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

[Bobbie Burgers]

no doubt there is inflation going on. I've seen this place get more expensive the past few months even at the blue dollar. Look at menu prices and they keep going up. Went to Kansas for my usual meal and it was much higher.

Interesting about the tuna as the price keeps flip flopping. It was about 1950 pesos a can, then went up to 3500 pesos a can and then came back down. This place is crazy.

Those greedy profiteers, manipulating and scheming like a bunch of thieve! These opportunistic vultures, preying on every chance to squeeze out every last penny. It's infuriating, witnessing these ruthless mercenaries exploiting anything for their selfish gains. They're like financial bandits, robbing everyone blind with their cunning schemes.

It's enough to make your blood boil, thinking about these profiteering scoundrels and their shameless pursuit of wealth at any cost. Damn those money-grabbing, heartless motherf*ckers!

 

[Larry]

At least people are finally realizing what I have been warning about is happening. I go to many restaurants are prices are approaching USA prices. Not just Don Julio but that is the best example. I saw @earlyretirement photo of El Preferido and $40 USD for a Milenesa is USA prices. No one can deny it now as there is proof. I have been warning of this for some time.

The prices are going up a lot, and it's not just a normal inflation like 2023—it feels like someone is taking advantage of the situation. Not everyone in the country, especially those in power, is helping to fix things. It's like people are making money from the problems, and everyone who can is joining in, leaving those at the bottom with very little.

I understand it's a free market economy, but the market wasn't doing well before, and now it's even worse under Milei. It's impossible to find a good balance in these conditions, at least not until the buying power gets really low or something even worse happens.

I don't blame only Milei; he said he was going to do exactly what he is doing so no one should be surprised. I argued against his method as I worried this would happen. But there should be someone making sure businesses don't take advantage if they're not being fair. That's not happening, so it's like a free-for-all.

I have NO hope that things will get better in the near term, but in my opinion, we were already in a bad situation with about 59% of people struggling with poverty at the end of last year. It looks like this will go up.

 

[earlyretirement]

Interesting about the tuna as the price keeps flip flopping. It was about 1950 pesos a can, then went up to 3500 pesos a can and then came back down. This place is crazy.

FYI for data point. Plenty of tuna in stock. This photo was from Jumbo today and a 120 g. can was 2,002 pesos and a 170 g. can was 3,800 pesos.

 

[GlasgowJohn]

There is definitely inflation going on. No doubt about it. All the restaurants I am going to are all more expensive vs. a few months ago.

But where ya buying your tuna? You can still pay 1,500 pesos per can but you have to shop around at different places now. The corner chino shop will charge 3,000 pesos but you have to look around for bargains. I'm not saying you aren't paying those prices can I saw those spikes too but hopefully they will come back down.

Lomitos de Atún en A - DIA Online - Supermercados DIA

Comprá tus Lomitos de Atún Dia en Aceite de 170 gr al mejor precio. Descubrí nuestras ofertas en conservas de pescado y realizá tu pedido a domicilio.

diaonline.supermercadosdia.com.ar

This Dia tuna is good quality , good prices as well . Quite often they have 3 x 2 offers or something similar

 

[Che Vos]

This Dia tuna is good quality , good prices as well . Quite often they have 3 x 2 offers or something similar

Yes Dia have very good deals. It where my parents go to shop some things. My mom now comparison shop more for the things.

 

[Avocado]

At least people are finally realizing what I have been warning about is happening. I go to many restaurants are prices are approaching USA prices. Not just Don Julio but that is the best example. I saw @earlyretirement photo of El Preferido and $40 USD for a Milenesa is USA prices. No one can deny it now as there is proof. I have been warning of this for some time.

The prices are going up a lot, and it's not just a normal inflation like 2023—it feels like someone is taking advantage of the situation. Not everyone in the country, especially those in power, is helping to fix things. It's like people are making money from the problems, and everyone who can is joining in, leaving those at the bottom with very little.

