I bought my 73 meter Recoleta apartment (Aranales and Junin) in October 2006. Prior to the closing the real estate agent "said" the espensas were $350 per month, but the first factura I received was for $450. They have been as high as $800 in recent months, but last month dropped to $725. The entry hall has many sections that have lost paint due to humidity and the rest is a grimy, sooty and un-cleanable-mess, especially where the weekend portera rests her head against the wall. It looks just as it did before I bought it (the real estate agent "said" they were getting ready to paint before I moved in).
A year ago the consorcio wouldn't pay half when I offered to pay the other half of the cost of repairing and painting the entry hall. Recently, I offered to pay the entire cost of repainting the entry hall in order to sell my apartment, and I think that was a very important factor in closing the sale. Prior to signing the contract to buy my apartment the soon to be new owner expressed "concern" about the espensas being so high. I can foresee another big increase in the future, just like Sergio's.
The two biggest expenses are for the porteras and elevator maintenance. The fees do not include cable, heat or hot water. There are 16 units in the building (which also badly needs painting of the exterior). One owner owes over $60,000 pesos in back fees and penalties. Of course the portera who lives in the building doesn't spend much of her "official" time in the hall or at the door, but peeks out like a rodent from her itty-bitty hole in the wall (free) apartment when she hears someone enter the building or descend in the elevator.
On a more positive note, the monthly espensas of my PH in Belgrano will be ZERO.