Living in Argentina: The Pros & Cons

Argentina sits at the bottom of the world, far from any international flight hub, and embroiled in economic problems that sometimes make visitors nervous. But Argentina is not only a fascinating, exciting, and incredibly huge country to visit, it’s also a wonderful country to live in.

Argentina is not for people that like the trains to run on time, the electricity lines to always provide power. And it’s not for people who can’t deal with bureaucracy on a daily basis. But for those that persevere, living in Argentina (if only for a short while) is a rewarding experience, that might change your life. It changed mine.

I lived in Argentina for 5 years and traveled in and out of the country many times (dozens of times if you include visa runs). I learned to speak Spanish fluently, owned and ran a business there, and made lots of friends. Argentina has a lot to offer. Despite the financial problems, and sometimes because of them, it’s a rising South American hotspot for expats and digital nomads. Here’s why:

Buenos Aires skyline in the morning
Buenos Aires skyline from up high

Pros & Cons Of Living In Argentina

Some thoughts on why you should spend time here

First, the pros and advantages:

1. Fascinating People

Many Latin Americans think that Argentines are egoistas (egotists).

But it’s easy to see why they consider themselves a cut above the rest.

Do you know how an Argentine kills himself? He climbs up on his ego, and then throws himself down! ~ Pope Francis

Argentines are handsome. Argentine beef is the best in the world. The wine is in a class of its own. Argentina’s countryside is as spectacular as Switzerland, Spain, or the United States. They have the best footballer in the world. The Pope is Argentine. And a couple of royals in Europe were born here. The Argento accent is the coolest in the Spanish-speaking world. And the sexiest dance in the world, the Tango, was born in the immigrant slums of Buenos Aires.

What’s not to be proud of?

Are they cocky? Well, yeah. But there’s more to it than that. It’s complicated. And complicated people are often the most interesting ones. I’ll generalize her by saying that when it comes to working, the people of Argentina are not interested in being lawyers and accountants. They want to be painters, scholars, musicians, and movie stars. 

Argentines are either deep or shallow, depending on how you look at them. The proof is in the pudding: the country boasts the highest density of psychologists in the world (per capita).

Psychoanalysis is the norm. Everyone sees someone about their relationships with their parents, their partners, and everyone else they meet. 

And despite the natural beauty of the people, plastic surgery is big business. Shallow? Or practical?

I always found Argentines to be curious, friendly, and funny. The culture of cheek-kissing and hugging, while a little disconcerting at first, helps bond friendships. In fact, friendships are so important that the entire country celebrates Friend’s Day (Dia del Amigo).

As far as I am aware, this is an Argentine invention but it might have spread to neighboring countries in recent years. It’s one of the most fun days of the year. Friends leave work, family life, and the dress of life behind for a few hours to hang out with old friends. They eat too much and get drunk. All in the name of fun.

2. Argentina is Big and Beautiful

colourful hills near pumamarca
The beautiful colourful hills near Pumamarca

Argentina is 11 times the size of the United Kingdom and 4 times bigger than Texas.

Population: 43 million. Compare this to Mexico’s 130 million and Colombia’s 50 million.

At 2.78 million Km, this narrow country stretches all the way from the tropics to the bottom of the world. Ushuaia, which sits at the narrow end of Argentina near the South Pole is the most southern city in the world.

The Andes mountain range marks the west of the country, where you will find the highest mountain in the southern hemisphere, Aconcagua. From the Andes across to Buenos Aires and the border with Uruguay (a 12-15 hour straight drive), the wide-open Pampas of Argentina stretch in every direction. This is cattle-rearing land and is where gauchos (Argentine cowboys) tend to the best beef in the world.

There’s a lot to see. Traveling to Argentina? A week is simply too short. Two weeks? Don’t make me laugh! 5 years was too short for me. This country is immense – it’s the second biggest South American country after Brazil.

Iguazú falls in northern Argentina

3. Distinctive and Fascinating Culture

Tango, gauchos, Maradona, Messi, Carlos Gardel, steak and wine, Borges, Che Guevara. Argentina is a country of readers and artists. 

It’s been said many times but places like Buenos Aires and Bariloche are strikingly similar to parts of Europe. Buenos Aires reminds me of Madrid or Paris. 

La Viruta Tango Club in Palermo
La Viruta Tango Club in Palermo. The disco/hip version of Tango

Another fact I always enjoyed: Argentines are the best-read people in Latin America. Reading is one of my passions and I’ve always felt a kindred spirit with the bookish local people here. There are a lot of bookstores in Buenos Aires (and the city hosts the most beautiful library in the world).

Every year, a book fair in Buenos Aires attracts over a million people.

 They come from all over the world to browse books, talks about books, and buy books. It’s the most important literary event in the Spanish-speaking world. Big shooters in the Spanish writing world and English writing world speak at the event every year. This ultra-popular event showcases the importance of the written word is in this part of the world.

One of the most beautiful bookstores you will ever visit is the Ateneo Grand Splendid in the center of Buenos Aires. Even if you have no interest in books (shame on you) it’s a cool spot to just chill and enjoy the relaxing environment. Outside it’s a cacophony of cars, buses, and people. Inside it’s calm.

The bookstore used to be a theatre, in case you couldn’t tell from the photos. It reminds me of a mini Teatro Colón (Argentina’s beautiful and highly respected opera theatre). This brings me to my next point.

Tango musicians on the streets of San Telmo
Tango musicians in San Telmo. I could listen to this all day.

Theatre, music, and the arts in general are well supported. Buenos Aires is one of the best capital cities for finding music, theatre performances, comedy shows, dance expositions, and art galleries. Check the government’s Agenda Cultural website for details of all the best cultural events in the city.

4. Low Cost of Living

A beautiful vine covered building in Buenos Aires
The facade of a house somewhere in Buenos Aires. I’ve forgotten the location.

I have a lonely planet guide from 2001 and it talks about how expensive the country was. 2001 also happens to be the year of the infamous financial crash which resulted in the biggest default in history. A few months after I bought that book, it became one of the cheapest destinations in the world (not for locals but for visitors where the cost of living was reduced by 75%). It was easy back then to live a relatively comfortable life for $600 a month.

Now I’m not suggesting that people travel the world like vultures, looking for opportunities to spend money where the locals are suffering. However, there’s nothing wrong with spending money in a depressed economy. If your dollars, euros, or whatever currency you have stretches further, well, spend more!

In 2022, the country is teetering on another major currency adjustment (as it always is). This time it’s different, as the peso is not pegged to the dollar. Inflation is out of control, so prices rise every month. But it’s unsustainable and will correct itself with a bit of luck. But the peso has devalued so much against the dollar that if you can change your hard currency there, you will get a great exchange rate. There are ways of sending money cheaply to Argentina, but the best method is to change actual dollars. Using an ATM or getting your money from a bank will cost you a lot of fees, not to mention the terrible exchange rate.

