Uncle Wong]

I was wondering about this. I see far fewer activity on the expat boards and FB groups for Buenos Aires now. My friend just came back from BA and was shocked at how expensive things are. Things like subway and Uber were cheap but going out to nice restaurants they said was not too much different than Dallas.

It is funny to see this popular Australian blogger. He kept posting how cheap BA was and even moved to BA and kept telling everyone how they should leave Australia.

 

[James Bond]

I had to end up moving back to the US. I had a remote job and my company was forcing everyone to move back to 3 X a week in the office. I thought about staying in BA but I couldn't find any decent remote jobs. I ended up breaking up with my ex-girlfriend in BA. I found out she was cheating on me with one of her friends. To make things worse I also found out she was hooking up with her best girlfriend too. What's with the girls in Argentina?

More and more of the expats that I met in BA left because of higher cost of living. It looks like prices are even more now. I know people likes @James Bond threw in the towel and some others like Vince.

I really don't know how people in BA make it on their incomes. It is not cheap in BA anymore.

Many many expats have left Buenos Aires. I know many that have moved. Some to Asia and many locals have moved to Spain. Spain is a much better quality of life vs. BA. President is a nut but that doesn't really affect quality of life. Food is head and shoulders better than BA and much cheaper. The food in BA is really not good. They use lots of seed oils and selection is terrible. The supermarkets are terrible by and large.

I was wondering about this. I see far fewer activity on the expat boards and FB groups for Buenos Aires now. My friend just came back from BA and was shocked at how expensive things are. Things like subway and Uber were cheap but going out to nice restaurants they said was not too much different than Dallas.

It is funny to see this popular Australian blogger. He kept posting how cheap BA was and even moved to BA and kept telling everyone how they should leave Australia.

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That guy Jordan is a tool. I saw him out in Palermo before I moved. He was taking tons of selfies of himself. I haven't even seen a prissy female taking as many photos of themselves. I thought to myself what a tool he is. He got popular posting photos of his girlfriend in shots with steaks and then started posting investing advice on penny stocks. As if the fan base that likes breast photos would translate to serious investors. And investing in penny stocks! 🤣

Now he is saying that Australia is cheaper than BA. He was shilling for Milei all year and BA suited him when it was cheap. Funny reading his posts about milk and seeing him post selfies of himself like a girl. All my local friends say what a tool he is.

 

[Betsy Ross]

I was wondering about this. I see far fewer activity on the expat boards and FB groups for Buenos Aires now. My friend just came back from BA and was shocked at how expensive things are. Things like subway and Uber were cheap but going out to nice restaurants they said was not too much different than Dallas.

It is funny to see this popular Australian blogger. He kept posting how cheap BA was and even moved to BA and kept telling everyone how they should leave Australia.

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I follow his posts on X. That is funny about him taking selfies like a female. I noticed that too. I saw he posted on X photos of himself in an elevator. Just laughed if young men think that is what people want to see.

Saw a few of his posts trying to pitch obscure mining stocks. It was funny that he said he wanted to leave the rat race of Australia because he wanted his own schedule and wanted an affordable life. And then ended up working for an Australian company in Argentina. A good example that people think they understand Argentina but it can totally flip upside down very quickly.

My Porteño friend commented how stupid this guy is because he kept complaining about local milk and then was paying 3X the time getting milk in glass bottles sold by Russians and my neighbor told me how all they do is fill normal milk in glass bottles.

I had to end up moving back to the US. I had a remote job and my company was forcing everyone to move back to 3 X a week in the office. I thought about staying in BA but I couldn't find any decent remote jobs. I ended up breaking up with my ex-girlfriend in BA. I found out she was cheating on me with one of her friends. To make things worse I also found out she was hooking up with her best girlfriend too. What's with the girls in Argentina?

More and more of the expats that I met in BA left because of higher cost of living. It looks like prices are even more now. I know people likes @James Bond threw in the towel and some others like Vince.

I really don't know how people in BA make it on their incomes. It is not cheap in BA anymore.

Sorry to hear about your girlfriend. People here are a different breed. Very difficult to find a high paying job here. I met many that tried but can't find a good job here. A few here have found decent jobs but nothing compared to salaries back home.