I understand it's a free market economy, but the market wasn't doing well before, and now it's even worse under Milei. It's impossible to find a good balance in these conditions, at least not until the buying power gets really low or something even worse happens.

I don't blame only Milei; he said he was going to do exactly what he is doing so no one should be surprised. I argued against his method as I worried this would happen. But there should be someone making sure businesses don't take advantage if they're not being fair. That's not happening, so it's like a free-for-all.

I have NO hope that things will get better in the near term, but in my opinion, we were already in a bad situation with about 59% of people struggling with poverty at the end of last year. It looks like this will go up.

Yes it gets more and more expensive daily. Prices all go up. All my bills got more expensive.

 

[StatusNomadicus]

i just realized my tag is of Wally and not Larry...wtf? apologies Larry...you seem like a very intelligent conservative. not sure why i tagged you and not fear-porn @Larry and his fake prices of milk.

But are you trying to say there is no inflation? I notice things more expensive vs. a few months ago. Prices definitely have been going up

no. prices have been going up. click on "10Y" here: https://tradingeconomics.com/argentina/inflation-cpi

prices have gone up. see also the CPI chart here: https://www.focus-economics.com/country-indicator/argentina/inflation/

what are you talking about? everyone here is saying that there's inflation (caused by Communism), that prices are going up IN PESOS, but that the cost of living with US Dollars is still 25% of the USA and the Blue Dollar rate and MEP seem to rise fairly steadily with inflation...so a 50-cent empanada is still going to be 50 cents, in Dollar terms.

i actually post the designated twitter www.x.com/ArgentinaMEP to track the inflation and how it affects credit card spending. so yeah, of course there's inflation. you could have come to Argentina in 2014 and had the same experience. inflation looked to be 17% annually at a low, and then a peak of 1% DAILY right when Milei took office :O

I hate to be negative but are you dumb? Are you really trying to say there is no inflation here since you arrived here?

do you need help with reading comprehension? see above. this is another post of zero value, to add to your stack or worthless mumblings.

a meal that used to be a reasonable $10 is now a whopping $22!

where? big claims need big evidence. i've posted grocery lists, restaurant bills, beer refills, Airbnb costs, showing that prices are fairly stable in USD. you've presented zero evidence.

4,922 Pesos for a burger/fries on Rappi: https://www.rappi.com.ar/restaurantes/205728-4090-burger-&-fries?productDetail=2111303943

15,660 Pesos for 24 empanadas: https://www.rappi.com.ar/restaurantes/140891-brozziano?productDetail=2057759

18.850 Pesos for a crapload of food at ChickenChill: https://www.rappi.com.ar/restaurantes/207726-chicken-chill?productDetail=2112143684

...so where are you spending $22 USD, or 26,000 Pesos for a meal? if you really did that, you're dumber that you appear in writing. i eat out daily and it's very easy to avoid places that try to charge $9 USD per person...just go somewhere else without as many tourists! plus, use a cash discount of 10-20%, etc. - i shouldn't be teaching you this stuff if you're so 'experienced' and 'knowledgeable' about BsAs

tuna prices shooting up from 1,900 pesos to a ridiculous 3500 pesos.

i don't buy tuna, but i spent all of 30 seconds researching, and i'm against vindicated in Muting you and replying to your stupid sh*t you post.

120g tuna for 900 Pesos: https://www.jumbo.com.ar/atun-desmenuzado-en-agua-y-en-aceite-maxima-120-gr/p
170g of tuna for 1285 Pesos: https://www.cotodigital3.com.ar/sit...-trozos-lata-170-gr/_/A-00070700-00070700-200
170g of tuna for 1860 Pesos: https://www.carrefour.com.ar/lomitos-de-atun-carrefour-classic-en-aceite-170-g/p

so, where are you paying 3500 Pesos for? because you're stupid to do that. are you that lazy that you walk into your closest Carrefour Express and see a high price, then declare that Argentina is too expensive? just go to Disco, Jumbo, Coto, Dia, Carrefour Market, Hipermercado, anything else other than post here with useless rambling. do us all a favor, yeah? we only have limited brain cells here @LongIslander

The inflation is hitting us like a freight train, and it's downright overwhelming. [...] we're being robbed blind!

no one agrees with you other than political shills CheVos and Avocado. nothing has changed in BsAs for Expats.