5. The weather and climate

Iguazú falls in northern Argentina
The magnificent Cateratas de Iguazú in the north of Argentina (on the border with Brazil)

The weather is more like Europe or the United States than Colombia or Peru. Argentina is a huge country and has several climates but in places where expats are most likely to live, the climate is comfortable. Buenos Aires has four seasons. The summer months can be hot and humid but thankfully, the humidity doesn’t last for long, and for most of the year it’s a milder climate. I’d compare it to Barcelona.

For a few weeks in winter (July/August), it can be cold. But it (almost) never snows.

Compare this to other Latin American countries such as Peru, Colombia, Mexico, or Costa Rica where the weather stays consistent throughout the year. It’s usually hot or hot and wet further north in the continent. Some people enjoy this kind of weather but if you prefer to experience seasons, Argentina is a better choice. There best time to visit Argentina is now!

6. Unique And Alluring Spanish Dialect

Perhaps you have plans to move abroad and learn a foreign language. The Spanish here is beautiful to listen to and fun to learn. I always enjoyed speaking Argentino, and the accent stuck. It sounds different from the Spanish of other countries and uses different verb forms.  In some ways, it’s easier to learn.

Argentine Spanish, like most Latin American dialects, drops the Vosotros (plural informal) version of the verb. Not needing this form of conjugation is a bonus.

The imperative (giving orders such as go!, help me!, buy it!) form of the verb is easy and in 99% of cases follows a simple rule only seen in Argentina.

The informal 2nd person verb structure is also much simpler than in other dialects. Instead of 

  • Tu tienes
  • Tu digas
  • Tu sigas
  • Tu entiendes
  • Tu hablas

The local dialect uses these forms

  • Vos tenés
  • Vos decís 
  • Vos seguís
  • Vos endendés
  • Vos hablás

I hope you can see a pattern. Just lop off the er, ir, or ar and add és, ís, or ás.

Argentine Spanish is the fourth most spoken dialect (based on country size) so you’ve got plenty of people to practise with. 

Boca Juniors football game at the La Bombonera stadium la Boca
Boca Juniors football game at the La Bombonera stadium la Boca

The (brief) cons and disadvantages of life in Argentina

  • Argentina is far from everywhere. Travel from Europe or the US takes 12 hours or more by air. Bus journeys internally and around the rest of South America are always long.
  • The problems with inflation and government instability affect everyone. Argentina is unfortunate to have won the unwelcome title of the only country in history to return to developing nations status. Poverty is apparent even in the wealthier parts of the country.
  • Finding a job is difficult and working legally is just as hard to do.
  • Internet, communications, and electricity services can be unreliable.
  • The food is often called bland, unhealthy, unbalanced, or lacking diversity.

Moving To Argentina

Here’s what you need to know before traveling or planning a move to Argentina.

The local currency is the Argentine Peso. Written as ARS and uses the same symbol as the dollar, $.

The official language is Spanish. There are many unofficial indigenous languages spoken in the provinces, but Spanish is the language of Government and the one spoken on the street by 99% of the people. Learning the language will open up a lot of opportunities.

English is spoken in cities and many people know French, German, and Portuguese (Brazilian).

ATMs don’t always work. It’s common, especially in times of crisis (a regular occurrence) for the ATMs to stop working. 

Argentine man enjoying Palermo park in Buenos Aires
Argentine man enjoying Palermo park in Buenos Aires

How much does it cost to live in Argentina?

This is a question I’ve been asked many times, It’s hard to answer for two reasons:

1. Your lifestyle will determine the overall price

2. Inflation increases and rental prices change rapidly

However, if you live frugally and are content to live in a modest apartment, you can get by on $1200 a month. Half of this will go on rent. 

For comparison, the cost of living in Buenos Aires is 200% cheaper than in New York or London.

Electrical goods and imported clothes will blow up your budget faster than you can say “inflation”. The government imposes taxes on imported consumer electronics. I believe it’s designed this way to encourage sales of domestic products. But since nobody in the country can make a decent tv or washing machine, it’s effectively just another tax on the working and middle class.

What about Visas for Argentina?

Thought you might ask that one.

Tourist visas offer a generous 90 day stay for most western countries, after which you can return to the country for a further three months once you leave Argentina or cross the border into a neighboring country. That’s a total of 6 months with just one visa run.

Tourist visas for the country are easy to get and last 90 days. You can also extend them without complications. You could spend a long time traveling in and around Argentina without having to worry about Visas – anyone that’s traveled long term in Africa or Asia will understand what I’m talking about here.

You can leave and come back the same day and in my experience, nobody is ever questioned. Leaving and returning on a permanent basis is possible. The easiest way to do this is to grab a ferry to Uruguay if you’re living in Buenos Aires.

US citizens should check the Department of State website for updates

The Rentista visa, vista rentista in Spanish, is a good option if you can prove that you can support yourself with a regular income. This is referred to as an income-based residency visa or a “person of independent means visa”. These rules also apply to pensioners.

You don’t need a lawyer or account in Argentina to apply for a rentista visa. But you will need to prove an income of 30,000 pesos per month (approximately $600 USD per month as of October 2019). The processing cost for the visa is 6000 pesos. 

You’ll also need

  • Valid passport (try to have at least a year left before expiry)
  • An Argentina police report
  • A police report from your home country or country of residence
  • Certificate of address (in Argentina) or a utility bill in your name (for Argentina)
  • Immigration stamp from when you entered the country

And lots of patience. Things take time in Argentina. Don’t move there if you can’t go with the flow. 

More information (in Spanish).

The visa allows you to stay for a year with an extension for up to three years.

Under 35s can work and live in the country for one year with the Argentina Working Holiday Visa programme

If you’re young (under the age of 35) you can use the Argentina Working Holiday Visa program. This is a 12-month visa designed to allow younger people to live in Argentina and work at the same time as a means of supplementing their income.

Citizens of the following countries are eligible:

  • Australia
  • Denmark
  • France
  • Ireland
  • New Zealand

The visa does not include a spouse or partner. You must apply for this visa outside of the country.

There are only 1000 spots available and I would have thought these visas would go like hot cakes. But the Irish ambassador to Argentina told me a few years ago that they never fill the quota of visas. Sounds like a wasted opportunity to spend a year in a beautiful country without the hassle of immigration procedures.

Buenos Aires street with people lamposts and cars
The streets of the center of Buenos Aires.

What about overstays?

There’s a significant percentage of tourists and visitors that overstay their visas and opt to pay the fines (around $100). There are no real penalties apart from the fine. You can always reenter the country but I wouldn’t count on this always being the case. If you’re on a tourist visa it’s best to take a trip over to Uruguay and back and that solves your visa problem for another 3 months. 

Money and ATMs

Cards with PIN and chip work better. Bring several cards from different banks if possible. You never know when one ATM system will go down. Some ATMs charge over $5 for a withdrawal of less than $200 (whatever the maximum is at the time).

Ask around on the forums and check with local expats to find out which ATMs have the lowest fees.

Food

fine dining steak in argentina restaurant
It’s not all charcoal and ribs. Argentina has a wide selection of fine dining options.

Argentines love meat. It’s one of the countries with the highest consumption of meat in the world. They also produce some of the world’s best wine, so naturally, they like that too. 

Italian food influences everything else.

