A coffee for $3.50: Argentina is the most expensive country in Latin America

[Redpossum]

Lots of good comments. Yes, it’s expensive now (not the most expensive in the world, but definitely pricey) - but what makes that magnified is how expensive it is relative to salaries. Salaries have to come up, otherwise you will wipe out the middle class. I also think this period is part of instability - it’s too expensive now - but it’s been too cheap for too long. Some of what Milei is trying to do is good - you have to start chipping away at the huge government; the “plans” for almost everyone; the free education and medical care for non-citizens; etc. - you don’t have enough government income to pay for all of these benefits. The peso is overvalued - he’s worked hard to rein in inflation but that’s done nothing to help people afford to live.

Who gets to decide what is too cheap? Why should cost of living be a major burden? In most places it is, but it doesn't have to be, and it shouldn't be.

 

[steveinbsas]

I think there is a huge difference between saying "there are other countries where things are cheaper than Argentina"
and
"Buenos Aires is the most expensive on the planet"

the first is obviously true.
the second is hyperbole.

Unless my reading skills have failed horribly, it appears to me me that the title of the article in the first post of this thread literally reads that "Argentina is the most expensive country in Latin America," not that "Buenos Aires is the most expensive (city) on the planet."

I don't recall anyone ever asserting that it is, and even though my COL (without rent and with food and utilities priced almost equal to CABA) trippled in USD in 2024 (from $165 to $495 USD per month), I have no desire to live anywhere else on the planet, let alone in any other Latin American country, even if any (if not many) of them currently have a lower COL.

 

[Ries]

Unless my reading skills have failed horribly, it appears to me me that the title of the article in the first post of this thread literally reads that "Argentina is the most expensive country in Latin America," not that "Buenos Aires is the most expensive (city) on the planet."

I don't recall anyone ever asserting that it is, and even though my COL (without rent and with food and utilities priced almost equal to CABA) trippled in USD in 2024 (from $165 to $495 USD per month), I have no desire to live anywhere else on the planet, let alone in any other Latin American country, even if any (if not many) of them currently have a lower COL.

read post #24, which says exactly that. its what I was responding to.

 

[mikic007]

Who gets to decide what is too cheap? Why should cost of living be a major burden? In most places it is, but it doesn't have to be, and it shouldn't be.

It was "too" cheap for people with foreign currency, for Argentines, at least most of them, have never been too cheap.

If we take Europe as an example, let's say Spain, because it's somewhat in the middle, has similar taxation, labour laws etc. At the end of 2023 before devaluation, prices were approximately 20 to 50% lower here. Now they are around that much higher. Argentines are suffering, but their perception is blurred, because salaries went a bit higher, they are used for prices to jump... Bigger difference is of course for people with foreign currencies, because we were not used to be on receiving end, and now prices are objectively too high, comparing to many developed countries.

And it's not the same even for Argentines, some are getting rises and are maybe even better off than before, while majority is really struggling. Strange is the lack of complaining to me, but I guess it was always like this...

 

[FrankPintor]

I was in Brazil for a conference and went to the pharmacy as I had run out of one of my medications.

90 pills, 3 month's supply: $3.49 USD

Meanwhile, here in Argentina, 50 pills, not even 2 months' worth is $20,809.25 ARS ($17.34 USD)

I have to go back next month and I'm thinking of brining back basically all my medications, antiperspirants, food, everything I can since it's so much cheaper there.

According to this report, the prices of medications have increased by less than the IPC:

Cuánto subieron los medicamentos en la Argentina durante el último año

Los precios de los productos farmacéuticos se movieron por debajo de la inflación, según un informe privado en base al Indec. Perspectivas para los próximos meses

www-infobae-com.translate.goog

I don't pretend to understand, even taking into account the overvalued Peso (20%?), prices haven't increased by much more than the IPC. I did notice one thing, though, using this page: https://www.argentina.gob.ar/precios-de-medicamentos, you can see that there are huge variations in prices between different laboratories.

 

[perry]

I was in San Telmo today once known to be a working class suburb . It was mainly empty everywhere very unusual for a Friday but with the prices on offer I could clearly see why .

These are some examples from a icrecream shop Lucianos . One icecream cone medium size 5600 pesos . One kilo of icecream 16000 pesos . One icepop 5800 pesos basically iced water and coloring . This is the link for its products take away . I looked online in Europe and everything was 50% cheaper in Italy Greece and United Kingdom

This is just one company in United Kingdom doing a similar product and it was less than 50 percent in us dollars.

