Thanks for posting about you meeting expats that are receiving healthcare benefits there in Argentina. I'm not sure how I feel about that. Argentina is a very poor country and I think it's admirable that they are taking care of everyone. But I'm not sure if a poor country like Argentina should be paying for tourists medical bills.Medicare expenses in the USA fluctuate based on individual earnings. Having been self-employed since 1975, I contributed less initially and now pay more. Despite Medicare coverage, it doesn't encompass all medical expenses, and from what I've observed among most seniors (I'm 70), healthcare costs persist, often resulting in thousands of dollars in additional annual expenses beyond Medicare. While this might startle individuals from the UK, it's an undeniable reality in the USA—many seniors, despite having Medicare, encounter financial hardship due to exorbitant medical bills.
Residing in the USA part-time, I can attest that an annual income of $25,000 would essentially place you at or below the poverty line in most areas.
The country harbors several hundred thousand homeless individuals, some of whom receive Social Security or VA benefits yet remain unable to afford housing. The national average price of a new home stands at $430,000, with significantly higher figures in most urban areas. For instance, in Seattle, where one of my sons resides, the average reaches $800,000, though it's misleading as homes under $350,000 are scarce. Private health insurance costs approximately $9,000 annually for a young, healthy individual without pre-existing conditions. However, there are deductibles, usually ranging from 3 to 5 thousand dollars additionally.
I've encountered expats here who received healthcare, including surgeries, at public hospitals without more than a 90-day visa. While there might be a wait and expenses for X-rays and medication, it's a far cry from the healthcare costs in the USA, which could run into tens of thousands of dollars for the same procedures.
Rightly or wrongly, it sounds like Javier Milei, the new president will end a lot of these programs and also letting Mercosur students come to study free in Argentina. Argentina can't even afford to pay for it's own citizens university so I'm not sure they should be subsidizing all of South America to study here or paying for American tourists medical bills. That doesn't sit right with me from a fiscal perspective.
I am thinking of moving to Buenos Aires for lifestyle reasons as there is NO doubt to me that I can't afford to live in the USA on what I will spend in Argentina. Like many of you mentioned, my plan is to buy a small apartment in either Recoleta or a nice part of Palermo. I arrived a few days ago and love those two neighborhoods. It is cheaper in Villa Crespo but I don't like the vibe as much. I'm afraid it will get too gentrified and the graffiti is some areas is very bad. Already in Soho it is quite bad. I like Palermo Hollywood but I don't think I can afford it there. The apartments I liked were i newish buildings and it was beyond my budget.
This is a great forum. Thanks everyone for sharing info.