Vegetarians will struggle in Argentina. In fact, I can’t remember ever seeing any male friends of mine eating salad (or vegetables for that matter). You might be stuck with pizza and pasta if you’re a veggie. Delicious, but not exactly plant-based.

Human Rights

Women can expect a few wolf-whistles and machismo in the street. This might even happen at work. Argentine men love to express how they feel about parts of your body – stuff they’d get arrested for in Los Angeles or London. It’s part of the culture. I am not saying it’s right, merely warning ladies that will happen. But this cat calling never goes beyond this.

A study from 2018 found that 75% of people in the country think that a policy of zero-tolerance for sexual harassment will make a positive change in society.

In 2010, Argentina became the first country in Latin America to allow same-sex marriage.

Standard of Living in Argentina

People always ask about the cost of living but to be honest, by the time I publish this article, the information will be out of date. Argentina’s currency fluctuates like a baby Deutschmark in the 30s or Zimbabwe’s paper money.

The financial crisis in 2001 caused the collapse of entire industries, family businesses, and the trust in the government. The country has never recovered. Inflation has been running at almost 30% a year for nearly two decades. 

Back in 2006, when I first visited Argentina, expats were beginning to arrive. By 2010, there were many. The low cost of living was the main driving factor. It was like living in a Paris-New York-Barcelona hybrid at a fraction of the cost of those cities. Times have changed and it’s no longer the bargain destination it was (this keeps changing – in 2022, it’s back to being a low cost of living country for expats) but if you can play the currency arbitrage game right, it’s still a value-for-money place to live. An amazing bottle of wine will still be ridiculously cheap here, no matter what the currency exchange rates show.

From 2002 to 2012, Argentina was one of the cheapest countries to live in for anyone with foreign currency. I first went there in 2006 and could enjoy a steak dinner in the best restaurant in town, with a classy bottle of wine for $20.

Those days are gone, along with many of the long-term expats from that time

Prices have risen quickly and accommodation owners put the rental prices up every year to keep up with inflammation. One-bedroom Airbnb apartments that cost $20 a night in 2014 were $50 a night by 2015. 

The health service in Argentina is of a high standard. Unfortunately, funding for the public sector is insufficient. Travel insurance or health insurance is an absolute must for travel to Argentina. But if you’re planning on moving to Argentina or you want to spend an extended amount of time there, you should take out private health insurance. It’s not expensive and it gets you access to private hospitals. Instead of waiting weeks for treatment, you’ll get seen in a matter of days or even hours.

estilo filete porteño writing style on signs in argentina
Street sign done in the beautiful Fileteado Porteño style native to Buenos Aires

Where to live in Argentina

Most people chose to live in Buenos Aires. Argentina’s capital city is where the government sits, almost 4 million people live and work, and where you’ll most of the opportunities for work. It’s where many people have traditionally started with their move to Argentina.

However, Cordoba, Rosario, Salta, Mendoza, Bariloche, and Mar Del Plata are cities that expats call home (at least for a while). 

Boats on the Tigre delta close to Buenos Aires
Tigre delta in Buenos Aires Province

Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires can be a busy city – just head downtown at midday – and many people prefer the less hectic lifestyles of Mendoza and Cordoba, for example. Both cities are beautiful and offer a slice of life in Argentina you won’t find anywhere else in Argentina or South America. Smaller cities like Salta and Bariloche are better for the outdoor-lover or someone who wants to get away from traffic. 

It’s my favorite place in Argentina and in my top 3 cities in the world, Buenos Aires is a fascinating, romantic, beautiful, exciting, frustrating, and surprising city and a place everyone should visit and enjoy. 

It’s also an underrated digital nomad city. However, Argentina has never really taken off as a digital nomad destination. If you’re willing to put up with some flaky internet, BA is a trendy place to live and work. There’s an entrepreneurial spirit in the country (especially in Buenos Aires) and plenty of coworking spaces to meet like-minded people and get work done.

There are also several coliving spaces in Buenos Aires. Coliving (in case you didn’t know) is where you’ve and work in a shared environment. Ideally suited to the location independent and nomad worker, the coliving arrangement is not my style but many people get a lot from these immersive spaces.

buenos aires street scene. Avenida Bulrich
Avenida Bulrich

💡Check out this guide to finding a place to stay in Buenos Aires.

Bariloche

Skiers & Hikers will love this place. Think Switzerland with Spanish accents. The countryside is one of the most beautiful and unspoiled in the world and feels a million miles from Buenos Aires. 

And Bariloche is party central for chocolate lovers. I’ve never seen so many chocolate stores in my life. Bariloche locals are super proud of the delicious chocolate they produce here (thanks to the Swiss influence). There’s even a huge chocolate museum.

If you want to spend your weekend horseback riding, waterskiing, snowboarding, or just breathing in the mountain air, Bariloche is the place for you.

Bariloche gets my vote for the best lifestyle city in Argentina.

In high summer and peak winter season, the place explodes with young Porteños and people from all over the world eager to let their hair down. It can get wild. Apart from those peak times, Bariloche is a quiet town. The town is big enough (150,000 residents) to have an active cultural scene and plenty of entertainment opportunities. But it’s not so big as to be overcrowded or polluted.

Homes and apartments to rent just outside of the city center area are superb value. You can buy an apartment here for less than $100,000 and nice 2-bed homes often go for this price.

The lakes of Bariloche in the south of Argentina

Work opportunities:

Not a whole lot for foreigners without contacts. Teaching English and the digital nomad route are the best options for newbies. If you can teach skiing, you’re are a wine expert or an outdoorsy type, you might find opportunities in the tourism-related industries. These might be seasonal or part-time opportunities though so it’s best to have an alternative.

Sample cost of living indicators:

  • A meal in a basic restaurant: $8-10
  • Local beer: $3
  • One-way bus (local) bus ticket: $0.50
  • 1-bed apartment in city centre: $400 (monthly)
coffee and postcards in Bariloche cafe
Coffee and postcards in a Bariloche cafe

Pros of living in Bariloche

  • Easy to get around by cheap public transport
  • Can be cheaper to rent (with higher quality) than Buenos Aires if renting long term.
  • Arguably better food than Buenos Aires. And better chocolate, without a doubt.
  • Excellent craft beer
  • Friendly residents from all over Argentina and the world.
  • Fresh air

Cons of living in Bariloche

  • Can get quite cold in winter.
  • It’s a long way from anywhere by car.
  • There’s a lake for swimming and Watersports and it’s beautiful but frigid. Don’t expect it to warm up too much, even in Summer. The sea is a long way away.

Mendoza

vineyards and mountains near mendoza
The vineyards of Mendoza

This gem of a city on the edge of the Andes mountains, just over the border from Chile, is one of my favorite places in the country. 

Mendoza is surrounded by wine country. This is one of the best wine-growing regions of the world. I can’t enough of Malbec and this is ground zero for the best bottles in the world. There’s even a national wine museum (well worth a visit, by the way)

World-renowned chef Francis Mallmann has a restaurant here. Argentina’s best ski area, Las Leñas, is close by (relatively speaking). If you enjoy hiking, you’re in luck. Mendoza sits at the foot of the Andes. The tallest mountain outside of the Himalayas, Aconcagua, is visible from around the city. And if you want to pop over to Chile, Santiago is just over the mountains.