So, if anyone out there has some magical solution for dealing with these skyrocketing costs or has stumbled upon alternative shopping options that won't leave us bankrupt, spill the beans already! We're all desperate for any sliver of hope in these dark times. Let's stick together and share whatever shreds of information we have in this messed-up economy. But I hope I don't have to read more 'head in the sand' posts like no inflation going on!

i'm torn whether you're a malfunctioning AI bot or just sh*t-posting or just plain dumb. here's your solution: read more, post less, and learn to do the basics of being a human: research prices, use coupons, and price-check things when you buy. this is something people do in Thailand and Wyoming, yet you're making it seem like i have some special set of skills where i can find tuna for less than a dollar, when you're spending over 3 dollars.

the economy has been messed-up for years now. where are your complaints from before Dec2023?

All the restaurants I am going to are all more expensive vs. a few months ago.

correct, just like all of 2023, but the Blue Dollar and MEP go parallel, so a nice $10 USD burger meal at a trendy place is still $10 USD, and a $3 USD beer pint is still $3 USD at the local bar (unless you want to pay tourist-trap prices...in Scottsdale AZ you can be as stupid as to pay $100 USD for one drink if you want, and in Palermo SoHo you can pay $8 USD for a beer if you feel like paying the stupid-tax)

But there should be someone making sure businesses don't take advantage if they're not being fair. That's not happening, so it's like a free-for-all.

found the Commie! @Larry you should turn the internet off and go do something else...you're going to blow a gasket. high-school level Economics is going to be too hard for you to understand. go to a protest with Avocado and CheVos and make yourself feel better. but no one here wants to see your stupid fear-porn posts that have nothing to do with reality as an Expat in Buenos Aires.

My mom now comparison shop more for the things.

this is something that normal people do in the USA daily; the fact that your family hasn't had to do this means you're very privileged. i come from a middle-class suburb in the USA and we always went on sale days, with physical coupons, to buy stuff in bulk (we even used to freeze gallons of milk when they were on-sale). if you think this is budgeting and being tight on money, then you really do live in a fantasy land.

All my bills got more expensive.

just like they have been doing for the past 10 years.

Argentina - inflation rate 2004-2028 | Statista

Inflation in Argentina was 54 percent in 2019, before falling to 42 percent in 2020.

www.statista.com

where were your complaints about the loss of Peso spending power, before Dec2023?

 

[FuturoBA]

For those still thinking of leaving, check this site

The Earth Awaits

The Earth Awaits calculates your cost of living around the world according to your lifestyle, family, and housing needs!

www.theearthawaits.com

Can't vouch for the accuracy, but a useful starting point.

 

[MikeRoss]

For those still thinking of leaving, check this site

The Earth Awaits

The Earth Awaits calculates your cost of living around the world according to your lifestyle, family, and housing needs!

www.theearthawaits.com

Can't vouch for the accuracy, but a useful starting point.

Wow, BA rates really low on this website. Only 40/100 for Quality of Life Score.

 

[Wally]

Wow, BA rates really low on this website. Only 40/100 for Quality of Life Score.

The site sounds totally subjective. They are rating many other second rate cities in South America higher quality of life than BA that definitely I would never live in. So you have to take all of these sites with a grain of salt.

Some of the cities in Spain or Portugal look like a good quality of life and in fact, many Argentines are moving to.

 

[FuturoBA]

The site sounds totally subjective. They are rating many other second rate cities in South America higher quality of life than BA that definitely I would never live in. So you have to take all of these sites with a grain of salt.

