I moved from the US to Argentina for the lower cost of living

[LuckyLuke]

"When I searched for a new home outside America, I knew I needed a country that allowed longer-term stays, was affordable, and would let me bring a pit bull."

Whoa slow down there Mr. digital nomad, don't set the bar too high now. With such rigid requirements, why not go to South Africa where you can enjoy a stronger dollar and quaint antiquities like "rape gates" in your rental accommodations.

 

[on the brink]

Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, new generation France, UK. I’m Argentine and I can guarantee that we are not that friendly. We got too much of an ego actually!

I've found Spanish, British and Mexican people downright unfriendly, while the French are hostile. Americans, Germans, Belgians and Dutch are plain indifferent.

Canadians and Italians are warm and friendly. And Argentines are very much like the Italians - plus being generous.

 

[Lanick]

To clarify I have some wonderful friendships too but I'm talking about the society as whole.

So true! Society as a whole. They don’t care about their neighbours and make awful noise. No respect to other drivers in traffic or pedestrians. You never can trust them doing business. Try to take advantage of others. There are a lot of rude people. But yes; I know some wonderful people too.

 

[antipodean]

When a place is cheap enough, it is all too easy to overlook its "dark side". The reality is however that "dark side" has always existed, the guy just chose to not to see it or let it affect his “mental health” when he was enjoying his dollar privilege.

These kind of negative expat experiences anywhere in the world often end with the same grass is greener sob-story placing the blame on the host country/ culture or even politicians instead of simply owning up to one’s own errors, misjudgments or simple preferences and priorities. Few/ no places on earth really are for “everyone”, and being an immigrant/ expat is a choice unless you are a legitimate refugee fleeing war, starvation or persecution.

Morals of the story:
- when shopping around, look beyond the price tag
- don’t pin your lifestyle in the long-run to external distortion such as an FX rate (what is cheap today can be expensive tomorrow)
- look at the map before you move (expecting a European-ish standard of life in Latin America on the cheap is too good to be true)
- if you don’t believe in luck, make an effort to integrate and build a social circle, don’t expect people to come to you

I wish him all the best in Albania. Tirana has two or three nice neighborhoods at least. While it is cheap, I personally find it mind-numbingly boring in comparison to Buenos Aires with a far more “closed” and conservative culture… that said the beaches in Albania are x1000000000000 times nicer than any in Argentina.

 

[elhombresinnombre]

Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, new generation France, UK. I’m Argentine and I can guarantee that we are not that friendly. We got too much of an ego actually!

Just out of interest, which route did you eventually take to claim your Argentine citizenship? In the end was it your mother, your wife or your child? Not that it matters now that you have left.

 

[chris]

When a place is cheap enough, it is all too easy to overlook its "dark side". The reality is however that "dark side" has always existed, the guy just chose to not to see it or let it affect his “mental health” when he was enjoying his dollar privilege.

These kind of negative expat experiences anywhere in the world often end with the same grass is greener sob-story placing the blame on the host country/ culture or even politicians instead of simply owning up to one’s own errors, misjudgments or simple preferences and priorities. Few/ no places on earth really are for “everyone”, and being an immigrant/ expat is a choice unless you are a legitimate refugee fleeing war, starvation or persecution.

Morals of the story:
- when shopping around, look beyond the price tag
- don’t pin your lifestyle in the long-run to external distortion such as an FX rate (what is cheap today can be expensive tomorrow)
- look at the map before you move (expecting a European-ish standard of life in Latin America on the cheap is too good to be true)
- if you don’t believe in luck, make an effort to integrate and build a social circle, don’t expect people to come to you

I wish him all the best in Albania. Tirana has two or three nice neighborhoods at least. While it is cheap, I personally find it mind-numbingly boring in comparison to Buenos Aires with a far more “closed” and conservative culture… that said the beaches in Albania are x1000000000000 times nicer than any in Argentina.

Just how cheap is Albania? Is the food any good? I've heard negative comments. Then there is the language to deal with

 

[Stephano]

I've found Spanish, British and Mexican people downright unfriendly, while the French are hostile. Americans, Germans, Belgians and Dutch are plain indifferent.

Canadians and Italians are warm and friendly. And Argentines are very much like the Italians - plus being generous.

I agree with you about Canadians and Italians. Italy in particular has very friendly people, even in the north where folks are considered colder. My problem with the country as an Italian is that I have been living out of it for so long that when I go back I feel oddly out of place.

 

[antipodean]

Just how cheap is Albania? Is the food any good? I've heard negative comments. Then there is the language to deal with

For tourism it is not the cheapest place on earth, especially if you want “nice” things in “nice” parts of town. A night in best hotel in the country around €250-€300. A hair cut is around €10-15. A taxi from the airport to the city around €20. Two beers in a “nice” place around €15. An ok bottle of local wine €10-€30. Museum entries around €7-€10. Food is monotonous, not much international diversity at all. Most all supermarket products are imported and definitely not “cheap” compared to say Spain or Germany. Sure, you might find bread and vegetables for a few euro cents.

The language, like the culture, is its own world entirely - impossible for even Serbian/ Slavic speakers. Young people in Tirana and touristic areas speak decent English, older (40+) not so much. Due to massive levels of emigration, many returnees speak Italian or German instead.

 

[chris]

For tourism it is not the cheapest place on earth, especially if you want “nice” things in “nice” parts of town. A night in best hotel in the country around €250-€300. A hair cut is around €10-15. A taxi from the airport to the city around €20. Two beers in a “nice” place around €15. An ok bottle of local wine €10-€30. Museum entries around €7-€10. Food is monotonous, not much international diversity at all. Most all supermarket products are imported and definitely not “cheap” compared to say Spain or Germany. Sure, you might find bread and vegetables for a few euro cents.

The language, like the culture, is its own world entirely - impossible for even Serbian/ Slavic speakers. Young people in Tirana and touristic areas speak decent English, older (40+) not so much. Due to massive levels of emigration, many returnees speak Italian or German instead.

Doesn't sound very cheap at all for a country that isn't especially interesting

 

[Lanick]

Just out of interest, which route did you eventually take to claim your Argentine citizenship? In the end was it your mother, your wife or your child? Not that it matters now that you have left.

Why you asking if “not that it matters” then? I’m a born Argentine. No routes nothing to claim.