Many say the most beautiful women in Argentina live in Mendoza. I think there’s something in it. I can’t attest for the men but I’d imagine that the clean air, relaxed lifestyle, and wonderful food here build handsome specimens too. 

Pros of living in Mendoza:

  • More relaxed lifestyle than the capital
  • Access to some of the best wine country in the Americas.
  • Hiking and outdoor opportunities are minutes away from anywhere in the city
  • Cheaper than living in Buenos Aires

Cons of Living in Mendoza:

  • Harder to travel for visa runs
  • You might need to go to Buenos Aires for official paperwork
  • International flights connections are not great.
  • Not as exciting as some other cities

Working in Argentina

Working overseas is always a complicated matter. Government policies change and seemingly pointless rules can make workers’ lives difficult. It doesn’t help that Argentina is a country steeped in beauracracy and red tape.

The economist ranks Argentina as one of the worst places in the world to do business. As a previous business owner in the country (for 10 years), I can attest to this. Business dealings in Argentina will test the most patient people in the world. But to paraphrase the great Frank Sinatra, “If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere“. After working and managing businesses here, every other country seems like a cakewalk.

On the other hand, Argentines are what I’d call good at making things happen out of nothing. So many bad things have happened to the country that the people are resilient. They always find a way to bounce back. 

If you’re thinking of starting a business in Argentina and hiring employees, I recommend doing in-depth research to see if it’s feasible. This is not the easiest place in the world to employ people. If you’re coming from the US, you will see major differences in the employer-employee dynamic.

There are also “features” like that 13-month payment where employees get an extra month’s payment every year, sick leave for up to 1 year, and holiday pay premiums.

You’ll have the best chance of scoring a job if you speak fluent Spanish and will work for local wages. Unless you’re in a skilled field or possess a skill that other immigrants don’t, you might struggle to find well-paid work. Immigrants from Bolivia and Paraguay flood the cheap labor market in Argentina, making unskilled jobs unattractive to western foreigners. 

Bar work will be almost impossible to find legally. So if you do find work in a bar, you’ll be paid “under the table”. this is both risky for you and your employer. 

You’ll become a tax resident (if you’re not an employee) after a year of living there so factor this into your plans.

Unemployment

In 2017, the official figure was 8.74%. In 2022, it’s currently at around 7%.

This reflects figures for the entire region which show that employment is actually rising.

Argentina places in the middle of the pack for Latin American countries.

Travel in Argentina

Salinas Grandes salt plains near cordoba in argentina
Salinas Grandes salt plains near Cordoba

Bus travel is easy around the cities. There are bus stops on almost every street. The only difficulty is finding them. Often marked with a tiny sign or a sticker (!!), bus stops also have a habit of moving location. It’s best to ask locals for help. The Como Llego bus app is the best tool to use for navigating the hundreds of routes in the city.

Long-distance bus travel is cheap and comfortable. Cama suites and semi-cama bus seats let you sleep on overnight (or day) trips. Distances are huge and you’ll need a full 12 hours to get from Buenos Aires to Mendoza, for example

Flights to and around Argentina

Getting to Argentina is not straightforward unless you’re flying from major hubs. From many European departure points, you’ll have to pass through another European hub first. South America suffers from an inconvenient geographical location; at least as far as airline hubs and worldwide flight routes go.

Flights to Argentina From Europe

From Europe, your best bet is British Airways (BA), Lufthansa, Iberia (IB), and KLM flights to Buenos Aires. Buying an all-in-one ticket from your home location is a good idea. It will generally be cheaper and your luggage allowance is higher. This ticket will also cover any lost luggage expenses for the entire journey.

Flights to Argentina hover between €800-1200 for most of the year and flights within Argentina fluctuate so it’s worth checking those prices regularly. The options below also work for the UK, with similar prices in many cases.

Flights to Argentina From the USA

Although the distances are similar to those from Europe (11-12 hours from the North East of the US), there are a few more options to choose from.

Buenos Aires Airports

Buenos Aires, the main entry point for visitors to Argentina has two airports. The first is the international airport Buenos Aires Ministro Pistarini (EZE), also known as Ezeiza International Airport (thus the airport code letters). The second is the domestic airport Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP), which is located in the city and services international flights to Rio de Janeiro, Asuncion, and others.

Use the Airport buses, Hoppa.com or KiwiTaxi.com to get from the Airport to the City

Low-Cost Flights And Cheap Tickets

Aerolineas Argentinas is a low-cost airline that operates domestic and international flights. Can’t say I’d recommend them, but the airline is sometimes the only option. 

There are plenty of places to look for cheap airfares these days but here are a few I recommend:

  • Google Flights is always a good place to start and get an overview of current carriers, times, departures, and costs. Don’t forget to check Premium Economy and Business. There are sometimes great deals there too.
  • The ‘error flight’ website SecretFlying often lists cheap flight deals from most major US and European cities to Argentina. The truth is, these cheap tickets are not actual error fares, rather they are low-cost sale periods for flights that the airlines need to fill. However, you can easily find some true bargains. I’ve flown to Argentina from Dublin for less than €400 return with these bargain flights. It’s hard to beat that price but you must be willing to fly at awkward times, like Thursday to Monday (10/11 day stay) and notice can be pretty short.
  • Dollar Flight Club is a great option for you if you can wait for the cheaper flights to arrive. Select airports that you’re comfortable flying out of using this service. You can also add dream destinations (for example, Buenos Aires, Cordoba, Bariloche, etc).You’ll receive regular emails with some of the most competitive prices available. It’s like having a concierge service for cheap flights. Definitely worth a look.
Irish Passport with Argentina entry stamps

Internal flights in Argentina and Around

The good news is that RyanAir and Avianca are on their way to Argentina so internal flights are about to get a whole lot cheaper. Ryanair is probably the world’s most (in)famous low-cost carrier and nobody knows for sure if this announcement is a publicity stunt or if their plans for expansion out of Europe begins down south.

The big players for domestic flights in Argentina are currently Aerolineas Argentinas and Lan Argentina. They are the only real players because Government policies have meant that competitors cannot enter the market. Travelling 16 hours on a bus to Bariloche or Salta will soon not be the only option for people on a budget.

Ryanair is already operating in Colombia and Mexico using their (part-owned) Viva Air and VivaAerobús companies respectively. This new move might be the first time Ryanair use their brand outside of Europe. I’ve used Viva Colombia on a number of occasions and I have to say that it’s a very respectable way to fly. A step up from the bucket seats on Ryanair in Europe. It’s nothing fancy, of course, but for short flights, the price can’t be beaten (€30-40) between major cities.

Ryanair usually locates its in-country base in less-used airports, often located far from the destination city. The only viable alternative to Ezeiza International Airport is Aeroparque, which is a few miles from the city centre. This is a good thing. It’s reported that Ryanair is looking at Andes Airline based out of Salta so it’s possible that their base will be located in the northern province of Salta, close to the border with Bolivia.

