How many of us are still here?

[Ronnie Hotdogs]

Pros;
Family
Social life
Weather
Own a house here

Cons;
Got a bit expensive

 

[on the brink]

With so much going on, I'm reviving this thread. I'd rephrase it: WHY are you still here? For those from the US, it seems a weak argument that it's an escape from US politics when the political climate in Argentina has changed so radically.

The political climate may have changed, but its bitterness has not affected most Argentines. They remain warm, generous and, by and large, amazingly happy.

On the other hand, the US has been torn apart by the hatred sown by politicians and the partisan news media, a hatred which has filtered down to the populace.

 

[Ries]

we are still here, more than ever, both in years served (18) amount per year spent in Argentina (6 months minimum PA) and love of the country.
The political climate in Argentina is not anywhere near as radically changed as in the USA.
Milei has no functioning political party, no majority in either house, and many jurists rule against him routinely.
There are virtually no guns on the streets, and no masked unmarked individuals kidnapping people and deporting them.

The economic climate is a mess.
In both places.
still, many of my actual expenses, apples to apples, are much less in Argentina.
Obviously, not chinese electronics or german cars...


I lead a much healthier, happier live in Argentina.
I have a lot of friends, and attend all kinds of events, mostly free or extremely reasonable.
I like Argentina, and, if anything, will be becoming MORE a resident here, rather than less.

But I never came for "cheap".
I bought an apartment in Buenos Aires because I love it, and would not want to live elsewhere- no Portugal or Thailand or Columbia for me.

 

[CTMetsFan]

I was the victim of a house invasion six weeks ago. Assaulted, restrained, gagged etc. The Porteño friends I have made in the year and a half I have lived here, gave me an outpouring of love and support that I doubt I would have received from 50+ year friends in the US. Many prices have skyrocketed since 2023, I won’t even think about since 2004 when I first visited, but overall it still costs me less to live than in greater NY. For me, despite all the economic and governmental Kafka-esque bureaucratic nightmares, I would not consider leaving. And I certainly would not return to the US which has become the land of hatred, xenophobia and division.

 

[sergio]

Well, I bought a house here in December, so I am not going anywhere. For me, it wasn’t just about the cost of living. The relative freedom from homophobia, racism and transphobia is worth something!

You are from NYC? It's so bad there?

 

[Bajo_cero2]

how many expats do you think left in the past year? as cost of living here is as much or greater than the US, what percentage of people do you imagine have left? has there been a slow down on acitivty of this forum , for a good metric?
I know i came here and fell in love, and moved definitely in great part due to the great buying power. Now if i had not married here, made great friends, and generally built a fulfilling life here that goes far beyond money value, in the past 3 years since i've moved, possibly i would not still be here.

At the end of the day, the expats were better with CFK and AF. Those who supported Milei shot themselves in the foot.

 

[Ries]

Obviously, Argentina politicians are not basing any policy on whats good for expats.
Personally, I prefer policies that are good for all argentines.
I benefit more from that than roller coaster exchange rates. Yes, sometimes it has been cheaper here in dollars, other times less so.
If the country has low unemployment, fair taxes, a good economy, a functioning manufacturing and export sector, both my day to day life and real estate values do better.

 

[elhombresinnombre]

Still dividing our time between Argentina and the UK but as new grandchildren keep appearing in obscure corners of the globe we are spending somewhat less time in both

 

[Che1990]

Obviously, Argentina politicians are not basing any policy on whats good for expats.
Personally, I prefer policies that are good for all argentines.
I benefit more from that than roller coaster exchange rates. Yes, sometimes it has been cheaper here in dollars, other times less so.
If the country has low unemployment, fair taxes, a good economy, a functioning manufacturing and export sector, both my day to day life and real estate values do better.

totally how I see it, those of us who are here long time- my other half earns in pesos - benefit from the country doing well and living standards being better, even if that means we have less cheap costs than at times with cepo and dolar blue.

 

[Redpossum]

At the end of the day, the expats were better with CFK and AF. Those who supported Milei shot themselves in the foot.

VERY true, Bajo!

If the country has low unemployment, fair taxes, a good economy, a functioning manufacturing and export sector, both my day to day life and real estate values do better.

Obviously, none of those things are true now...