How far will my money go in Argentina?

[ExiledinSydney]

Hi all.

I've wanted to live in Argentina for a long time. Wish to improve/develop my limited knowledge of Spanish. I'll have a monthly income of aproximately £600-650 (British sterling). Would this enable me to live in Argentina for a few months. Would I need to bring extra savings with me?

Any advice/information provied would be very helpful. Thanks.

 

[PhilipDT]

I'd say yes.

We normally throw around 1500 USD as a minimum and 2500-3000 as very comfortable. Of course your millage may vary but 600GBP is just barely higher than an unskilled job in the 3rd world would pay.

 

[steveinbsas]

Please excuse my "snarkasm" but your money will go about as far here as your spit in the wind.

It just depends on which direction you are facing.

If you are willing to rent a shared flat you may be able to get by, but why would you want to come here for a few months just to live an impoverished lifestyle and have nothing to show for it (financially) at the end of your stay?

Argentina may not be a very good destination for someone who already considers himself an "exile" in Australia.

If you had the ability to save enough money in Australia to come to Argentina please keep in mind that you will probably only spend that money here (perhaps more) and may not be able to augment it while you are in Argentina.

 

[sesamosinsal]

An impoverished lifestyle? Puhlease. As PhilipDT pointed out, 4,000+ ARS is what many people here get as a paycheck every month. While they're not buying up homes in the province of Argentina and flying to Miami every week, they are far from impoverished. The OP explicitly stated that he/she has always wanted to learn Spanish and live in Argentina -- not become the next Warren Buffett.

You can get a decent bedroom in an apartment for 300-400 dollars with all expenses paid. That would leave you with around $600 for living, and I think that's entirely manageable, at least for now. Please keep in mind that inflation is climbing about 25 percent a year, and no one knows what's going to happen after the elections this coming November.

There are also numerous Spanish schools here. Surely you'll be able to find one that suits your needs.

 

[steveinbsas]

An impoverished lifestyle? The OP explicitly stated that he/she has always wanted to learn Spanish and live in Argentina -- not become the next Warren Buffett.

You can get a decent bedroom in an apartment for 300-400 dollars with all expenses paid. That would leave you with around $600 for living, and I think that's entirely manageable.

There are also numerous Spanish schools here. Surely you'll be able to find one that suits your needs.

Warren Buffett?

Where did he come from?

Read the original post again. The OP didn't say always...just a long time.

Too many individuals who have never visited Argentina not only want to live here but actually decide to move here (most of them use that term as opposed to visit)...with no idea what's in store. Most of them leave within a year...with far less money (if any) than when they arrived.

If he/she has enough money to survive here for a few months but can keep the doors open to return to "exile" in Australia then he/she might want to give it a shot.

He/she might find that exile in Australia wasn't so bad after all.

PS: I can live on $600 (dollars) per month, but my house and car are paid for and I never eat in restaurants or go out at night.

It's just me and the dogs and DirecTV.

The 40 fruit trees I planted last year have just begun to blossom and I'm starting to plant the vegetable garden.

Next week I will finish the chicken coop.

And my Spanish is better than ever 'cause no one here speaks English.

 

[ghost]

40 fruit trees and a veggie garden. !!!!!! Steve I'm liking Bahia Blanca even more.

 

[Ashley]

To answer PhilipDT - There are many highly skilled/qualified workers earning just that, not just "unskilled third world workers"!
There are vast differences in earning potential here from one profession to the next that have absolutely nothing to do with either experience or qualifications and I'm afraid that it's a case of lump it, change professions or leave Argentina!
That said, it will be difficult to live on that salary as a single person, especially taking into consideration start-up costs like deposits, finding your way around, going out to socialise, etc.
A lot of Argentines live on that amount but most will either live with parents (or in parent-bought apartments) or have partners/spouses with a higher income.

 

[MizzMarr]

My two cents is that you'd have a very hard time as a single foreigner on that income here. You would absolutely have to rent a shared apartment, and while you could get away with the remaining money for food, going out and generally enjoying your time here (which is why I assume you want to come) you won't have much if any left over, and forget about travel (and make sure you already have a ticket home). Buenos Aires is not an inexpensive place to live anymore!

 

[John.St]

Hi all.

I've wanted to live in Argentina for a long time. Wish to improve/develop my limited knowledge of Spanish. I'll have a monthly income of aproximately £600-650 (British sterling). Would this enable me to live in Argentina for a few months. Would I need to bring extra savings with me?

Any advice/information provied would be very helpful. Thanks.

There is Argentina and then there is Buenos Aíres.

BsAs is generally more expensive, although some of the provinces are expensive too (e.g. the Patagonian ones).

In a small town in several provinces one person can live reasonably well for UK £625 (AR$ 4,100) if you are good at economizing, but expect to cook most or all meals yourself and probably living in a bedsit, sharing an apartment with 1-2-3 others.