 

[IrishLad]

I was wondering about this. I see far fewer activity on the expat boards and FB groups for Buenos Aires now. My friend just came back from BA and was shocked at how expensive things are. Things like subway and Uber were cheap but going out to nice restaurants they said was not too much different than Dallas.

It is funny to see this popular Australian blogger. He kept posting how cheap BA was and even moved to BA and kept telling everyone how they should leave Australia.

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Lots of expats in BA left. You can tell from the inactivity on many boards as you mentioned. Honestly it doesn't make sense to live here unless you have a place you own. Rentals in BA are going up and that will keep going up as salaries keep going up. Doubt things will get much better. Milei was doomed without that massive LOAN from he IMF. People magically assume things are ok with that big loan but things haven't materially improved.

Taxes are still too high. Much of the economy is in the black and still in a recession.

I don't know how this Aussie is but he is wrong that BA is as expensive as Australia. Not true at all. Rents there and real estate in general are massively high. Maybe the food might be cheaper.

But rentals in BA are still very cheap compared to Australia. Utilities are very cheap still. Some things are very expensive here but overall it is less expensive. Big problem here is making money.

 

[VINO]

I had to end up moving back to the US. I had a remote job and my company was forcing everyone to move back to 3 X a week in the office. I thought about staying in BA but I couldn't find any decent remote jobs. I ended up breaking up with my ex-girlfriend in BA. I found out she was cheating on me with one of her friends. To make things worse I also found out she was hooking up with her best girlfriend too. What's with the girls in Argentina?

More and more of the expats that I met in BA left because of higher cost of living. It looks like prices are even more now. I know people likes @James Bond threw in the towel and some others like Vince.

I really don't know how people in BA make it on their incomes. It is not cheap in BA anymore.

Wow sorry to hear about your novia. Lots of people cheat here. Every guy I have met here has cheated on me. Sex here doesn't seem like a big deal to them. I've given up.

Many have left for less expensive countries. I love Argentina but probably going to leave too. I will keep my place and just rent it out long term.

I follow his posts on X. That is funny about him taking selfies like a female. I noticed that too. I saw he posted on X photos of himself in an elevator. Just laughed if young men think that is what people want to see.

Saw a few of his posts trying to pitch obscure mining stocks. It was funny that he said he wanted to leave the rat race of Australia because he wanted his own schedule and wanted an affordable life. And then ended up working for an Australian company in Argentina. A good example that people think they understand Argentina but it can totally flip upside down very quickly.

My Porteño friend commented how stupid this guy is because he kept complaining about local milk and then was paying 3X the time getting milk in glass bottles sold by Russians and my neighbor told me how all they do is fill normal milk in glass bottles.


Sorry to hear about your girlfriend. People here are a different breed. Very difficult to find a high paying job here. I met many that tried but can't find a good job here. A few here have found decent jobs but nothing compared to salaries back home.

Never heard of him but just looked at his X posts. When did guys think posting photos of themselves drinking milk is sexy? 🤡



Very funny to see his obsession with milk and selfies. I thought only females posted selfies of themselves in elevators!

 

[Piranha]

I thought with the end of the Cepo the blue rate would fall. Blue is almost at 1100 now. If it goes to 1,000:$1 like the government is trying to get it to it will make BA one of the most expensive countries in the world. Probably going to leave. My bills keep going up. I had to drop my medical insurance plan as it kept going up. My water, gas, and electricity bill went from almost nothing to my electricity bill is over $100 dollars a month.

At a certain point it doesn't make sense. It seems like the same mess and shenanigans that the government was doing allowing carry trade and bicycle financing is worse than ever. The government is paying high interest rates for people to buy peso investments.

 

[Pobre Luis]

It isn't just expats that are leaving. Many Argentines are fleeing now too. More and more are going to Spain. Medical coverage is dirt cheap in Spain. Rentals aren't bad and food is cheap and higher quality.

Prices are high and salaries are low. Look at the cost of sodas here! Coke is more expensive here than anywhere in the world. Smart money is going to Spain for much better quality of life. That is where we are heading.

 

[Tim Joe]

Wow sorry to hear about your novia. Lots of people cheat here. Every guy I have met here has cheated on me. Sex here doesn't seem like a big deal to them. I've given up.

