How's everyone hanging in there with the cost of living these days?

[SlowWalker]

While the coffee here is still not great, (unless top quality coffee is purchased at an exorbitant price) I won't switch to tea (well, ice tea is great).

Try and see if there is a local shop that imports coffee and roasts it themselves.
I don't live in BA, but there is a local place that has good Brazilian and Colombian beans, and they roast it here, I think it is in the 36-41k per kg and they will grind it if you like to whatever fineness (depending on how you prepare your coffee).

Don't you just love the peso now trending lower below 1.40. Lol

Again, what's gonna stop it from going to 1 20 by winter here? Now that trump has meleis back the urgency for us dollars is now non existent and speculators dare not fight with unlimited fire power.

Melei can now sell his worthless pesos to keep the peso in line. Im
Getting a gut feeling he will let it go closer to 1.20, exactly where it was prior to the October 2025 crisis. Not sure why he loves the peso so strong ? Its a bizzare policy .

Either way, coupled with this appreciation in the peso and the ever present 10% per month inflation numbers, this place is doomed in the future.

Id say Argentina is around 1995 or 1996 in its countdown to another collapse.

Have fun expats

1) The USD has gotten weaker against the Euro and other currencies by about 5-12% over the last 13 months. If the value of the USD is getting weaker, then it depends if the USD is devaluing faster than the peso.
2) If the peso is getting stronger then that can be the result of two things:
a) both domestic and foreign entities have more faith in the peso and the government and the economy and thus are willing to hold pesos vs dollars, or
b) people are selling dollars from savings to spend in pesos thus making the peso more in demand.
If its b) then there are other questions to follow regarding the trajectory of the economy. Keep in mind, although much of the economy functions off digital wallets, I don't know how much all that data is used. Given that over 50% is informal economy it makes it difficult to get perfect understanding.
3) Argentina exports resources and agriculture products, which the value is set in international markets and there is strong global demand. They are not a manufacturing and exporting economy, so a weaker dollar doesn't necessarily help as much as people would like it to.
4) Considering that the Blue Dollar got up to the 1400s in June of 2024, it goes to show that things have steadied out which is a good thing. It was the fear of the left gaining power that weakened the peso and drove the economy to a halt in Q3-2025.
5) Where are the 10% monthly inflation numbers? Can you provide a reference for this? I don't think anyone is observing this anymore.
6) It sounds like you were just happy when the government was subsidizing your lifestyle here. If you are not happy here, then can I ask why do you stay?

 

[BA Bike Guy]

Hey Bike Guy. Born and raised in Philly, too. Lived in Logan, then moved to Cheltenham Township. And you?

Old City for a bit and now Dickinson Square West for past 10 years. Trying to split time in BA and PHL 50/50, maybe more if I can AirBnB my PHL house more. Makes a huge difference. Going back to PHL in a few weeks and am going to dread the groceries expense....and healthcare, and utilities.... and....

 

[ksm76]

Try and see if there is a local shop that imports coffee and roasts it themselves.
I don't live in BA, but there is a local place that has good Brazilian and Colombian beans, and they roast it here, I think it is in the 36-41k per kg and they will grind it if you like to whatever fineness (depending on how you prepare your coffee).


1) The USD has gotten weaker against the Euro and other currencies by about 5-12% over the last 13 months. If the value of the USD is getting weaker, then it depends if the USD is devaluing faster than the peso.
2) If the peso is getting stronger then that can be the result of two things:
a) both domestic and foreign entities have more faith in the peso and the government and the economy and thus are willing to hold pesos vs dollars, or
b) people are selling dollars from savings to spend in pesos thus making the peso more in demand.
If its b) then there are other questions to follow regarding the trajectory of the economy. Keep in mind, although much of the economy functions off digital wallets, I don't know how much all that data is used. Given that over 50% is informal economy it makes it difficult to get perfect understanding.
3) Argentina exports resources and agriculture products, which the value is set in international markets and there is strong global demand. They are not a manufacturing and exporting economy, so a weaker dollar doesn't necessarily help as much as people would like it to.
4) Considering that the Blue Dollar got up to the 1400s in June of 2024, it goes to show that things have steadied out which is a good thing. It was the fear of the left gaining power that weakened the peso and drove the economy to a halt in Q3-2025.
5) Where are the 10% monthly inflation numbers? Can you provide a reference for this? I don't think anyone is observing this anymore.
6) It sounds like you were just happy when the government was subsidizing your lifestyle here. If you are not happy here, then can I ask why do you stay?

