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The cost of remodeling kitchens and bathrooms in Argentina reaches $15 million and continues to rise - Infobae
Source:
www.infobae.com
March 16, 2025
Material prices rose 75.8% and 110.2% in the last year, according to a private report. What factors could slow this trend and when is it best to make early purchases, depending on the available payment methods?
By Jose Luis Cieri
Bathroom remodeling costs almost 76% more than a year ago (Illustrative Image Infobae)
The expense of renovating a standard kitchen or bathroom continues to rise steadily in Argentina. According to a recent private report, the cost of these renovations now averages $15,008,587, equivalent to nearly USD 12,000 at the current exchange rate.
This figure reflects a 75.8% increase in pesos for a bathroom and a 44.9% increase in dollars compared to January 2024, according to Reporte Inmobiliario, the platform that conducted the analysis. This complicates the situation for those who cannot afford to save enough.
As for kitchens, they registered the largest year-over-year increase in pesos, with a rise of 110.2% compared to January 2024, while the adjustment in dollars was 73.17%, the specialized platform detailed.
Despite a certain exchange rate stability, costs measured in US dollars continued to rise. One of the main reasons for these fluctuations is labor adjustments , which, along with materials, represent nearly 50% of the total budget.
Germán Gómez Picasso , of Reporte Inmobiliario, said: “The labor force is increasing a little more, but the increase in dollars is basically because the dollar has been flat for months.”
He also noted that some materials currently cost less than in previous periods, which slightly mitigated the impact of the peso increases on the total budget.
In any case, he emphasized, the assessment will depend primarily on each person's circumstances. "There may be cases of people who earn pesos where it's the same to build now as it is with a higher dollar," he pointed out.
The report also highlights that both costs and the distribution of materials and labor can vary depending on the contracting model and the complexity of the project.
For example, in some cases, some unions include the provision of materials in their budget, which can reduce the visible impact of rising input prices.
For Gómez Picasso, these adjustments were not uniform: "Materials are not constantly rising in price, as some are even cheaper under certain circumstances," he said.
On the other hand, it is noted that for at least six consecutive quarters, dollar-adjusted costs have risen, although the largest cumulative increases are concentrated in peso-denominated prices due to inflation. This phenomenon reflects the imbalance between the stability of the blue dollar and the constant rise in inputs and services.
Defining the project and purchasing materials in advance is key to better leveraging purchasing power and optimizing the budget (Illustrative Image Infobae)
For those who cannot postpone a remodel and wish to minimize the risks of unforeseen adjustments, the analysis recommends evaluating closed contracts in both areas: immediate purchase of materials and construction agreements that take into account future exchange rate fluctuations.
However, Gómez Picasso emphasized that "there is no advice at this stage that ensures higher costs can be avoided," and stressed that decisions will depend on each property owner's availability of pesos or dollars. "There may be cases of people who earn pesos where it's the same to build now as it would be with a higher dollar," he pointed out.
Final details of a recently renovated kitchen (Illustrative Image Infobae)
According to Pablo Gaytan of Corralón Ciudadela, "very few materials in this segment have seen significant price increases, as they had a strong price cushion since last year, and imported merchandise has also begun to enter the market." For example, he noted, both faucets and ceramics have maintained virtually stable prices over the past seven months.
In percentage terms, Gaytan specified that, between the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025, the cumulative increases in ceramic tiles, faucets, and sanitary fixtures did not exceed 5 percent. This behavior responds to a context in which demand contracted, and several retailers opted to maintain prices to avoid slowing sales.
Consumer trends are also changing. Gaytan noted that two distinct customer profiles currently exist: "There are those who never looked at prices and buy what they like, regardless of the cost, and those who only look for the cheapest, without paying attention to the brand or model."
The moderate consumer, who prioritized a good price-quality ratio, practically disappeared from the market. This scenario reflects the impact that inflation and the loss of purchasing power had on consumer decisions.
For those looking to optimize their budget, Gaytán recommended taking advantage of bank promotions, making wholesale purchases at a single warehouse to negotiate volume discounts, and using interest-free installments.
These strategies reduce the impact of the initial investment and facilitate access to higher-quality materials. With these points in mind, planning each stage of the project is key, and defining the materials and finishes in advance is crucial to avoid cost overruns and setbacks.
www.buysellba.com
Source:
El costo de remodelar cocinas y baños en la Argentina llega a los $15 millones y no deja de subir
Los precios de los materiales subieron 75,8% y 110,2% en el último año, según un informe privado. Qué factores pueden frenar esta tendencia y cuándo conviene adelantar compras, según las formas de pago disponibles
www.infobae.com
March 16, 2025
Material prices rose 75.8% and 110.2% in the last year, according to a private report. What factors could slow this trend and when is it best to make early purchases, depending on the available payment methods?
By Jose Luis Cieri
Bathroom remodeling costs almost 76% more than a year ago (Illustrative Image Infobae)
The expense of renovating a standard kitchen or bathroom continues to rise steadily in Argentina. According to a recent private report, the cost of these renovations now averages $15,008,587, equivalent to nearly USD 12,000 at the current exchange rate.
This figure reflects a 75.8% increase in pesos for a bathroom and a 44.9% increase in dollars compared to January 2024, according to Reporte Inmobiliario, the platform that conducted the analysis. This complicates the situation for those who cannot afford to save enough.
