How much to live?

[petarro]

Hi,

I'm a Costa Rican, planning to move to work in Buenos Aires with my company. I live in Prague, CZ and have a good, nice life... Yet, the people and Language are not that friendly...

So, about moving to BA, sounds quite all right... Can anyone put my feet on the ground and tell me:

- How much do I need to live (me, wife, 2 baby boys)
- I plan to live in a nice-OK, safe part of the City, or if better, outside the City? Is it possible? we like a nice apartment over going out and spend...
- We eat outside only 4-5 times per Month.
- My wife is a specialist in Pre-K, baby development, etc... Is that something abundant in BA? Needed?
- How much are Pre-K? Spanish speaking are OK, but good... English speaking?
- Do I need a car? I dont have one here cause the metro is the best...
- Is it safe?

Thanks in Advance!!

 

[French jurist]

Hi,
- How much do I need to live (me, wife, 2 baby boys)
- I plan to live in a nice-OK, safe part of the City, or if better, outside the City? Is it possible? we like a nice apartment over going out and spend...
- We eat outside only 4-5 times per Month.
- My wife is a specialist in Pre-K, baby development, etc... Is that something abundant in BA? Needed?
- How much are Pre-K? Spanish speaking are OK, but good... English speaking?
- Do I need a car? I dont have one here cause the metro is the best...
- Is it safe?
!

You'll get many answers, here is one to make a synthesis.

- I plan to live in a nice-OK, safe part of the City, or if better, outside the City? Is it possible? we like a nice apartment over going out and spend...
"Nice-OK" are not the fanciests like Recoleta or Puerto Madero but it's barrios like Barrio Norte, Palermo, Belgrano.
A 2 BR + living room about 80/90 square meters should turn around 2500 pesos with expensas included. Of course, it can be priced around 2000 or for more like 3000.

- Do I need a car? I dont have one here cause the metro is the best...
You do not need a car with two baby boys.

- Is it safe?
It is safe if you have the right behavior (like in any major city)

- We eat outside only 4-5 times per Month.
A nice restaurant doesn't need to be expensive (try guiaoleo on the web). For two with a bottle of wine, expect 150 pesos per dinner, for two.

- My wife is a specialist in Pre-K, baby development, etc... Is that something abundant in BA? Needed?
Can't answer for sure but my guess is that it's a good field to work on.

- How much do I need to live (me, wife, 2 baby boys)
Now the trickiest (not including trips nor extras, just life in the city) :
- Rent 2500
- Bills (electricity, water, gas) 250
- 5x restaurants for two 750
- Food : 80 per day with two babies ? 2400
- Medical insurance : maybe around 700/800 (since you have babies you likely are below 35)
- Cabs : 12 a month around 20 pesos each ride, 240
- Diapers, cleaning products, ... 450 a month
That brings about 7000 to 7500 pesos to live a comfortable middle class life (high middle class for Argentinean standards) and that's a minimum.

 

[AlexfromLA]

$ 7500 pesos a month for a family of four is pretty cheap if you ask me. I'd honestly say at least about $ 5000 USD to live a mid range quality lifestyle.

 

[French jurist]

$ 7500 pesos a month for a family of four is pretty cheap if you ask me. I'd honestly say at least about $ 5000 USD to live a mid range quality lifestyle.

Well I mention 7500 pesos just for the life, without extras (vacations, RT tickets to visit the family, recitals, ...).
- If you had 3 weeks of vacations a year that's 6000 dollars (20.000 pesos)
- 2x4 RT tickets to Costa Rica : likely 8000 dollars a year (30.000 pesos)
- Recitals, gifts, unexpected : 1000 pesos a month.

Therefore yes, with those extras, one family of 4 needs to make around 12.000 pesos a month.
5.000 dollars and you live very comfortably by local standards.

 

[French jurist]

Anyway, it's always the same debate when it comes to discuss budget.
Everytime you will find two or more "schools", some saying you can live on a low budget while the others will say it's impossible.

Once someone knows where to buy things here, it's possible to spend up to 800% (eight hundred percent !) less on certain products.

Just an example :
- A pack of rucula (kind of spicy salad) costs 9.89$ at Jumbo, I buy the same salad even fresher for just 1 peso from my local bolivian merchant.
- A camembert found at 21$ at Carrefour Vicente Lopez costs 10.50$ (same brand) at my local delicatessen.
- Top quality meat will be bought about 50% less depending on where you buy it.

Well, of course I now live in the provincia (hence the 1 peso rucula ! But that's quite a difference), but I've been living for 5 years in the fancy recoleta in a kind of penthouse, last floor, 5 ambientes, 50 square meters of terrace that I was paying 3000 pesos, charges included, back in 2008 !

 

[citygirl]

As always - I will point out that $2500 pesos per month for an apt ONLY exists if you have a guarantia or manage to get the deal of a lifetime. So the OP needs to determine if his company will stand as guarantor for him.
*If so, you will still need to furnish the apartment. Beds, chairs, refrigerator, everything. It's expensive.

If you are renting a short-term apt, rent for a 2 BR in a nice section of town will average about 1500 USD and up. (yes there are deals, yes you can find one cheaper but yes, that is an average price).

 

[SaraSara]

The OP says he wants to have a "nice" life. For four people, that takes about US$5,000/month. It will soon be more, with the dollar stuck at around four pesos and the local 30%/yr inflation rate.

 

[AlexfromLA]

A friend of mine who got married here in Argentina and has a family of four used to live in Pilar. I know for a fact he was spending at least about $ 5000 USD a month and sometimes more. Rent, ABL, utilities, car insurance, car ABL,, maintenance on your property and your car, gardener, schools for the kids, nanny, maid, food, health insurance, money for clothes, traveling entertainment, incidentals, unexpected extraordinary expenses etc.

Lol. Should I go on ?

I mean I'm sure you can live like a vegan hermit with your family for $ 2000 usd but if you want a nice middle class lifestyle, you are looking at substantially more.

Hell, I'm single and I easily spend at least around $ 2500-3000 usd a month. And I don't even rent.

 

[GuilleGee]

A friend of mine who got married here in Argentina and has a family of four used to live in Pilar. I know for a fact he was spending at least about $ 5000 USD a month and sometimes more. Rent, ABL, utilities, car insurance, car ABL,, maintenance on your property and your car, gardener, schools for the kids, nanny, maid, food, health insurance, money for clothes, traveling entertainment, incidentals, unexpected extraordinary expenses etc.

Funny that he was living in Pilar and paying ABL... Get your facts straight.

You will do fine here, as long as you control your expenses you can make it work on whatever your budget may be.

 

[AlexfromLA]

You should learn to read. I was simply listing all the things that a person can and will usually pay on any given month. And ABL is one of them.

In my friends particular case, I forgot to add " Country Club " expenses. And i'm sure there are alot of other things he paid that im not aware of. So if you're going to try and correct me, do it properly. My facts are pretty straight.

I'm sure you can ask him yourself if you want more specifics, he's a forum member.

Funny that he was living in Pilar and paying ABL... Get your facts straight.

Oh yeah, please enlighten me as to why he WOULDN'T be paying ABL ?

Waiting .