The Real Italian Ice Cream Company Menu & Prices - Bath Delivery - Order with Uber Eats

Use your Uber account to order delivery from The Real Italian Ice Cream Company in Bath. Browse the menu, view popular items and track your order.

www.ubereats.com

Productos

Lucciano´s es una empresa familiar que nace a partir del deseo de atender al segmento de consumidores más exigentes de helado artesanal de nuestro país.

tienda.luccianos.net

I went inside the san telmo market mainly empty . A coffee at coffe store take away 4500 pesos . a kilo of bananas 3500 from a normal verduleria . un kilo of chicken milanesa from a chicken shop 11000 pesos . Lunch specials were 18000 pesos for a milenesa or a tarta de espinaca or a pasta dish . Meat dishes of 200 grams were minimum24000 pesos and in the restaurant Hierro 48000 pesos for a steak . All empty . Now I looked online at 5 major food markets in Madrid . Melbourne Australia . Athens . Roma . Los Angeles and in all cases prices were significantly less and portion sizes significantly larger!

 

[chris]

I think there is a huge difference between saying "there are other countries where things are cheaper than Argentina"
and
"Buenos Aires is the most expensive on the planet"

the first is obviously true.
the second is hyperbole.

Many things are expensive here. Much more than they used to be, and more than in many other places.
Other things are less expensive than in many first world cities.
Both of these can be true at the same time.

I am here because I love it, because I have over 15 years of history, friends, and a home.
I am not happy, just as no one is, with how completely screwed the economy is.

but there are still many cities where many things are much more expensive than here.

I maintain, as I have here for years, that, until Argentina has a completeTax Reform, and a National Industrial Policy, nothing much will change.
The problem is that the ultra wealthy have no interest in either.
Milei doesnt believe in either at all.
The congress is deadlocked.

Actually things HAVE changed a lot. It's now very expensive!

 

[chris]

Unless my reading skills have failed horribly, it appears to me me that the title of the article in the first post of this thread literally reads that "Argentina is the most expensive country in Latin America," not that "Buenos Aires is the most expensive (city) on the planet."

I don't recall anyone ever asserting that it is, and even though my COL (without rent and with food and utilities priced almost equal to CABA) trippled in USD in 2024 (from $165 to $495 USD per month), I have no desire to live anywhere else on the planet, let alone in any other Latin American country, even if any (if not many) of them currently have a lower COL.

I wonder if most expats feel that way. Maybe people can tell us just how expensive it has to get before they give up and leave.

 

[chris]

It was "too" cheap for people with foreign currency, for Argentines, at least most of them, have never been too cheap.

If we take Europe as an example, let's say Spain, because it's somewhat in the middle, has similar taxation, labour laws etc. At the end of 2023 before devaluation, prices were approximately 20 to 50% lower here. Now they are around that much higher. Argentines are suffering, but their perception is blurred, because salaries went a bit higher, they are used for prices to jump... Bigger difference is of course for people with foreign currencies, because we were not used to be on receiving end, and now prices are objectively too high, comparing to many developed countries.

And it's not the same even for Argentines, some are getting rises and are maybe even better off than before, while majority is really struggling. Strange is the lack of complaining to me, but I guess it was always like this...

Aside maybe from some very wealthy business people, are there really people who are now better off?

 

[Redpossum]

I was in San Telmo today once known to be a working class suburb . It was mainly empty everywhere very unusual for a Friday but with the prices on offer I could clearly see why .

These are some examples from a icrecream shop Lucianos . One icecream cone medium size 5600 pesos . One kilo of icecream 16000 pesos . One icepop 5800 pesos basically iced water and coloring . This is the link for its products take away . I looked online in Europe and everything was 50% cheaper in Italy Greece and United Kingdom

This is just one company in United Kingdom doing a similar product and it was less than 50 percent in us dollars.

The Real Italian Ice Cream Company Menu & Prices - Bath Delivery - Order with Uber Eats

Use your Uber account to order delivery from The Real Italian Ice Cream Company in Bath. Browse the menu, view popular items and track your order.

www.ubereats.com

Productos

Lucciano´s es una empresa familiar que nace a partir del deseo de atender al segmento de consumidores más exigentes de helado artesanal de nuestro país.

tienda.luccianos.net

I went inside the san telmo market mainly empty . A coffee at coffe store take away 4500 pesos . a kilo of bananas 3500 from a normal verduleria . un kilo of chicken milanesa from a chicken shop 11000 pesos . Lunch specials were 18000 pesos for a milenesa or a tarta de espinaca or a pasta dish . Meat dishes of 200 grams were minimum24000 pesos and in the restaurant Hierro 48000 pesos for a steak . All empty . Now I looked online at 5 major food markets in Madrid . Melbourne Australia . Athens . Roma . Los Angeles and in all cases prices were significantly less and portion sizes significantly larger!

Those prices are crazy! The San Telmo market has always been expensive, but the prices you are quoting are just off the hook. No wonder the place was empty. I mean, 48K for a steak, who's going to pay that?

I wonder if most expats feel that way. Maybe people can tell us just how expensive it has to get before they give up and leave.

Something has to give soon. There's no way this can continue until the end of the year. I just had my rent raised again, the third time in the last year.