Well, the grass is always greener on the other side. Many of my Argentine friends are dieing to come live in either the States or Europe, hell dieing even to get a visa to just come visit, drool longingly at my mention of being able to walk into Apple on Michigan Avenue and leave with as many Iphones as I can afford, and look at me like I am mentally challenged for being in BA by choice when I could be living and working in either the States or Europe, while some of them (namely some of the infamous Porteños) scoff at the thought of even leaving Argentina. Like most things, it all depends on your personal situation and what living in a city means to YOU. I know people who are miserable living in NYC penthouses. I know people who are thrilled living in huts in Thailand. My personal 2 cents specifically in regards to BA: It is probably the most European of all countries in Latin America, and with that comes advantages (it is safer than say, Mexico City or Lima, for instance) and disadvantages (one of the most expensive places in Latin America today) Earning in a foreign currency such as US dollar I would say is a must, as generally, posts that are well-paid elsewhere, here (lawyers, for example) do not pay anywhere near their foreign counterparts. If you have invested a lot in your education and/or are still up to your neck in student loan debt, it doesn't feel very good to move somewhere where you earn in a professional-grade position what some good cleaning ladies back home make. But it's all relative, isnt it? Also, again generally speaking that is, earning in a foreign currency also helps in terms of combating inflation because your currency has a stronger purchase power. I am not saying that earning in pesos and living in BA is impossible, as obviously it is what the locals do, however, coming from having lived all of your life in a place where you are used to certain comoditites and the possibility of consuming and buying as you please, it is very hard to make the adjustment. My ex felt that on his meagar peso salary he lived very well in BA, but that is because this is the mind-set that he was used to all of his life, it was one where he did not do the kind of consuming (eating out, shopping, trips, car payment, etc) that we routinely do and deem normal in Europe and the States. All that said, money is not everything and yes, the city does offer a myriad of things to do for very little money, and is still an enjoyable place which can be ¨done¨ for relatively cheap compared to other large cities, but comparing a city like BA to London for example, is unrealistic in just about any category. This is why BA has a huge following in the genre of young Boho chic travelers who think of themselves as ex pats but leave in a year, who dont mind spending $400-$500 for a sub-standard, sparsely furnished room for the promise of a good time (which you will have in BA) until they find the next best thing. However, coming down with a family and with the intent of staying longer, like most things and most places, you will still need ¨taca taca¨ and plenty of it to do things like rent an apartment in a safe, nice area in the city and provide for a family.