As for kitchens, they registered the largest year-over-year increase in pesos, with a rise of 110.2% compared to January 2024, while the adjustment in dollars was 73.17%, the specialized platform detailed.
Despite a certain exchange rate stability, costs measured in US dollars continued to rise. One of the main reasons for these fluctuations is labor adjustments , which, along with materials, represent nearly 50% of the total budget.
Germán Gómez Picasso , of Reporte Inmobiliario, said: “The labor force is increasing a little more, but the increase in dollars is basically because the dollar has been flat for months.”
He also noted that some materials currently cost less than in previous periods, which slightly mitigated the impact of the peso increases on the total budget.
How to save on remodeling?
Those planning face significant challenges. Regarding how remodeling costs could be stabilized in the future, Gómez Picasso noted, "For costs to stop rising, the dollar's exchange rate would have to keep pace with inflation in pesos or even exceed it ," due to the currency's lag in relation to local costs accumulated over time. But there is no guarantee of containing price increases in this area. According to the expert, in the current situation, in most cases, "it is better to wait than to start work of this type."In any case, he emphasized, the assessment will depend primarily on each person's circumstances. "There may be cases of people who earn pesos where it's the same to build now as it is with a higher dollar," he pointed out.
The report also highlights that both costs and the distribution of materials and labor can vary depending on the contracting model and the complexity of the project.
For example, in some cases, some unions include the provision of materials in their budget, which can reduce the visible impact of rising input prices.
For Gómez Picasso, these adjustments were not uniform: "Materials are not constantly rising in price, as some are even cheaper under certain circumstances," he said.
On the other hand, it is noted that for at least six consecutive quarters, dollar-adjusted costs have risen, although the largest cumulative increases are concentrated in peso-denominated prices due to inflation. This phenomenon reflects the imbalance between the stability of the blue dollar and the constant rise in inputs and services.
Market trends
The upward trend in values appears to be linked to various macroeconomic factors, such as local inflation and exchange rate policy. As long as the blue dollar remains flat and does not match the inflationary trajectory, remodeling costs in dollars are likely to continue to rise, although in pesos they could slow slightly.
Defining the project and purchasing materials in advance is key to better leveraging purchasing power and optimizing the budget (Illustrative Image Infobae)
For those who cannot postpone a remodel and wish to minimize the risks of unforeseen adjustments, the analysis recommends evaluating closed contracts in both areas: immediate purchase of materials and construction agreements that take into account future exchange rate fluctuations.
However, Gómez Picasso emphasized that "there is no advice at this stage that ensures higher costs can be avoided," and stressed that decisions will depend on each property owner's availability of pesos or dollars. "There may be cases of people who earn pesos where it's the same to build now as it would be with a higher dollar," he pointed out.
Some values
Below, based on the Corralón Ciudadela, are some updated prices for home renovations, focusing on bathrooms and kitchens:- 3-hole bathroom sink faucet: $60,000.
- Single-control bathroom sink faucet: $70,000.
- FV shower with 2 taps: $88,000.
- Short toilet: $80,000.
- Long toilet: $80,000.
- Toilet seat: $25,000.
- Ferrum earthenware toilet backpack: $73,000.
- Ferrum oval urinal: $80,000.
- Matte white ceramic x m2: $11,000.
- Cement grey ceramic x m2: $9,000.
- Ceramic adhesive x 30 kg: $10,200.
- Gray Pastina x 2 kg: $6,900.
- White pasta x 2 kg: $6,900.
- White metal edge guard: $9,800.
- 162 cm x 3.3 cm x 62 cm granite countertop : $213,000.
How to buy materials well
When remodeling a bathroom or kitchen, the first key step is to analyze price trends and identify which materials have become most expensive over the past year.
Final details of a recently renovated kitchen (Illustrative Image Infobae)
According to Pablo Gaytan of Corralón Ciudadela, "very few materials in this segment have seen significant price increases, as they had a strong price cushion since last year, and imported merchandise has also begun to enter the market." For example, he noted, both faucets and ceramics have maintained virtually stable prices over the past seven months.
In percentage terms, Gaytan specified that, between the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025, the cumulative increases in ceramic tiles, faucets, and sanitary fixtures did not exceed 5 percent. This behavior responds to a context in which demand contracted, and several retailers opted to maintain prices to avoid slowing sales.
Item by item tracking
However, stability is not uniform across all categories, so it is recommended to periodically monitor prices and compare prices between different suppliers before making a purchase.Consumer trends are also changing. Gaytan noted that two distinct customer profiles currently exist: "There are those who never looked at prices and buy what they like, regardless of the cost, and those who only look for the cheapest, without paying attention to the brand or model."
The moderate consumer, who prioritized a good price-quality ratio, practically disappeared from the market. This scenario reflects the impact that inflation and the loss of purchasing power had on consumer decisions.
For those looking to optimize their budget, Gaytán recommended taking advantage of bank promotions, making wholesale purchases at a single warehouse to negotiate volume discounts, and using interest-free installments.
These strategies reduce the impact of the initial investment and facilitate access to higher-quality materials. With these points in mind, planning each stage of the project is key, and defining the materials and finishes in advance is crucial to avoid cost overruns and setbacks.
www.buysellba.com