Many have left for less expensive countries. I love Argentina but probably going to leave too. I will keep my place and just rent it out long term.


Never heard of him but just looked at his X posts. When did guys think posting photos of themselves drinking milk is sexy? 🤡

View attachment 9092

Very funny to see his obsession with milk and selfies. I thought only females posted selfies of themselves in elevators!

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I guess I am too old. Back when I was younger any male posting photos of themselves like a girl would have gotten made fun of. Does he sell milk or something? What is the obsession with milk? Must be a younger generation thing.

It isn't just expats that are leaving. Many Argentines are fleeing now too. More and more are going to Spain. Medical coverage is dirt cheap in Spain. Rentals aren't bad and food is cheap and higher quality.

Prices are high and salaries are low. Look at the cost of sodas here! Coke is more expensive here than anywhere in the world. Smart money is going to Spain for much better quality of life. That is where we are heading.

I can't feel sorry for expats or foreigners. Especially ones that have dollars. Besides the wealthy here many Argentines are struggling. Many with two jobs. Many friends have cut back on meals, cut beef out of their diet. Middle class disappearing completely. Very rich and poor.

 

[Larry]

I was wondering about this. I see far fewer activity on the expat boards and FB groups for Buenos Aires now. My friend just came back from BA and was shocked at how expensive things are. Things like subway and Uber were cheap but going out to nice restaurants they said was not too much different than Dallas.

It is funny to see this popular Australian blogger. He kept posting how cheap BA was and even moved to BA and kept telling everyone how they should leave Australia.

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He is right. Argentina is very expensive now in many categories. Restaurants are probably just as expensive in BA vs. most cities in Australia. Grocery market items are probably more in Argentina for many items. Clothes, electronics, furniture, all much more expensive in Argentina. Yes rentals are more expensive in Australia but the prices on rentals keep going up in BA. Go to any restaurant even in non touristy parts of BA and the cost of a glass of wine, appetizer, entree and dessert is about $40 to $50 at many nice places.

It is amazing that people don't want to see reality. I have been posting about this since Milei got elected. If the IMF did not give the $20 billion Milei would be done. Bicycle financing doesn't improve the economy.

 

[fetch rover]

Buenos Aires has gone through these expensive to cheap to expensive cycles before. As it is getting expensive again my husband and I are getting more serious about moving again as his company has again made him an offer to transfer to the Buenos Aires office which we are considering seriously.

We are coming down for another trip in June. They are paying him even more than he made in the US to go down and run the BA office so at least for us we will be living well on his salary.

 

[David]

He is right. Argentina is very expensive now in many categories. Restaurants are probably just as expensive in BA vs. most cities in Australia. Grocery market items are probably more in Argentina for many items. Clothes, electronics, furniture, all much more expensive in Argentina. Yes rentals are more expensive in Australia but the prices on rentals keep going up in BA. Go to any restaurant even in non touristy parts of BA and the cost of a glass of wine, appetizer, entree and dessert is about $40 to $50 at many nice places.

It is amazing that people don't want to see reality. I have been posting about this since Milei got elected. If the IMF did not give the $20 billion Milei would be done. Bicycle financing doesn't improve the economy.

I just returned back to BA after a year in London. Restaurant prices are shocking. Some places have always been high but I am surprised at several casual places that are more expensive than London prices. I don't honestly know how people are surviving here. My friends have gotten raises and seem to be ok cutting back dining out.

The restaurants seem slower but still surprisingly busy. Go to Chinatown and it is full of people eating expensive mediocre food.

 

[CraigM]

That guy Jordan is a tool. I saw him out in Palermo before I moved. He was taking tons of selfies of himself. I haven't even seen a prissy female taking as many photos of themselves. I thought to myself what a tool he is. He got popular posting photos of his girlfriend in shots with steaks and then started posting investing advice on penny stocks. As if the fan base that likes breast photos would translate to serious investors. And investing in penny stocks!

Selfies and penny stocks, good lord. Reminds me of that song "I don't wanna sell my soul, he's already in me. I wanna be adored..."

 

[earlyretirement]

Selfies and penny stocks, good lord. Reminds me of that song "I don't wanna sell my soul, he's already in me. I wanna be adored..."