Ryanair won’t be flying to or from Brazil, however, as there are concerns over corruption. We can probably safely rule out Venezuela in that case also (sorry, Venezuela!). Currently, there are quite a few flights every day from Aeroparque Jorge Newberry to Brazil and these can be quite economic tickets. It looks like, for the moment, there won’t be any competition for Aerolineas Argentinas and Gol there are least.

With two low-cost airlines competing for our pesos there’s no telling how low flight prices will go.

Argentina's mount Fitz Roy in los glaciares Patagonia
Argentina’s mount Fitz Roy in Los Glaciares, National Park, Patagonia

Getting from Buenos Aires Airport to the city

  • Buenos Aires Ministro Pistarini airport is about 50 minutes drive by car to the centre of the city.
  • Minibuses are the best option if you want comfort and value. It costs about $20 (note: the currency moves fast so this can change quickly) for a Minibus. Use the beautifully-named Manuel Tienda León Bus Company for your transport needs. Their website is unreliable so it’s not included here. Check in the airport for details.
  • Don’t take public buses from the airport as the journey takes you through some unsavoury areas and it’s a long journey.
  • Taxis can be very expensive and don’t grab one outside the airport. Negotiate first in the terminal with the official representatives of the White Taxis or a Remis.
  • And last but not least, an excellent option for transfer from either airport to the city is Hoppa. Book in advance and get picked up at the airport and delivered to your destination. Easy!

Arriving in Buenos Aires City

For most people, the flight to Argentina is a long one. Most visitors arrive through the capital’s airport and the first day is spent in recovery mode in a hotel, apartment, or hostel.

Airbnb prices have increased a lot in recent years. Hostels are still good value but consider a Buenos Aires hotel or apartment for your first night at least. It makes your arrival less stressful and gives you fewer things to things about.

Read my detailed guide to accommodation in Buenos Aires for everything you need to know for short and long-term stays in this amazing city.

Resources

  • Holafly – Set up your eSIM in less than five minutes. Keep in touch while you travel without worrying about roaming or unexpected charges. You can also share your data plan with others. You can still keep your local SIM card or “home” SIM to receive calls. I use this service and it works great.
  • Wise is the best platform for money transfers and currency exchange. Personal and business accounts are available.
  • World Nomads provides travel medical insurance for those who live or work outside their home country.
  • Airalo – Avoid the high prices for SIM cards at the airport. Airalo can guide you in choosing an eSIM that will save you money and hassle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Compiled with the help of Celano & Asociados, a Buenos Aires-based law firm serving primarily international clients.

Can I carry out documental procedures (DNI, Visas, etc) in Mar Del Plata or do I need to do everything in Buenos Aires?

All the different branches of Immigration accept all type of petitions. You can apply in any of the jurisdictions where there is a Delegacion de Migraciones

Should I first translate all documents to Spanish or it would be enough to go with original documents and only translate if my visa is approved?

Documents must be translated to Spanish in Argentina by an Official Public Translator when you submit the petition and before the adjudication (approved/denied).

The embassy in my country told me I need to pay for a temporary visa. Should I pay before receiving the visa or it would be enough to pay only immigration fees at first?

You need to check with each Consulate about their particular rules. In general, you need to pay the Consular fees in advance and they are non-refundable.

What is the minimum amount of money should I have to be eligible for the rentista visa?

The minimum requirement for the rentista visa is a passive income of AR$ 30,000. However, this amount can be affected by inflation, so the Agency has discretionary powers to consider this requirement as not enough and request more. The recommended amount is USD 2,000 dollars a month.

Can I connect my bank account in my country with the one in Argentina when I open it?

In general, the answer is no. They are two different entities even though they may share the same brand and name.

Do I need a lawyer if I am from a certain country? Is it difficult for some nationalities to get a rentista visa?

Standard and requirements do not apply to nationals from countries that need a visa to enter Argentina as tourists (typically Asia, Middle East and Africa). These nationalities are denied petitions like the rentista, and for family-based petitions, it is also difficult.

living in Argentina guide
living in Argentina expat and digital nomad guide


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51 thoughts on “Living in Argentina: The Pros & Cons”

  1. Hi Keith, I really enjoyed all of the information in this post. My husband and I are considering the move to Buenos Aires but now I am a little concerned about the internet. We both teach English online. You mentioned how internet is unreliable at times. What providers could we get to minimize this occurrence? Or is it pretty much unavoidable?
    Thanks again for the wealth of info you provided!

    1. keith travel writer and blogger

      Hi Apryl,
      I wouldn’t let it stop you visiting or moving to Argentina. When the connection goes down (which isn’t really that often), you just move to a cafe or a coworking space. There is wifi literally everywhere and it’s rare that every internet provider has problems at the same time. It’s not 100% reliable, but honestly, it shouldn’t cause you too many problems. Plenty of digital nomads live in Buenos Aires and do just fine.

  2. Hello thanks a lot for this detailed post.I am considering moving to La Plata with my family as I was offered a position at the university. What do you think about the crime rate? And also is it safe for children? Many thanks

    1. keith travel writer and blogger

      You can see some user-generated statistics for crime rates in La Plata here: https://www.numbeo.com/crime/in/La-Plata-Argentina.
      Obviously, take these figures with a pinch of salt. I would also not trust 100% the official figures. However, the increase in people below the poverty line in Argentina in recent years (thanks to terrible economic policies and other factors) is likely increasing the crime rate – when people have fewer options for surviving, petty crime often increases.
      Argentina’s crime rate is comparable to the US.
      I never personally experienced any crime in Argentina apart from someone stealing my phone.
      It’s not Singapore or Tokyo, but it’s definitely safer than many places in Latin America.

  3. What i detailed post about Argentina. I feel like every question was answered here. Thanks a lot for the info. Bookmarked.

  4. Hey Nomad Keith,

    Argentina may have some issues but Venezuela is a MESS. Currently there is no food distribution. Expired passports are being recognized. Are you willing to give me information for those that are endeavoring to enter Argentina?

  5. Stefan Gospodinov

    Hi Keith,

    This is a very useful article/blog. I am currently living and working as a consultant for the World Bank in Lima, Peru. However for the following year I have requested to move to buenos aires and have been granted this request. My questions are purely technical. I have been to Buenos Aires on a couple of occasions and am familiar with its stature as the Paris of the south/west. Firstly I will enter as a tourist. I have a Bulgarian EU passport and a US passport. Both will allow me to come in and out via Uruguay (Buquebus) every 3 months and alternating both passports should keep me covered for the full year. This is what I have been doing in Peru for the past 2 years. My questions are the following: 1. Can immigration potentially give me less than 3 month upon entering? 2. Will I be able to rent a place for a year if I do not posses a local carnet extranjera or dni? I obviously do not want to pay airbnb for the duration of the full year. Futhermore my budget is 500-600USD. Will this cover me for a studio in a decent but not touristic neighborhood. Say caballito looked quite cool when I was there a month or so ago, or colegiales next to Palermo. I can pay more as my salary is in USD but I would like to save a bit based on what I am paying in Lima (1200 usd plus bills). 3. Also can I get a basic debit/atm card with my passport if I do not have local documents and which bank would you recommend? My experience from about a month ago was that every single bank charges in between 260-440 pesos per every withdrawal from a foreign card (in my case my peruvian and UK cards). Obviously for a full year I am thinking of getting a local bank card and doing Transferwise each month as I get paid in the UK. This is more or less it! I would really appreciate it if you take the time to answer as I am a bit clueless.