The USD Depreciation usually has no effect on the Peso in Argentina as Argentina is in a league of it's own. It's currency is heavily restricted and has capital controls. All of Argentina as far as I'm concerned is not worth investing and the international community agrees with me. The international community only puts their money into financial assets, i.e The current carry trade that is making the peso strengthen and into the stock market, minimally. These can be bought and sold in an instant and preserve the capital of the investor. However, boots on the ground will never ever happen, because the mindset of Argentinians to go back on their word in the future remains a high risk headache. Nobody in their right mind will put one dime into Argentina and if they do, I guarantee they are getting a huge incentive and their risk is probably nil. In order for Argentina to make it great in the future it's gonna need, Tech, energy and mining to push it into another level{higher paying jobs} and for that to happen it needs foreign investment to which will never come because Argentina has burned to many bridges along with a mindset of...."Nahhh, lets just not uphold our end of the deal" It's a cultural mindset that prevails among the overall population. Currency controls, ever changing political instability and credibility lost, which won't come back for a very, very long time. Milei will win again in 2027 but once a crisis brews, growth stalls and trump is no longer the baby milk for the pathetic political inept here, the left will regain again and then the collapse will come but this time the collapse will be because milei did nothing but manipulate the currency and had no plan just like Menem in the 1990's. The analogy is shockingly similar and amazingly Menem is Mileis hero. People never learn. It's alarming.

As far as me, again you fools here Project alot. My lifestyle never depends on Government handouts and is 100% governed by me and trust me, my lifestyle is quite nice to put it bluntly. I'm not here as an expat but for just a short(leaving by winter) while as imho you gotta be a fool to stay long term here considering what damage Milei is doing to the country. Putting aside Milei though, I'm just not a fan of the food, quality, and lack of moral compass of prices/business deals etc. It feels like a scam based country/economy to be very honest. However I do like the weather and the city is beautiful to walk around. I also find as a foreigner it's very hard to mix or to be accepted into their so called groups. Here I feel like I'm looked down on, compared to lets say BRAZIL, where being a foreigner is actually seen as a step up for the majority of the population there. I see no upsides staying here longer than a short while. For those that are on a fixed income and do stay here, I pray that you have a plan, as the coming price increases will continue despite the fake inflation numbers that are a complete fraud. Beef is up 100%(some places even more) since a year ago and restaurants are up 100% as well from a year ago, yet the peso has only devalued 20% to 30% since then(riddle me that one). All you have to do is record the prices now and one year later look at the prices in 2027. This is what I did and I came up with around 10% total inflation per month since Feb 2025, year over year. I don't pay attention to the scam "official numbers" we all know those are skewed for the political power at the time. It's a long standing truth in Argentina. They even got caught years ago fixing the numbers. It's all out there. The USA now is doing same thing under Trump.

Argentina has enormous potential but the issue with Argentina is sadly it's people at the top, they are greedy, don't have pride for their own country and want power regardless if it puts the regular person poor for generations to come. Sad but very very true.

 

[FlowerPot]

Coffee and a medialuna at Milanga on Av Corrientes (1500 block, I think) cost $2.400. If you don't want a medialuna and just order coffee, it'll cost you $2.800!! Gotta love it !

The way I see it is that restaurants here prefer adding more to the plate for a higher price rather than offering less for a smaller portion/less items. Not sure if that made sense

 

[FrankPintor]

Brazilians’ “mongrel complex” weaponized I don’t know why anyone here would consider themselves a step up from Brazilians.

 

[nikad]

The USD Depreciation usually has no effect on the Peso in Argentina as Argentina is in a league of it's own. It's currency is heavily restricted and has capital controls. All of Argentina as far as I'm concerned is not worth investing and the international community agrees with me. The international community only puts their money into financial assets, i.e The current carry trade that is making the peso strengthen and into the stock market, minimally. These can be bought and sold in an instant and preserve the capital of the investor. However, boots on the ground will never ever happen, because the mindset of Argentinians to go back on their word in the future remains a high risk headache. Nobody in their right mind will put one dime into Argentina and if they do, I guarantee they are getting a huge incentive and their risk is probably nil. In order for Argentina to make it great in the future it's gonna need, Tech, energy and mining to push it into another level{higher paying jobs} and for that to happen it needs foreign investment to which will never come because Argentina has burned to many bridges along with a mindset of...."Nahhh, lets just not uphold our end of the deal" It's a cultural mindset that prevails among the overall population. Currency controls, ever changing political instability and credibility lost, which won't come back for a very, very long time. Milei will win again in 2027 but once a crisis brews, growth stalls and trump is no longer the baby milk for the pathetic political inept here, the left will regain again and then the collapse will come but this time the collapse will be because milei did nothing but manipulate the currency and had no plan just like Menem in the 1990's. The analogy is shockingly similar and amazingly Menem is Mileis hero. People never learn. It's alarming.

