I'm on my way!

[daveholman]

Leaving CA tomorrow, be in Buenos Aires Friday morning.
I have my FBI and pension letter, apostilled. Sent myself some money by Western Union so I'll have ARS as soon as I get there. Just bought and packed enough hot sauce and spices to last a couple months, as well as enough toiletries for a while.

What else do I need to bring? I've got about 20 hours to shop

 

[Larry]

Leaving CA tomorrow, be in Buenos Aires Friday morning.
I have my FBI and pension letter, apostilled. Sent myself some money by Western Union so I'll have ARS as soon as I get there. Just bought and packed enough hot sauce and spices to last a couple months, as well as enough toiletries for a while.

What else do I need to bring? I've got about 20 hours to shop

Bring some $100 USD bills. You can bring up to $9,999 USD so bring some as you will always need cash here and WU adds up and gets expensive. Bring plenty of electronics. Maybe some of your favorite spices and hot sauces if you like that. Also load up on electronics.

 

[Betsy Ross]

Agree with Larry to bring some cash as that always comes in handy. I always load up a suitcase with my favorite foods and things I can't get here. If you take any vitamins or supplements bring them as they are much more expensive here. If you have any favorite toiletries. Some are difficult to get here. I am allergic to several types of deodorant and I load up in the USA. Certain other things that can be expensive or difficult to find here like my favorite chapstick that is difficult to find here.

 

[earlyretirement]

Leaving CA tomorrow, be in Buenos Aires Friday morning.
I have my FBI and pension letter, apostilled. Sent myself some money by Western Union so I'll have ARS as soon as I get there. Just bought and packed enough hot sauce and spices to last a couple months, as well as enough toiletries for a while.

What else do I need to bring? I've got about 20 hours to shop

Safe travels. Agree it's always a good idea to bring some cash with you but you can easily get cash via wires at cuevas but it will cost money. Some people don't like traveling with cash but you will always go through cash in Argentina. The suggestions are good for vitamins, medications, Spices and hot sauces that you like if you like to cook. I would always bring Trader Joes Everything but the Bagel seasoning that they sell along with some other stuff that is difficult to find. I like Miracle Whip and would always bring some big containers of that along with creamy peanut butter. It's easier to find peanut butter compared to before but I would always bring some.

Any favorite cologne that you may use. As well as any specific skincare products you might like. I always use the same lotions that you can't get in Argentina so would load up on it as well as face wash, etc.

If you're moving here I would load up on things like towels and bedding as they are crazy expensive in Buenos Aires and the quality is really terrible. You can get good quality stuff even at Costco that is a fraction of the price that you will pay in Argentina. Sometimes really expensive in Argentina so high thread count sheets and good quality towels can save you a fortune.

Any electronics that you will use. Good alarm clocks (remember to make sure they can charge up to 220 v) or chargers that you may use. Good athletic shoes that you may use or like as stuff like that is expensive here. Also not sure how much of a fashionista you are but even just some of your favorite clothes you may want to bring. Clothes here are crazy expensive and typically poor quality compared to the USA.

If you like to cook maybe some high quality frying pans and cookware as the stuff here can be crappy and really expensive.

 

[Spend Thrift]

Agree about good bedding and sheets and towels. You wouldn't believe how expensive those things are and very poor quality. Bring a few sets. I spent about $500 dollars worth of stuff here and it was poor quality. I should have brought that with me when I moved here.

Maybe bring a spare phone. Bring comfortable walking shoes as you will go through them and expensive here.

I miss some of the junk food that you can get in the States. Same as candy that you can't find here. I am heading back Stateside soon so I will bring all of these things when I come back.

 

[Anchor Baby]

Bring a ton of coffee if you are a coffee drinker. The good stuff is expensive here. Most of my friends bring down a few tins of coffee when they come here.

 

[daveholman]

Thanks, all. I did make a trip to the bank for new crisp unmarked $100s.
Added s couple of towels, hand towels and wash cloths. Bed linens will have to be next time, after I find a more permanent place and know what size

 

[Anchor Baby]

Thanks, all. I did make a trip to the bank for new crisp unmarked $100s.
Added s couple of towels, hand towels and wash cloths. Bed linens will have to be next time, after I find a more permanent place and know what size

Most of the beds in the rental apartments are Queen. But if you bring king size sheets worse case you can easily sell them! The stuff here is just terribly expensive.

 

[LyellLanatone]

Good luck, getting out of a taxi at peak hour 5pm amongst a mass of humanity at the corner of 9 de Julio and Corrientes is one of the greatest memories of my life I fell in love with Buenos Aires right then I hope your first experience is equally great !!

 

[Uncle Wong]

Thanks, all. I did make a trip to the bank for new crisp unmarked $100s.
Added s couple of towels, hand towels and wash cloths. Bed linens will have to be next time, after I find a more permanent place and know what size

Good luck! You're living my dream. I would love to be making a move down there. @daveholman who are you using for the residency paperwork? Did you hire an immigration attorney? How is that process? I guess you will start that once you get there. Assume you are going with the rentista process? I hope you post about this along with your impressions of cost of living details. It's always great reading boots on the ground info.

 

[Avocado]

Leaving CA tomorrow, be in Buenos Aires Friday morning.
I have my FBI and pension letter, apostilled. Sent myself some money by Western Union so I'll have ARS as soon as I get there. Just bought and packed enough hot sauce and spices to last a couple months, as well as enough toiletries for a while.

What else do I need to bring? I've got about 20 hours to shop

Good luck! What part of town you stay?

 

[daveholman]

Good luck! You're living my dream. I would love to be making a move down there. @daveholman who are you using for the residency paperwork? Did you hire an immigration attorney? How is that process? I guess you will start that once you get there. Assume you are going with the rentista process? I hope you post about this along with your impressions of cost of living details. It's always great reading boots on the ground info.

Pensionado. About the same as rentists

 

[daveholman]

Good luck! What part of town you stay?

Recoleta for 2 weeks while I look for a more long term rental

 

[Jenn]

Pensionado. About the same as rentists

I heard it was super easy to get residency in Argentina. Although my friends that have been living there over a year tell me all the expats just overstay and pay a fine. Very easy.

 

[Betsy Ross]

Recoleta for 2 weeks while I look for a more long term rental

Recoleta is the best neighborhood to me and very livable. Very central and safe and residential. Palermo Chico is also wonderful but harder to find things around that area.

I heard it was super easy to get residency in Argentina. Although my friends that have been living there over a year tell me all the expats just overstay and pay a fine. Very easy.

Argentina makes it easy. Just a lot of paperwork but many can qualify. It is true you can just overstay and pay a fine but if your goal is to live in Argentina long term it is not a solution. Having a DNI is essential here if you will be here for the foreseeable future but you are right I know many expats that have been living here for decades just overstaying.