Some of the cities in Spain or Portugal look like a good quality of life and in fact, many Argentines are moving to.

No idea how they got QOL rating, nowhere did I see anything in their FAQs section either.

 

[Che Vos]

I see some high ratings for Malaga, Spain. Many my friends move to Malaga because situation so difficult here.

 

[FuturoBA]

Found this graph for COL in BA over past 3 years.
ETA: That's set for 2 people, living in city center, with a modest lifestyle.

 

[old fart]

View attachment 2159
Found this graph for COL in BA over past 3 years.
ETA: That's set for 2 people, living in city center, with a modest lifestyle.

I know they have a Big Mac Index (below) but it would be helpful to have an index of commonly purchased everyday items purchased by the typical ExpatsBA member priced in USD. Here are some ideas of what I think should be on it.

1. 1 Large Bottle of Bottled Water (probably should stick with a local brand and make sure it's the same brand each month)
2. Meat Products. 1 Kilo of these items (beef, chicken, pork, etc.)
3. Dairy products- Carton of Milk (make sure it's same brand)
4. 1 kilo of Apples
5. Cooking oil
6. Eggs
7. 1 Bottle of Coca cola
8. 1 Package of Mate (make sure it's same brand)
9. 1 Bottle of Wine (make sure it's same brand)
10. 1 Kilo of Coffee Beans (make sure it's same brand)
11. 1 package of Mate (make sure same brand)
12. 1 kWh of electricity
13. Subte fare
14. 1 package of toothpaste (make sure same brand)
15. 1 Choipan from Chori (I saw a post that the cost of it has gone up and many expats seem to go there)
16. 1 Empanada from El San Juanino in Recoleta (my favorite expanada place).

 

[FuturoBA]

I know they have a Big Mac Index (below) but it would be helpful to have an index of commonly purchased everyday items purchased by the typical ExpatsBA member priced in USD. Here are some ideas of what I think should be on it.

1. 1 Large Bottle of Bottled Water (probably should stick with a local brand and make sure it's the same brand each month)
2. Meat Products. 1 Kilo of these items (beef, chicken, pork, etc.)
3. Dairy products- Carton of Milk (make sure it's same brand)
4. 1 kilo of Apples
5. Cooking oil
6. Eggs
7. 1 Bottle of Coca cola
8. 1 Package of Mate (make sure it's same brand)
9. 1 Bottle of Wine (make sure it's same brand)
10. 1 Kilo of Coffee Beans (make sure it's same brand)
11. 1 package of Mate (make sure same brand)
12. 1 kWh of electricity
13. Subte fare
14. 1 package of toothpaste (make sure same brand)
15. 1 Choipan from Chori (I saw a post that the cost of it has gone up and many expats seem to go there)
16. 1 Empanada from El San Juanino in Recoleta (my favorite expanada place).

Each list is going to be different. The default for the above site has a pretty good one IMO

• 3 Dozen Eggs
• 8 Liters Milk
• 1 Kg Local Cheese
• 8 Kg White Rice
• 5 Kg Chicken Breasts
• 6 Bottles Domestic Beer
• 2 Bottles Mid-Range Wine
• 10 Cappuccinos at Coffee Shops
• 10 1.5 Liter Bottles of Water
• 3 Heads Lettuce
• 3 Kg Onions
• 3 Kg Potatoes
• 3 Kg Tomatoes
• 3 Kg Bananas
• 3 Kg Apples
• 3 Kg Oranges

And for entertainment

• 2 Meals for Two People at Mid Range Restaurants
• 4 Meals at Inexpensive Restaurants
• 1 Monthly Transport Pass
• 1 Monthly Fitness Club Pass
• 2 Tickets to the cinema

 

[Spend Thrift]

Each list is going to be different. The default for the above site has a pretty good one IMO