    Best Regards,

    Stefan

    1. keith travel writer and blogger

      Thanks, Stefan. Glad you found it useful.
      I love Lima, by the way. Great foodie and cultural city.
      To answer your questions:
      1. The 3-month visa is standard. I don’t remember any cases where people were given less than this. If they’re letting you in, you get the 90 days.
      2. Renting long-term without a DNI is very difficult. Even with a DNI, I had to jump through hoops (being a foreigner). One way to do it is to offer a year payment in advance (but with inflation the way it is, that might be a bit messy).
      Airbnb is more profitable for local property owners than long-term rentals so it’s worth it to rent at higher prices to foreigners.
      If you don’t mind sharing an apartment you could look on Craigslist or some of the flat sharing websites. This can at least get you a few months runway.
      Caballito is nice enough but I prefer Villa Crespo and Almagro (also closer to Palermo)
      3. Your chance of opening a bank account depends on the bank but in general, you’ll need a DNI and CUIL number. Proof of residence might be required. Basically, you can’t just open an account without some connection to the country.
      ATM fees have been an issue for years.
      You could bring dollars (for a few months – not too much, mind you) and change them in Argentina. That “might” be better than paying the ATM fees. Go with a local to change money.
      Transferwise is an excellent service. I use it a lot. Do you know anyone in BA that you can trust with money? One way to get around the bank account issue is to send money to your contact’s bank account using Transferwise. They can then take out the cash for you. Obviously, there needs to be a level of trust to make this work.

      1. Stefan Gospodinov

        Cheers for all the info Keith. Wow, I am starting to have second thoughts whether to not just stick it out here in Lima, where I have an oceanview flat (albeit for 1200 usd/month) and a local Bank Card. But Buenos Aires is really appealing as well as the opportunity to travel to Patagonia and perhaps save a bit based on my expenditures here (currently Lima is quite a bit more expensive than BA judging on supermarket prices, restaurants, pubs and the rents I saw on real estate agency windows while visiting BA this July) providing the peso remains what it is, which is a big if. It might gain ground on the USD if Kirchner wins in October but I doubt it. Rather it will keep falling so that would be useful in my case as I get paid in USD. My budget is more or less 4k USD which pretty much all dissapears here in Lima so I am hoping I can save a bit there. But there does seem to be a lot of red tape. I can get a letter from the World Bank that I consult for them, but I dont know if that will make it any easier to apply for a DNI, and it probably makes no sense for just a year. I will obviously need cash in some places so using my english card wont always work, and withdrawing with a fee of 5-10 usd is also a pretty big hit if you do it regularly over a one year period. Here with a passport you can open a basic account in most banks but I guess it is harder in Buenos Aires. The other option that you mention also makes sense in the short term. Doing a transferwise to a friend there. With regards to the flat sharing that is also an option. It might actually be the better option as here I had my son with me and rented out a big flat, but that wont be necessary for BA. Decisions, decisions… I have lived, in 10 countries and speak fluent Spanish and have a pretty decent budget so I guess I will manage but it still seems a bit trickier than I thought initially, or at least compared to Lima. On the other hand it might be worth it. Lima can get quite dull after 2 years… Sorry I have been rambling on quite a bit without asking anything in particular. I will look at Almagro, Villa Crespo and Belgrano. I liked caballito as I found a really nice pub there called Belgica. They have fantastic craft beer from Juguetes Perdidos and Strange Brewing, which is my favorite local brew and the area looked quite hip but perhaps its only that block or so. Considering the office is in Retiro it might makes sense looking for somewhere a bit closer. Cheers and thanks for all the advice!

  6. Hi Keith,

    That is a very informative article, I work online as a freelancer and I earn in dollars, So I don’t think If this is a positive or a negative thing considering the big fluctuation of the peso, My budget is $2000/month, I’m considering moving there with my wife to give birth of our first child so I’m planning till we are done the 2-years permanent residency requirement and then apply for citizenship so my questions are:
    1- Do you recommend that I book an apartment for my first days or a hotel and then looking for an apartment?
    2- Will that amount of money ($2k/month) be enough for me and my wife and our new baby?
    3- Are the hospitals safe and good enough for giving birth?
    4- Is it better to stay in Buenos Aires or Cordoba? (Considering that I will apply for a masters degree if I didn’t manage to find a day job as a process engineer (I want to work either in Oil&Gas or food industry) which I know that they are strong industries in Argentina.
    5- Does the Argentinian citizenship worth all that hassle? (Considering I’m coming from an African country with a low passport profile) ( also I’m not planning to stay in Argentina forever unless I found a very lucrative day job offer)
    6- Does it really take 2 years from the time you have your permanent residency to get the citizenship? or there are years of waiting the court to issue your passport?
    7- Can I manage my life in the first months with a beginner level of Spanish ( A2 Level ) in my first weeks?

    I’m really sorry for the many questions but your answer is really important for me and that is a life-changing decision.

    1. keith travel writer and blogger

      Hi Ahmed,
      1. I totally recommend booking something for a week or two. A month is even better. Then you can take your time to find a nice apartment. It’s much easier once you are actually living in Argentina.
      2. $2k doesn’t sound like enough to me. I’d say that will cover the basic expenses for a family without rent in Buenos Aires. BA is the most expensive place for rental properties so a different city might be better for you.
      3. Yes, the hospitals in Argentina are safe and have a high standard. I recommend getting private health insurance though. The waiting times for public health care can be very long. Private health care gets you a very good level of service.
      4. There are more jobs in BA than Cordoba but the rental prices are a lot cheaper in the latter. Check out Glassdoor or Indeed to see what kind of jobs you can get in each city.
      5. I didn’t take out citizenship (just residency) so I can’t say how difficult it might be. I do know, however, that bureaucracy in Argentina is going to slow you down. Anything procedures that involve government will take a lot of your time and resources. If you have a “weak” passport, it might be worth it. You’ll need to stay (legally) in the country at least 5 years to get citizenship though.
      6. As far as I know, you need 3 years after getting permanent residency before you can become a citizen. In Argentina, there are always ways to make things happen faster, but they cost extra.
      7. Having good Spanish will make the world of difference there. Having said that, I know foreigners that lived there with basic Spanish for many years. If you plan on doing any kind of official paperwork or job hunting, a good level of Spanish is a must. You can hire an immigration lawyer to help with the paperwork though.

      I hope that helps.

  7. Hi, Keith

    Am michael i really enjoyed your article.
    Am planning on coming to Argentina for a 6weeks TEFL course in Beunos Aires by early 2020.
    As am interested in teaching English language in any school where i can get a ESL english teaching job.
    I intend to also entoll for a spanish language course too.
    Am also coming from an African country.
    I am interested in working with any food or agricultural related industry too partime hopefully
    Can you honestly advise me on my chances of getting a English teaching job in Argentina and how much i can earn while doing this job.
    And also how much i need to save up for living expenses before i secure any job,while i make my travel plans.
    Thank you.