Ha. I posted on a few of his posts on X that I thought were wrong or corrected him. I've come across many of such expats over the past 23 years in Buenos Aires. I did a post on this on X but most of these types leave a first world country like USA, Australia, UK to move to Argentina as they think it will be super easy living a cheap life but what they don't figure out is that it's very difficult to make money in Argentina for these types.

Mostly they are wasting their youth and the most important prime years to make money. You will never get this time back and the power of compound interest is powerful. Probably why he is trying to make a living getting subscriptions to his blog, pitching penny stocks and posting selfies of himself drinking milk. I'm not sure when grown men thought it would be a good idea posting selfies of themselves all the time. Oh well, I guess different times. LOL.

I posted how most of these expats will end up in retirement broke and I got blocked which is funny. The amount of guys trying to sell Plan B residencies to crappy countries like Paraguay is comical. But I guess when you leave a first world country and trying to get by in South America you are reduced to these types of things.

 

[Wally]

I posted how most of these expats will end up in retirement broke and I got blocked which is funny. The amount of guys trying to sell Plan B residencies to crappy countries like Paraguay is comical. But I guess when you leave a first world country and trying to get by in South America you are reduced to these types of things.

What is the deal all of a sudden? Every other post on X is someone trying to sell you on getting a second passport. All of these guys act like there are so many big shot millionaires that need a second residency. I would bet that these guys aren't making any money at all. It seems like everyone is trying to make money not on a legit business but trying to sell a course or get referral fees.

I laugh at some of these people trying to pitch Paraguay as a Mecca. It's horrible!

 

[CraigM]

Mostly they are wasting their youth and the most important prime years to make money. You will never get this time back and the power of compound interest is powerful.

Truer words were never spoken Mike!

 

[Wally]

Truer words were never spoken Mike!

Exactly! I worked for 25 years and was an executive at a big firm. Did well. I can't imagine how all these younger guys living in South America expect to fund their retirement. Not going to be a pretty picture.

 

[earlyretirement]

Truer words were never spoken Mike!

Thanks Craig. I posted about it here.



Don't get me wrong. I've traveled around probably more than anyone I know. Even now with my family I routinely travel around 100+ days a year with them almost every year since they were born. I really enjoy traveling around the world. In my 20's up until my early 30's I was a bachelor and traveling around the world. However, I made a ton of money. I was an executive and worked insane hours. So even though I was traveling I built up a company and was fairly successful.

What I noticed in my many travels is I see guys that arrive to Latin America or Asia or other places and they love the lifestyle so much, they never go back to their real lives. They quit decent jobs and say they can "only live on $2,000 a month in South America". But they aren't saving up nearly enough money to finance when they are older, have families, get married, have kids, college, weddings, but especially retirement.

I know many friends like this. They haven't saved up nearly enough money for retirement and then they get stuck. Worse they never invested anything or own any assets so they get older and really struggling.

The time to make money and work hard is when you're younger and work your ass up and build up assets. You might be having fun in your 20's or 30's but you're not going to be in a position to settle down, have kids, retire. I honestly don't know how some of these guys do it because I never stop worrying that I have enough assets to cover all the expenses for the future. Possible medical issues, children's college funds, daughter's wedding and the spiraling cost of "life" in general.

Different strokes for different folks but you can't beat the power of compound interest on investments. I honestly don't think people think this enough through.

 

[James Bond]

Truer words were never spoken Mike!

You nailed it Mike! This is something I thought about and a big reason why I decided to move out of Buenos Aires. It wasn't just the higher cost of living but the biggest reason is it is impossible to find a decent job In Argentina. I had a few remote gigs but they weren't too great to be honest. I wish someone gave me this advice earlier.

I fell in love with a Porteña and stayed in Argentina way longer than I should have. Now that I'm in Spain it was easier to get a decent job. Something no one tells you while living in BA is no one really takes you seriously if you live in BA and you are younger. They just assume you are lazy or want to live a slow paced life.

Most expats that I met that ended up in BA fell in love with a partner and settled there. But I wasted a lot of my best income earning years in BA when I should have been in London making more.

Mike I look forward to meeting you in Spain this summer!