Argentina isn't the cheapest

[Quilombo]

Great minds think alike. It's amazing to see Thailand mentioned and to even have someone from Thailand that moved to Buenos Aires. I think that's a testament to how wonderful Buenos Aires is. Like you Quilombo, I could easily live in Thailand if not for the humidity. My kids and my wife also loved it. Even with the humidity, I think I could send a few months a year there just for the amazing food. I found the food there amongst the best and cheapest in the world. So flavorful and so many varieties.

I do agree that quality of life in Buenos Aires is just about as good as it gets anywhere. I've been to over 550+ cities and counting and I have yet to find a better overall city when you factor in cultural events, beautiful architecture, weather, safety. quality of life, restaurants, things to do. I think the people are FAR nicer and friendlier in Thailand vs. Buenos Aires. Actually I don't think the people are that friendly in Buenos Aires compared to the majority of South America. For years, Argentines had an attitude and most still think they are "European" vs. the South Americans that they are.

This economic mess has kind of put them in their place. I want to see it do better but as I've always said, I think systemic change is just about impossible unless they blow up many of their existing laws and restructure. An an ideal world, either a country invades them (which I realize won't happen) or they sell themselves to a wealthy country and agree to start ALL over with their laws, and framework. It's really the only way I see systemic change happening.

Still, as messed ups a country as it is. You can live a pretty damn good life there as long as you make $US and spend in pesos. I don't see it changing any time soon.

I'm hoping to take my husband to Thailand at some point in the future, he's way behind me in terms of places visited and it's one of the ones I would't mind revisiting for the reasons you've stated.

Thailand isn't only BKK..? Also no one has mentioned entertainment in Thailand..?

I've been to Bangkok, Surat Thani, Koh Samui, Phuket, and Pattaya, and Pattaya is basically Little Moscow on the beach with ladyboys and Australians on GHB. Not my thing, but there were a lot of white tourists there, silly me thinking they wanted a beach vacation close to Bangkok.

 

[earlyretirement]

Ha, ha. Yes, my personal philosophy in life is 1) don't hurt yourself and 2) don't hurt anyone else. As long as you aren't doing either of the above than NO ONE can judge what a person does. That goes for sexuality also. It's one thing if you're married and should be faithful. It's another thing when you're a bachelor. Sex is too big of a thing in USA and other first world places where they try to shame people into thinking sex is a bad thing. I'm thankful in my youth I traveled the world over and in most of the places I had a lot of fun.

Guys delude themselves into thinking sex is free with non P2P. But in reality you ALWAYS pay. LOL. Prostitution is legal in much of the world. And I don't believe there is anything at all with discussing it as long as you're doing it intelligently. And of course, I mean no disrespect to the females on this forum. But this is just a fact of life and reality. I'm not talking about "passport bros" either. Those guys make me sick. I'm talking about guys that genuinely was to learn about the local culture, take the time to learn the language and want to be a part of society. For guys like that, Buenos Aires and much of South America and Latin America are a paradise.

The reality is once a male goes to destinations where they experience beautiful and loving Latinas, they will never again date an American or Westerner. That's just a fact. A Latina will beat an American/Canadian/British/Australian/etc in almost every way, shape, and form. They are better partners, better lovers, better mothers to kids.

I lived in Buenos Aires during the hey days. We assisted more than 100,000 rental guests and hundreds of investors. Many of them wanted to "have fun" in Buenos Aires. We never judged them and no one should judge anyone for any decisions they want to make. Many times, when they said they wanted to go to a certain club, we called the owners of these establishments and made sure they got a good table, weren't cheated and were respected. We also were very clear to always respect these establishments and the people in them. We would never tolerate anyone disrespecting anyone else. It was a glorious time to live in Buenos Aires.

Right after the corralito was probably THE best time to live in Buenos Aires for a male looking to have fun. The only city I can think of that was better than Buenos Aires was Rio de Janeiro. The days of Help Disco were something to behold. I was single then and I was going back and forth living between Buenos Aires and Rio. It was truly heaven on Earth.

In Thailand my family and I saw lots of people from different backgrounds and sexual orientations all over. We even took our kids to see a fabulous drag show in Phuket that was tastefully done. In all cases, it looked like they were having fun. And in the end, that's what life is all about. As long as you're not hurting yourself or others it's all good. IMHO.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[earlyretirement]

Turkey is the cheapest place to live? This guy doesn't know what he is talking about.

Is it expensive? I've never been there but I'm going in April to Istanbul and Capadoccia. I'm very much looking forward to it.

 

[earlyretirement]

Those in Argentina because it is cheap are gambling that the status quo will be maintained and the misery level for citizens sustained. Making the country more prosperous and alleviating poverty however will result in higher prices, higher wages. The country cannot go on with people earning U$S 200 or less a month.

I've always been one that loves Buenos Aires NOT because it's dirt cheap. Even if it was expensive it would be a world class city. I truly mean that. I'd love it even if it was more expensive. It will NEVER get as expensive as the USA. Things here are out of control. Argentina will NEVER get like that.


Look at the gorgeous architecture. Look at the amazing restaurants. Look at the beautiful parks and the lay out of the city. It's no wonder it was one of the wealthiest countries in the world at the turn of the Century.

I agree with you that the wages are too low. When I employed hundreds there I think I was paying on average like $1,300 US per month. I was paying even maids well over $800 US per month. Plus we got OSDE 410 health plans for all the employees too. They were also working in white and we paid taxes for all of them.

It's crazy now and things must improve. But I don't think it's fair to say people (expats) are only there because it's cheap. I think many people short change Buenos Aires. It's an incredible city. Even if it was US prices, I'd still love it and go down there. Like I said, if you have a paid off place, you can live there for not too much money.