    1. keith travel writer and blogger

      Thanks, Michael.
      I know a lot of people that found jobs in Argentina teaching English illegally. That’s an option, but I wouldn’t advise it. I’d contact a few Spanish language schools and ask them if they need teachers and how you can start working for them.
      I don’t know what your style of living is. Do you want to live in hostels or 5-star hotels? Eat out every day or cook?

  8. Your article is just amazing
    i wonder
    1.about the monthly money you mentioned , 30000 ARS is not equal to 2000 dollar but 500 dollar, so which one is correct?
    2. may i show my monthly income from my local banks or i need to open an account from my origin country in an Argentinian bank before delivering my documents to the embassy of Argentina in order to get rentista visa?
    3.in case if my documents are not complete and i enter to embassy and find out about it there, should i again pay when return with all documents?
    4.should translations into Spanish be confirmed by my government or i can just land documents in my language authorized by my government and just attach it translations?

    1. keith travel writer and blogger

      Thank you, Leo. Glad it was helpful
      1. I’ve updated the post now. In less than a year, the currency has devalued by half. It’s pretty hard to keep up with the values of products and services in Argentina. I’ll try to add some real-time calculators to the post. All the same, the government website shows the same Peso amount so it basically means that it’s a lot cheaper now (if you have foreign currency)
      2. I believe you’ll need an apostilled, translated proof of your income (wherever that is)
      3. You’re probably going to spend a lot of time going and coming from the embassy. Hiring a specialized lawyer might save you tons of legwork.
      4. Look for an apostille service and get it professionally translated and stamped. v

      1. Thank you so much. I am considering of settling down in Mar del Plata. Do you know whether i can carry out documental procedures in the mentioned city or i need to do all that things(starting from obtaining DNI) in Buenos Aires?.Besides I have some other concerns.
        1.Should i at first translate all documents into spanish or it would be enough to go with original documents and only translate if my visa is approved?
        2.The embassy sent me an answer that i will need to pay 600$ for DNM MIGRATION RATE FOR TEMPORARY VISA GRANTING. should i pay it before receiving the visa or it would be enough to pay only immigration fees at first?
        3.What minimal amount of money should i have on my card to be eligible to get rentista visa(somewhere i read about 24*30000 pesso)?
        4.Should i pay a certain percent of my income from foreign country when living in Argentina?
        5.Is there a possibility to connect my bank in my current country and the one in Argentina when i open it there?
        6.I don’t know any spanish word, is it a problem or they speak English?
        I think i will hire lawyer a moth ago before entering the embassy, just i don’t think i can find a proper specialist in our country since i have never heard somebody leaving my country by means of rentista visa.

        1. keith travel writer and blogger

          Hi Leo,
          I answered your questions in the Frequently Asked Questions section as I’ve seen this type of query before. On question 4, are you asking if you need to pay yourself a salary from a foreign bank into Argentina? Depending on the visa, the answer might be yes as you need to prove you can sustain your lifestyle there.
          And on question 6: If you don’t speak Spanish, talk to an English-speaking lawyer who is experienced in international clients. Try Gabriel Celano.

          1. Thank you so much. I have never met somebody answering to so many questions of a stranger. You are just perfect. I am from a country which is in free visa regime with Argentina.Your answers were exactly what i wondered.About the 4th question: I meant,should living in Argentina but receiving a certain amount of money from abroad make me pay (e.g. 20% of my monthly income) to Argentinian government when using rentista visa? by the way, i though that after petition to the consulate there is no any other procedure before approval/rejection of visa

  9. I asked all questions except the most important one. I am a programmer that is i have not passive income but have active one. So am i eligible for rentista visa? i mean do i have at least small chance to get temporary residency? My income is quite stable and increases once in several months.

    1. keith travel writer and blogger

      According to Celano Abogados, only passive income is eligible: rental income, dividends, financial income (interests from cds). Salaries are not eligible.
      In situations like these, if the prospect applicant has savings or assets it is sometimes possible to set up this passive income, these are alternatives we normally discuss in a consultation.

  10. Hello Keith. You have provided some great information about Argentina. My wife and I are in our mid sixties and next year we are considering a move from Nova Scotia to Bariloche for at least a few months of retirement, or possibly more. Currently trying to educate ourselves about the possibility.
    …… Bob

  11. James L.R. Huddleston

    Greetings Keith,
    What a superb,positive overview of Argentina.Thank you.Your nuggets of information help the traveller,the perspective immigrant.My girlfriend and I are the latter.
    Our plan(:Rent a flat in Mar del Plata,then eventually buy one there.We are U.S citizens,in our 70’s(in good health),with income sufficient(and then some)to live care-free in Argentina.Of course we’ll take out private health insurance.

    My one worry is the age factor.I wonder if it will be a problem for permanent residence,then citizenship?

    I have visited Argentina many time,taken many trains & buses throughout the vast land.My Spanish is not too shabby,even spoken(I’m proud to say)with an Argentine accent.

    Years ago,in Chile,I cut to the chase in obtaining permanent res by hiring a lawyer.We’ll do the same in Argentina.

    Your advice re the age factor,other tips will be much appreciated.
    All the Best,
    James

    1. Keith, great article with lots of information. Thank you!
      James, my wife and I will be moving to Mar Del Plata (from the USA) in the coming year. I was born in Argentina but my wife is from the USA and would love to know people whom she can talk to. Best of luck and hope to meet you some day.

  12. Jeff Hillmeyer

    Hello Kieth,
    I appreciate this information you’ve provided. I’ve been interested in Argentina for a very long time, and was planning to travel this year for the first time but the Covid 19 had different plans for us all. I want to see if retiring there truly works for me. I am about 7 years out from “official” retirement. I might work for a local company just because I want to keep my mind active. I’m an architect and I have seen that big construction companies in Buenos Aires and Cordoba are the way to go for someone with my experience. I’ll begin pursuing Argentino as soon as I have the plan in action. Is the law firm mentioned in this post, the best source for asking all questions about basically moving to this beautiful country? And do you have anything to add about architects and engineers working there?
    Thanks again!
    Jeff

  13. Gustavo Massacristo

    This post is very interesting. My question is I have a TEFL 120 hours English Certificate, and I am fluent in both Spanish and Portuguese, Could I be able to find a teaching job in BA?

  14. Overall, just a fantastic read!

    Thank you for taking the time and trouble to document your findings and help others navigate Argentina.

  15. Hi Keith,

    Really appreciate this post, gained a lot of knowledge from it. Planning on living to BA with my wife this summer. Two quick questions:

    1. Regarding cost of living: where these all the “official” rates? I noticed “dollar blue” is almost close to double the official rate right now. Like you said, I know all this can change fast due to the inflation

    2. Did you notice a decent change in price at basic sit down restaurants in more tourist areas like Palermo or Recoleta compared to other neighborhoods? Likely looking at both those places but obviously would like saving a little money if possible.

