The biggest challenge newbies faces here is renting a decent apartment at a decent price. Temporary (furnished) apartments are generally available from one week to six months. The weekly rate can be as much as half the monthly rate, yet still cheaper than a hotel. A foreigner here on a 90 day tourist visa and trying to rent for more than six months is an oddity( though they do exist), and I believe you need to be a "resident" (or have a resident visa) to sign a two year lease, though there are probably a few exceptions to this "rule". (Why would an owner give someone here on a 90 day tourist visa a two year lease in the first place?) Long term rentals are rarely furnished, so anyone renting long term would also have to buy a lot of stuff. What will you do with it when you want to leave? Sell it at a loss? Walk away from it? Anyway, here are some "estimates" for furnished apartments/six month rental: I'm only including San Telmo, Palermo and Recoleta here because that's where the greatest selection of temporary apartments are located. I am applying US standards to all price groups, so "middle class" neighborhoods of Buenos Aires are not included. All figures are in US dollars, and though everything is just my opinion, its based on a lot of market research.
1) Student lifestyle - ie US standards: $400-$600 for a one or two room apartment in San Telmo. $600-$800 for smaller apartment in Recoleta or Palermo. 2) Middle class - ie nice
apartment, occassional nice entertainment etc: $600-$800 for one bedroom in Palermo and $800-$1200 in Recloeta. (San Telmo does not meet US "middle class" standards.) Also, I would exclude the "faculdad de medicina" area of Recoleta...ie between Cordoba and Santa Fe.)
3) Upper Middle class -
ie really nice 2 bedroom place, lots of entertainment etc: $1200-$2,000+ Better sections of Palermo and Recoleta
How much you spend on a daily basis depends on where and what you eat and drink. If you shop carefully and cook at home, eating in Buenos Aires can be cheaper than the US by 30-50%. Even if you eat in restaurants daily, the same rate of "savings" when compared to the US can apply. Not having a car will make a huge difference.