As far as me, again you fools here Project alot. My lifestyle never depends on Government handouts and is 100% governed by me and trust me, my lifestyle is quite nice to put it bluntly. I'm not here as an expat but for just a short(leaving by winter) while as imho you gotta be a fool to stay long term here considering what damage Milei is doing to the country. Putting aside Milei though, I'm just not a fan of the food, quality, and lack of moral compass of prices/business deals etc. It feels like a scam based country/economy to be very honest. However I do like the weather and the city is beautiful to walk around. I also find as a foreigner it's very hard to mix or to be accepted into their so called groups. Here I feel like I'm looked down on, compared to lets say BRAZIL, where being a foreigner is actually seen as a step up for the majority of the population there. I see no upsides staying here longer than a short while. For those that are on a fixed income and do stay here, I pray that you have a plan, as the coming price increases will continue despite the fake inflation numbers that are a complete fraud. Beef is up 100%(some places even more) since a year ago and restaurants are up 100% as well from a year ago, yet the peso has only devalued 20% to 30% since then(riddle me that one). All you have to do is record the prices now and one year later look at the prices in 2027. This is what I did and I came up with around 10% total inflation per month since Feb 2025, year over year. I don't pay attention to the scam "official numbers" we all know those are skewed for the political power at the time. It's a long standing truth in Argentina. They even got caught years ago fixing the numbers. It's all out there. The USA now is doing same thing under Trump.

Argentina has enormous potential but the issue with Argentina is sadly it's people at the top, they are greedy, don't have pride for their own country and want power regardless if it puts the regular person poor for generations to come. Sad but very very true.

It is amazing how much in depth knowledge you seem to have about Argentina's politics, economy, finances, food, businesses, culture, past and future as a passerby. Why join and bother posting in some expatriate forum if you don't mind me asking?

 

[Rich One]

The way I see it is that restaurants here prefer adding more to the plate for a higher price rather than offering less for a smaller portion/less items. Not sure if that made sense

I miss cafes near Burbank studios offering Senior Early Bird Specials 2x1 at 5 pm. For a fixed menu

 

[Rich One]

Ministro Sturzenegger told workers, don't feel oppressed members of the Proletariat. Look at it this way "You are buying pesos" from factory owners.

 

[ksm76]

It is amazing how much in depth knowledge you seem to have about Argentina's politics, economy, finances, food, businesses, culture, past and future as a passerby. Why join and bother posting in some expatriate forum if you don't mind me asking?

There is actually more to it, for me to post. I know an Argentinian that moved to the USA after the collapse in the early 2000's. The destruction back then is put under the rug and is not appreciated at the extent of the horror people went through. Many people lost generational wealth, all because of what Menem did in the 1990's. I've always been curious about why Argentina is the way it is, for so long. It really doesn't fit the bill of a high inflationary cycle country. It's deeper. It 's cultural. I wanted to see what's going on and for more than a month here, to get a grip on everything. I'm also in Finance. In short, I'm seeing the same mistake that was created in the 1990's here now in 2026 and it all started with Milei, or should I call him Menem 2.0.

Anyways, people love to ignore any negativity and claim everything will be fine but the contrary is on the horizon for expats now and then the entire population probably in the 2030's. A repeat of the early 2000's is inevitable.

Expats moving here or are here already really need to see the forest through the trees and see the evidence now. Things will get much, much more expensive in the future but if you can ride it out the collapse will bring affordability to you and cause amazing growth for Argentina after the collapse is over.

 

[nikad]

There is actually more to it, for me to post. I know an Argentinian that moved to the USA after the collapse in the early 2000's. The destruction back then is put under the rug and is not appreciated at the extent of the horror people went through. Many people lost generational wealth, all because of what Menem did in the 1990's. I've always been curious about why Argentina is the way it is, for so long. It really doesn't fit the bill of a high inflationary cycle country. It's deeper. It 's cultural. I wanted to see what's going on and for more than a month here, to get a grip on everything. I'm also in Finance. In short, I'm seeing the same mistake that was created in the 1990's here now in 2026 and it all started with Milei, or should I call him Menem 2.0.

Anyways, people love to ignore any negativity and claim everything will be fine but the contrary is on the horizon for expats now and then the entire population probably in the 2030's. A repeat of the early 2000's is inevitable.

Expats moving here or are here already really need to see the forest through the trees and see the evidence now. Things will get much, much more expensive in the future but if you can ride it out the collapse will bring affordability to you and cause amazing growth for Argentina after the collapse is over.

It is very unfortunate but true, the fact that relatively recent events such as 2001 mega crisis are forgotten. I believe this is a sign of the times (worldwide). As for the country's finances and ecomomics, tbere is a reason why it is regarded as a leading case and studied in universities around the world as it seems to be somewhat unique. I guess multiple factors are at play and give Argentina as a whole as a result, with its good and bad.

As for expats here, it is always a choice and the majority are fortunate enough to have a plan B and return to their home country if Argentina doesn't add up. It is not about the money for most expats currently here I guess.