    Greatly appreciate your help.

    1. keith travel writer and blogger

      Hi Sean,
      On both of those questions, it’s currently very hard to answer right now. Argentina is going through one of the strictest lockdowns in the world and the economy is in bad shape. Dollar blue rate could change at any moment but looks set to increase against the official rate for a while longer. Restaurants are restricted at the moment. Palermo and Recoleta have some of the nicest restaurants in the city but you can find many cheap places to eat there too. Prices are cheaper in less touristic neighbourhoods but I wouldn’t consider that a reason to choose a place to live. Rent prices and quality of life are my deciding factors. Are you moving to BA in summer 2021?

  16. Hey I read your article and it was very useful! Very thankful for people like yourself. I’m 18 years old and living in the United States. After 4 years of college and getting my degree I want to travel to Argentina “possibly Bariloche” and live for multiple years. I want to find a wife there and possibly get married there. I want to bring her back to the States and have a family. I don’t really know what I should do for work etc could you give me some tips on what you would do if you were me?

  17. Thank you for all of this information!

    My question is about gold and silver exchanges for ARS. Are there coin shops? Or do banks exchange G&S for pesos? Does the Blue Market?

  18. Loved your information. Great job! However, when you talk about the languages spoken there in addition to Spanish, you totally overlooked the second most-spoken language, which is Italian…! Based on the large Italian immigrant descendants population the country has.

  19. Jo-ann van Wyk

    Hi.

    I would like to consider moving to Argentina, I have experience in investments and insurance sales. I however don’t have my degree yet. What is the likehood of getting a job?

    I am from Namibia 🇳🇦

  20. Hi Keith,
    I have never seen a more comprehensive article on pros + cons of moving to some place. You have pretty much answered everything one can think of.
    I am single, 40+, LGBTQ and live in a restrictive country in South Asia.
    I was looking for a country to relocate, and Argentina ranked on top of inclusive government policies and then I came across your article. Here are my few questions..
    1) You mention about Weak Passports of Asia, Africa, and Middle East and difficulty in getting Rentista visas; does that apply even if the individual can show regular income of over $2000/month?
    2) Do all cities have public transport or is it necessary to own a vehicle?
    3) If I go on a 90 day visa and keep renewing it; can i still open an bank account there?
    Thank you for your excellent article.

  21. Trent Hilderbrand

    Hi, thanks for your info on Argentina. Very detailed. Looking at relocating there and getting a mercosur temp residency initially and then filing for citizenship after the 2 years. Have a lawyer quoting me 2400 to assist with the temp residency for my wife and I and 4000 each for representing us in the courts for citizenship. Does that seem realistic?

  22. Buenas!

    Disfrute mucho tu artículo. Soy de EEUU y vivo en Argentina hace una década.

    Recientemente, estoy pensando volver a mi país y quisiera chalar con alguien quien lo hizo.

    Saludos!

  23. Hi Keith, I was born in Mendoza with Criolla/Italian/Spaniard blood but I have lived in USA most of my adult life, with my North American husband, he is from Chicago…German/French/Lithuanian roots. I used to work for an airline in the USA, so I can fly very cheap from anywhere to anywhere standby at a very low price. I told my husband that I NEED TO LIVE IN ARGENTINA at least 6 months to get it out of my system!!! Every time that we go there I fall in love with my roots!! People are warm, we do fun things, food is great! And I want to buy a car and travel and see as much as I can of my birth country…..He is scare, afraid of the inflation, etc. I even think that maybe it will be great to buy an med size apartment with beautiful vies of the Andes in Mendoza!!! He is afraid to invest!, I sent him your article…I hope that I can convince him!!!

    1. keith travel writer and blogger

      Hi Liliana,
      Argentina is one of the greatest countries on earth with, unfortunately, one of the worst records of governance. Despite the inflation problems (the locals have gotten used to it and learned to deal with it) the country has got so much charm.
      Living with the many problems is the price you pay for living in such a beautiful place. If they could fix the politics and bureaucracy, it would be paradise.

      Those unforgettable years I spent there – good times.

      Six months a year in Argentina? Sounds like a great plan. Sign me up! Hope you get to reconnect with that beautiful chaos for some solid stretches of time. I hope my article helps make that happen 😁

  24. Royascudderr

    Everything is covered with detailed information. All the answers of my questions are here about living in Argentina. Living in Argentina can offer a unique and enriching experience.
    Thanks for giving an amazing article.

  25. David Martin

    Hi Keith
    I enjoyed reading your article and the responses to the comments and questions.
    I am looking into becoming a permanent resident and wanted to learn more about buying/owning property in Argentina (not BA; one of the smaller towns). I have a US military pension to show for the rentista visa, but want to learn if I need to be an Argentine citizen to buy a house and the land it occupies. I’d prefer to work out some sort of permanent residency and retain only my US citizenship. I’m also wanting to find what the income tax rates are if I do take up permanent residency there.

    1. Hi David
      Maybe by the time you read this you will already be living in Argentina, but if you want I can find out and contact you with notaries (property deed lawyers) so they can tell you how to buy a property in Argentina.
      my email: [email protected]
      greetings

  26. Argentines don’ t speak “argentino” , we speak Castellano, and it is a not a “dialect”, it is the official language of Spain,Uruguay and othdr countries.

    There are differences with the Spanish of Mexico or Colombia because castellano is the equivalent if the old Shaeksperean English.

    Other than this, I loved your article, it is very descriptive and very honest😄

    1. keith travel writer and blogger

      My use of the word “Argentino” is tongue-in-cheek.

      Fair point. However, according to Wikipedia, “Rioplatense Spanish distinguishes itself from other dialects of Spanish by the pronunciation of certain consonants.”
      The dictionary definition of dialect is “a particular form of a language which is peculiar to a specific region or social group.”

      Thanks for the kind words. Glad you liked the article.

  27. I visited last year to BA. Ate in several restaurants, never had one good steak. Ordered and eye fillet, received a sirloin, then had to send it back to get cooked properly. In another country I would have got a new steak. The best steak I had there was one I bought in Carrefour and cooked myself.
    Personally, I found the people unfriendly, kinda like the French. Clothes expensive, as was a coffee. The only cheaper thing was wine.
    Full of psychologists who even visit other psychologists for therapy. Does everyone have problems!!
    It’s not that safe, as are other countries in other parts of the world. But then that’s all of central South America.
    I have visited over 70 countries in my lifetime, and lived longterm in a few.
    Believe me, there are much better countries than Argentina. It is on my list of, “Never go back to countries”. The only people who seem to like living there have come from other Latin American countries where it is worse, or escaping their own for some reason or other.

    1. keith travel writer and blogger

      There are some blanket statements there, but in any case, there are plenty of great people in Argentina and France.
      I had a completely different experience. I’ve spent over 5 years in Argentina, and it was probably the best time of my life. I’ve lived all over the world and visited probably a similar number of countries as you have.
      Different strokes for different folks.
      “Much better countries than Argentina” depends entirely on how you define better. One man’s meat is another man’s poison.

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