Argentina is an incredible place. I actually hope things improve and things get much more expensive. I have a LOT of friends and even family there and it's painful to see them suffering so much. We all must hope and pray for a better Argentina. Anyone that does not truly doesn't deserve to live there.

Ex-pats that just pray that Argentina's misery and suffering all so they can get a cheap blue dollar deserve to go to hell in my opinion and do NOT deserve to live in Buenos Aires. What good is a cheap place to live if everything is going to sh*t around you. I want to see an Argentina that stops the "brain drain" and the exit of talented and intelligent Argentines. I want to see an Argentina that all that left can can come back to and make a decent living wage.

There has to be a balance of affordable and good for the locals too.

 

[Rich One]

I keep a spreadsheet to rate from 1 to 10 al the items below for other cities v/s Buenos Aires. BA comes always on top (I speak Spanish) . Give it a Try (Not Argentina but BA)

1. Language
2. Culture
3. Cosmopolitan city
4. Health system
5. Connectivity
6. Weather
7. School system
8. Ethnicity
9. Migration Policies
10. Cost of Living

PD: Thailand is Great ..But the culture and language makes it harder to participate in the local culture or see Thai shows, or relate to locals. I visited Thailand at least 8 times . BKK, Chiang Mai/Rai, Pattaya, Phuket, etc.

 

[Rich One]

I'm hoping to take my husband to Thailand at some point in the future, he's way behind me in terms of places visited and it's one of the ones I would't mind revisiting for the reasons you've stated.


I've been to Bangkok, Surat Thani, Koh Samui, Phuket, and Pattaya, and Pattaya is basically Little Moscow on the beach with ladyboys and Australians on GHB. Not my thing, but there were a lot of white tourists there, silly me thinking they wanted a beach vacation close to Bangkok.

Also worth mentioning are the Thai Medical/Dental tours for less expensive Plastic surgery, Plus other mentioned dollar buying power markets.

 

[Redpossum]

I've always been one that loves Buenos Aires NOT because it's dirt cheap. Even if it was expensive it would be a world class city. I truly mean that. I'd love it even if it was more expensive. It will NEVER get as expensive as the USA. Things here are out of control. Argentina will NEVER get like that.


Look at the gorgeous architecture. Look at the amazing restaurants. Look at the beautiful parks and the lay out of the city. It's no wonder it was one of the wealthiest countries in the world at the turn of the Century.

I agree with you that the wages are too low. When I employed hundreds there I think I was paying on average like $1,300 US per month. I was paying even maids well over $800 US per month. Plus we got OSDE 410 health plans for all the employees too. They were also working in white and we paid taxes for all of them.

It's crazy now and things must improve. But I don't think it's fair to say people (expats) are only there because it's cheap. I think many people short change Buenos Aires. It's an incredible city. Even if it was US prices, I'd still love it and go down there. Like I said, if you have a paid off place, you can live there for not too much money.

Argentina is an incredible place. I actually hope things improve and things get much more expensive. I have a LOT of friends and even family there and it's painful to see them suffering so much. We all must hope and pray for a better Argentina. Anyone that does not truly doesn't deserve to live there.

Ex-pats that just pray that Argentina's misery and suffering all so they can get a cheap blue dollar deserve to go to hell in my opinion and do NOT deserve to live in Buenos Aires. What good is a cheap place to live if everything is going to sh*t around you. I want to see an Argentina that stops the "brain drain" and the exit of talented and intelligent Argentines. I want to see an Argentina that all that left can can come back to and make a decent living wage.

There has to be a balance of affordable and good for the locals too.

My, but you do have an impressive list of accomplishments, ER. You have been everywhere and done everything.

 

[sergio]

I've always been one that loves Buenos Aires NOT because it's dirt cheap. Even if it was expensive it would be a world class city. I truly mean that. I'd love it even if it was more expensive. It will NEVER get as expensive as the USA. Things here are out of control. Argentina will NEVER get like that.


Look at the gorgeous architecture. Look at the amazing restaurants. Look at the beautiful parks and the lay out of the city. It's no wonder it was one of the wealthiest countries in the world at the turn of the Century.

I agree with you that the wages are too low. When I employed hundreds there I think I was paying on average like $1,300 US per month. I was paying even maids well over $800 US per month. Plus we got OSDE 410 health plans for all the employees too. They were also working in white and we paid taxes for all of them.

It's crazy now and things must improve. But I don't think it's fair to say people (expats) are only there because it's cheap. I think many people short change Buenos Aires. It's an incredible city. Even if it was US prices, I'd still love it and go down there. Like I said, if you have a paid off place, you can live there for not too much money.

Argentina is an incredible place. I actually hope things improve and things get much more expensive. I have a LOT of friends and even family there and it's painful to see them suffering so much. We all must hope and pray for a better Argentina. Anyone that does not truly doesn't deserve to live there.

Ex-pats that just pray that Argentina's misery and suffering all so they can get a cheap blue dollar deserve to go to hell in my opinion and do NOT deserve to live in Buenos Aires. What good is a cheap place to live if everything is going to sh*t around you. I want to see an Argentina that stops the "brain drain" and the exit of talented and intelligent Argentines. I want to see an Argentina that all that left can can come back to and make a decent living wage.

There has to be a balance of affordable and good for the locals too.

When were you emplying maids for U$S 800? They must be making U$S 200 or less now.

 

[perry]

When were you emplying maids for U$S 800? They must be making U$S 200 or less now.

Anyone can pay someone what they like why does it have to be minumum wage . If you have any semblance of conscience you would pay a liveable wage as to create a better world

 

[lunar]

If you have any semblance of conscience you would pay a liveable wage as to create a better world

Are you paying your maid 800 USD per month, or is that just a general observation?