What happens if Argentina gets too expensive? What are alternative cities/countries to move to when it's overpriced in Argentina?

[Betsy Ross]

Argentina is definitely one of a kind! That is for sure.

 

[Jordan]

The prices are getting insane. Went from super cheap last year to super expensive in a year. This small flat white coffee in Palermo now costs $4.50 USD even more expensive than in Sydney.

 

[Vero]

The prices are getting insane. Went from super cheap last year to super expensive in a year. This small flat white coffee in Palermo now costs $4.50 USD even more expensive than in Sydney.

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Coffee prices are unbelievably high here. I hope prices go down soon. There are more and more coffee stores in Palermo. I wonder if they all can stay in business charging these prices?

 

[Avocado]

The prices are getting insane. Went from super cheap last year to super expensive in a year. This small flat white coffee in Palermo now costs $4.50 USD even more expensive than in Sydney.

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Maybe stop buying those $4.50 coffees then!

 

[Wally]

Maybe stop buying those $4.50 coffees then!

I actually think it is fine for people to be complaining about the local prices on things. Some people are just pointing out the ridiculous nature of prices right now in USD prices. I agree with them. I want to see Argentina succeed more than anyone. My wife's family is all here but they also agree prices are too expensive here now!

 

[earlyretirement]

I actually think it is fine for people to be complaining about the local prices on things. Some people are just pointing out the ridiculous nature of prices right now in USD prices. I agree with them. I want to see Argentina succeed more than anyone. My wife's family is all here but they also agree prices are too expensive here now!

I agree that it is perfectly fine for people to complain about the high price of things. While I do agree that it gets old hearing about how steaks aren't bargain basement prices, it is actually good to discuss prices of things now. Almost everyone universally agrees that prices are too expensive now relative to salaries.

 

[Darksider415]

Maybe stop buying those $4.50 coffees then!

Admittedly I don't buy many of those $4.50 coffees, but at the same time, I'd like it if a breakfast at Havanna wasn't over 20 lucas by the time my wife and I finish ordering.

There's got to be a balance, and maybe we'll start seeing it when the import tariffs start coming off.

 

[Piranha]

Admittedly I don't buy many of those $4.50 coffees, but at the same time, I'd like it if a breakfast at Havanna wasn't over 20 lucas by the time my wife and I finish ordering.

There's got to be a balance, and maybe we'll start seeing it when the import tariffs start coming off.

I wish people would stop paying those places that have $5 coffee in Palermo. If people stopped paying those prices they would bring down prices. No way they aren’t making tons of money charging those fees.

Agree with you Dark about balance. Prices were very cheap last year but it can’t go from too cheap to too expensive this quickly. It’s not healthy to be this expensive.

 

[Blockchain]

I wish people would stop paying those places that have $5 coffee in Palermo. If people stopped paying those prices they would bring down prices. No way they aren’t making tons of money charging those fees.

Agree with you Dark about balance. Prices were very cheap last year but it can’t go from too cheap to too expensive this quickly. It’s not healthy to be this expensive.

I'm not sure how you can get away from high coffee prices if all the places in Soho or Hollywood are charging that. Coffee was very expensive even when I came and that was several months ago and prices look like they are still going up contrary to posts about slowing inflation. Will prices keep going up??? I read that inflation is expected to be at least 25% next year. So it sounds like prices will just keep going up. When will the cycle end?

 

[Nasdaq]

I'm not sure how you can get away from high coffee prices if all the places in Soho or Hollywood are charging that. Coffee was very expensive even when I came and that was several months ago and prices look like they are still going up contrary to posts about slowing inflation. Will prices keep going up??? I read that inflation is expected to be at least 25% next year. So it sounds like prices will just keep going up. When will the cycle end?

I think Argentina's economy as a pressure cooker that's about to blow its lid off. Everyone agrees that the peso is overvalued. Even Milei has mentioned it lately that the dollar decline is worrying him. Finally he is mentioning it. That is going to cause big issues.

Look at the recent Big Mac index. The peso on every measure is too high. Others mentioned the price of that popular restaurants in Palermo Soho - Chori and their prices. Extrapolate that across everything. Take a look at medical costs and many other expenses. Comparing prices to the States or Switzerland is not realistic because salaries are so low here

Argentine companies also have to compete with neighboring countries for beef and other agricultural products. Brazil is on sale with the devaluation of their currency while Argentina's is sky high. Why would you buy from Argentina when you can buy from Brazil or other counties? Argentina is going to really struggle to sell its goods if this keeps up. After all why would you buy from Argentina if you can buy the same stuff for 40% cheaper in Brazil?

The Central Bank is playing a shell game of sorts. They are buying dollars like crazy but not because things are going great with the economy. It is more like frantically moving money from your savings to your checking account right before a big bill hits. The BCRA needs these dollars to pay off debts, but they're running on fumes. Look at the amount of debt that is due this coming year.