• 3 Dozen Eggs
• 8 Liters Milk
• 1 Kg Local Cheese
• 8 Kg White Rice
• 5 Kg Chicken Breasts
• 6 Bottles Domestic Beer
• 2 Bottles Mid-Range Wine
• 10 Cappuccinos at Coffee Shops
• 10 1.5 Liter Bottles of Water
• 3 Heads Lettuce
• 3 Kg Onions
• 3 Kg Potatoes
• 3 Kg Tomatoes
• 3 Kg Bananas
• 3 Kg Apples
• 3 Kg Oranges

And for entertainment

• 2 Meals for Two People at Mid Range Restaurants
• 4 Meals at Inexpensive Restaurants
• 1 Monthly Transport Pass
• 1 Monthly Fitness Club Pass
• 2 Tickets to the cinema

Yes beer! You can't forget the beer! That default list has big quantities. I think most expats are either single or just married with 1 partner.

 

[old fart]

Each list is going to be different. The default for the above site has a pretty good one IMO

• 3 Dozen Eggs
• 8 Liters Milk
• 1 Kg Local Cheese
• 8 Kg White Rice
• 5 Kg Chicken Breasts
• 6 Bottles Domestic Beer
• 2 Bottles Mid-Range Wine
• 10 Cappuccinos at Coffee Shops
• 10 1.5 Liter Bottles of Water
• 3 Heads Lettuce
• 3 Kg Onions
• 3 Kg Potatoes
• 3 Kg Tomatoes
• 3 Kg Bananas
• 3 Kg Apples
• 3 Kg Oranges

And for entertainment

• 2 Meals for Two People at Mid Range Restaurants
• 4 Meals at Inexpensive Restaurants
• 1 Monthly Transport Pass
• 1 Monthly Fitness Club Pass
• 2 Tickets to the cinema

I think for an Expat index it would be easy to just reduce the amounts of items but this list above sounds like it has most things that one would purchase. Probably would be good to just add a popular restaurant as well and see the price of a popular dish as well. Everyone disagrees about cost of items with some saying it is getting very expensive and others saying it hasn't gone up in USD prices. I find prices have definitely gone up in USD prices at many popular restaurants especially in Palermo Soho.

Big Mac Index -

Argentina: Big Mac index 2024 | Statista

The average price of a Big Mac in Argentina decreased significantly in 2024, ranking as one of the lowest prices in Latin America.

www.statista.com

 

[Larry]

View attachment 2159
Found this graph for COL in BA over past 3 years.
ETA: That's set for 2 people, living in city center, with a modest lifestyle.

Yes this chart looks correct. I have always mentioned the prices are going up in USD terms and it is far worse than this chart shows. Just look at the price of a steak at Don Julio or my former favorite restaurant, El Preferido de Palermo. The USD prices have skyrocketed. Even go to Kansas and the prices of any dishes have gone up quite a bit.

 

[Shoemaker]

Things are definitely getting more expensive. Since Milei got elected, inflation is about 60% (1% a day). The blue dollar is only up around 30%.

I am definitely poorer now and the blue value is still going down.

 

[LongIslander]

I think for an Expat index it would be easy to just reduce the amounts of items but this list above sounds like it has most things that one would purchase. Probably would be good to just add a popular restaurant as well and see the price of a popular dish as well. Everyone disagrees about cost of items with some saying it is getting very expensive and others saying it hasn't gone up in USD prices. I find prices have definitely gone up in USD prices at many popular restaurants especially in Palermo Soho.

Big Mac Index -

Argentina: Big Mac index 2024 | Statista

The average price of a Big Mac in Argentina decreased significantly in 2024, ranking as one of the lowest prices in Latin America.

www.statista.com

Speaking of a Big Mac. I saw this and laughed. My cousin in USA told me about $18 Big Mac McCombos and I thought he was kidding but this article is saying in some places it literally is $18 for the combo meal. Crazy!

How Much Should a Big Mac Cost?

McDonald’s is getting criticism for an $18 combo meal, but what does affordability mean when it comes to fast food?

www.eater.com