Is Argentina Still a Good Deal?

[Jimbob]

Thank you. I really can’t wait to leave CABA for Tigre/Nordelta.

My experience here is that kiosko prices are higher than CABA so read into that what you will. But on the Tigre bit, it's just beautiful here. I love Capital but I would never go back to live there.

 

[Rich One]

I never bothered before but now I realise that I have to get those credit/debit cards that offer discounts at restaurants and retail. Yesterday had sushi in Las Canitas and nothing crazy. No alcohol and it was 112.000. Had I had a Galicia debit card there’d be a 25% discount. Never cared about those discounts before but now it’s a must. If you have a prepaid Carrefour Mastercard, then everything is 15% off. If you can get a normal Carrefour credit card it’s 20%. I was talking to a friend who manages Airbnb flats and according to her; Airbnb is dead in BsAs. No tourist or digital nomads around with those prices.

The problem with Airbnb is that local long term rentals, in pesos for a studio, are around US$600 and up. Instead of Airbnb payment only in dollars up front, in advance. If the dollar stays steady Airbnb will be less attractive.

 

[John.St]

Does anybody notice quite a regional disparity? I was stunned at how cheap Posadas was compared to Buenos Aires.

Anecdotally, I earn in GBP and the exchange rate and inflation has meant a huge rise in costs for me in the last year. Many things are European prices if not higher. I’ve started to significantly rein in my spending here whereas I never did before. I expect tourism from US/Europe must have dropped and others must be reining in their expenditure.

The USD to peso rate just seems to more or less peg to 1000 but I can’t honestly believe that this is a true reflection and whatever stimulus is driving it surely can’t continue indefinitely or even on a short term basis. I’m shocked that it’s not around 2000 these days at least

US$ Blue is at
AR$ 1105,00 Compra
AR$ 1135,00 Venta
so don't expect to see 2,000 any day soon.

 

[Rich One]

US$ Blue is at
AR$ 1105,00 Compra
AR$ 1135,00 Venta
so don't expect to see 2,000 any day soon.

The peso is way overvalued like Menem's 1:1 that lasted several years. Deme Dos,,!Argentinians flocked to Miami to buy inexpensive stuff . Then plop one morning 3 pesos:1 dollar and corralito of deposits.
Milei somehow has managed to Thame the Dollar..! until next year . A genius.

 

[Redpossum]

.... I was talking to a friend who manages Airbnb flats and according to her; Airbnb is dead in BsAs. No tourist or digital nomads around with those prices.

Good! AirBnB is the devil, and the sooner it goes away, the better.

 

[sergio]

US$ Blue is at
AR$ 1105,00 Compra
AR$ 1135,00 Venta
so don't expect to see 2,000 any day soon.

The IMF will NOT lend money without dropping the CEPO

 

[zensailor]

When I came back in June, I bought some 100 count ibuprofen tablet containers for a couple of pennies over $2 ... I left in March and returned in June ... When I left, my 3 medications ( typical and generic ) cost a little over $27/ mo ... when I returned, the same meds cost $111, and have gone up since then .... these meds in the US are around $30 .... there is no legitimate rationale for that kind of a spread .

 

[Ronnie Hotdogs]

When I came back in June, I bought some 100 count ibuprofen tablet containers for a couple of pennies over $2 ... I left in March and returned in June ... When I left, my 3 medications ( typical and generic ) cost a little over $27/ mo ... when I returned, the same meds cost $111, and have gone up since then .... these meds in the US are around $30 .... there is no legitimate rationale for that kind of a spread .

Price gouging by greedy Argy bastards.

 

[JeffR]

Good! AirBnB is the devil, and the sooner it goes away, the better.

I know it's wishful thinking, but after countless bad Airbnb experiences with "5-star" places and "super" hosts, I would be nice to see a global class action suit against Airbnb to take place. With a market cap of +$84 billion USD, they could surely improve their customer service and perform some basic due diligence before allowing a listing to take place on their platform.

 

[Goata]

If I wasn’t connected to Argentina with family ties, and just an expat living off of my $, £ or € then I’d go to Spain. Argentina was great because it was extremely affordable. Now it’s not!

I am in the same boat, I am from the USA but my wife is Argentine and loves her job so we are here to stay.