Milei's government is trying to cut costs, but it's like putting a band-aid on a broken leg. Sure, inflation's down, but people are only buying the bare necessities. This leads to a vicious cycle: less spending, fewer jobs, lower tax revenue, and an even harder time paying off debts.

Milei's stuck between a rock and a hard place. He knows the current situation can't last, but he's scared to let the peso find its true value because it could drop by 50% or even more. He had a chance to rip off the band-aid early in his term but chose not to. Now, he's facing the consequences of that decision . Basically Argentina's economy is like a car with the check engine light on, driving on a bumpy road. Milei chose to ignore the warning signs, and now the ride's about to get a whole lot rougher.

 

[Surfer]

This. My wife and I are currently in very rural Tennessee visiting my family for Thanksgiving, and it's crazy how high all the prices are compared to BA.

We're stocking up on clothes/towels/bedsheets/electronics here, but we're also really looking forward to getting home where we can afford to live in comfort.

People forget how expensive the US is. Agree the peso is overvalued but when I come to BA prices are still much cheaper than back home. Ubers in the Bay Area are nuts. In BA using Didi is cheap. I use Uber too but Didi is cheaper sometimes by half. @Darksider415 thank you for pointing out that even in rural Tennessee prices are expensive.

Prices moved up a lot in BA. I try not to complain as I can afford it. Some things are still a bargain others not so much. I think Argentina will lose a lot of tourists unless peso goes to a reasonable exchange rate. I noticed it has been going up a little the past few days which I think is healthy.

I think Argentina's economy as a pressure cooker that's about to blow its lid off. Everyone agrees that the peso is overvalued. Even Milei has mentioned it lately that the dollar decline is worrying him. Finally he is mentioning it. That is going to cause big issues.

Look at the recent Big Mac index. The peso on every measure is too high. Others mentioned the price of that popular restaurants in Palermo Soho - Chori and their prices. Extrapolate that across everything. Take a look at medical costs and many other expenses. Comparing prices to the States or Switzerland is not realistic because salaries are so low here

Argentine companies also have to compete with neighboring countries for beef and other agricultural products. Brazil is on sale with the devaluation of their currency while Argentina's is sky high. Why would you buy from Argentina when you can buy from Brazil or other counties? Argentina is going to really struggle to sell its goods if this keeps up. After all why would you buy from Argentina if you can buy the same stuff for 40% cheaper in Brazil?

The Central Bank is playing a shell game of sorts. They are buying dollars like crazy but not because things are going great with the economy. It is more like frantically moving money from your savings to your checking account right before a big bill hits. The BCRA needs these dollars to pay off debts, but they're running on fumes. Look at the amount of debt that is due this coming year.

Milei's government is trying to cut costs, but it's like putting a band-aid on a broken leg. Sure, inflation's down, but people are only buying the bare necessities. This leads to a vicious cycle: less spending, fewer jobs, lower tax revenue, and an even harder time paying off debts.

Milei's stuck between a rock and a hard place. He knows the current situation can't last, but he's scared to let the peso find its true value because it could drop by 50% or even more. He had a chance to rip off the band-aid early in his term but chose not to. Now, he's facing the consequences of that decision . Basically Argentina's economy is like a car with the check engine light on, driving on a bumpy road. Milei chose to ignore the warning signs, and now the ride's about to get a whole lot rougher.

This is a great post @Nasdaq!

I go back and forth to Brazil and it is much cheaper there! I wondered about the export market and what will happen if they lose out on export dollars. I guess the oil and gas sectors are skyrocketing so maybe they will make up ground there but they will lose a lot of money on agriculture.

I would think they must lower their export taxes. I am not sure what Argentina will do if the IMF doesn't give more money. Inflation rates are probably not real because with a fair peso value the inflation would be back up.

 

[Larry]

I actually think it is fine for people to be complaining about the local prices on things. Some people are just pointing out the ridiculous nature of prices right now in USD prices. I agree with them. I want to see Argentina succeed more than anyone. My wife's family is all here but they also agree prices are too expensive here now!

I have been sounding the alarm on the high prices all year. It is good to read other locals on other forums and on X finally admit that I am right that prices are getting out of hand.

The peso is way way way out of balance. Finally nice to see locals admitting that something has to change.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1867543596703814033

 

[crypto]

People say I have the "sky is falling" attitude but I feel as if Argentina is already more expensive than it's ever been. Granted I was not living in Argentina during the $1 USD = $1 Peso days. But in 20 years living here I don't remember it being so expensive. I did leave a few years before so maybe it was expensive during my absence. I'm on a very limited budget being a retiree.

I ask you my fellow forum members, what are some other countries or cities you see yourself moving to if life here becomes too expensive or if the safety and security take a drastic downward fall? What if things become like Venezuela was and you see all their citizens leaving for other countries. I think that could happen to Argentina. What are your thoughts and opinions?

Wow Larry you have been saying it's too expensive since December when it was very cheap!!! NOW you can complain about you couldn't back last year when things were 200% cheaper! I do agree with you now that many things are expensive. As my mom says even a broken clock is right twice a day. With Argentina if you wait long enough you will be right.

 

[reggie]

Wow Larry you have been saying it's too expensive since December when it was very cheap!!! NOW you can complain about you couldn't back last year when things were 200% cheaper! I do agree with you now that many things are expensive. As my mom says even a broken clock is right twice a day. With Argentina if you wait long enough you will be right.

Seriously though is it just Buenos Aires that is over priced? Is it like this in other provinces too? When I was in BA and went around Argentina I noticed it was different from place to place. Buenos Aires especially Palermo was much more expensive vs places like Salta, Mendoza, Cordoba and a few other places. It was expensive in Bariloche and some places in Iguazu so maybe where there is a lot more tourism?

 

[Jerome]

Seriously though is it just Buenos Aires that is over priced? Is it like this in other provinces too? When I was in BA and went around Argentina I noticed it was different from place to place. Buenos Aires especially Palermo was much more expensive vs places like Salta, Mendoza, Cordoba and a few other places. It was expensive in Bariloche and some places in Iguazu so maybe where there is a lot more tourism?

Other cities are much cheaper. Night and day. BA is the big city and always more expensive. Even within BA prices are much different depending on how touristy the area is.

There was a good post on X by a poster who posted about low cost of living where he lives.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1867975825343070227

 

[Finance Prof]

Seriously though is it just Buenos Aires that is over priced? Is it like this in other provinces too? When I was in BA and went around Argentina I noticed it was different from place to place. Buenos Aires especially Palermo was much more expensive vs places like Salta, Mendoza, Cordoba and a few other places. It was expensive in Bariloche and some places in Iguazu so maybe where there is a lot more tourism?

BA is night and day different from many other smaller towns. Prices here are much more expensive vs other areas. When I travel to smaller towns I am always surprised how expensive BA is compared to other towns but it is like this in the USA too between different towns. Big differences in prices from one part of the country to another.

Other cities are much cheaper. Night and day. BA is the big city and always more expensive. Even within BA prices are much different depending on how touristy the area is.

There was a good post on X by a poster who posted about low cost of living where he lives.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1867975825343070227

Jerome @StatusNomadicus is on this forum but I don't believe he has been in BA in a while. It is a good example of how some things can drastically change in price from just a few months. Things in the grocery store have slowed down in inflation but many things have gone up in price.

I am hearing more and more people complaining about this. Local friends for a while went with the Argentina should be expensive narrative but they are changing their tone lately. A gym shouldn't be the same price in BA as in the USA.

 

[Darksider415]

I’ll say that my cost of living in Capital went down drastically when I stopped doing stuff in Palermo because I was tired of paying the impuesto Palermo. (The extra cost added onto stuff in Palermo because it’s overrun with gringos)

 

[Vince]

I’ll say that my cost of living in Capital went down drastically when I stopped doing stuff in Palermo because I was tired of paying the impuesto Palermo. (The extra cost added onto stuff in Palermo because it’s overrun with gringos)

Very true. There are spots in Palermo Soho and Hollywood that the same bottle of water or ice cream is more there. The Palermo tax is definitely true. I could never live right in Soho or even Hollywood as I would get tired of paying more for the same stuff. Gringolandia as my kids say.

 

[Betsy Ross]

I’ll say that my cost of living in Capital went down drastically when I stopped doing stuff in Palermo because I was tired of paying the impuesto Palermo. (The extra cost added onto stuff in Palermo because it’s overrun with gringos)

Exactly as you say @Darksider415. I live over in Recoleta and although there are some big hotels it has a different feel to it and I don't feel overrun with expats. I feel like every time I go into Soho it feels so touristy to me. I stopped going to restaurants there. Once in a while on the weekends I will go walk around but once you live here a while you don't have the desire or need to go there. Impuesto Palermo is a real thing.

When I have friends in town I will take them there and San Telmo but it is like San Telmo. I rarely go there either. I guess eventually maybe all the areas outside of Palermo will gentrify and get more touristy but enjoying it before it gets like that.

 

[Uncle Wong]

Do any of you longtimers in BA miss the corrupt and inept Presidents? I was talking to an expat today and he said that he missed Alberto Fernandez and said his life was much easier (and cheaper) with the blue dollar. I thought this was selfish but then realized that most people just want the best situation for them. What do you all think?