Job Offer in Buenos Aires

[starlucia]

I am wondering, what does a good cooked meal(Indian for example) for 4 persons cost you in both time and cash?

Not much at all. Non-meat items (vegetables, legumes, grains, spices) in BA cost next to nothing, and any fool with a pot and a knife can whip up a curry, peanut sauce, stew or pasta dish with very little effort. In the last couple of weeks, I've made stuffed roasted butternut squash, pasta w/ basil and cherry tomatoes, lentil daal, quinoa and veggie salad, spinach fritattas, black bean dip... every single recipe (once you have the staples in your kitchen) cost 10 pesos or less. Have your friends bring the wine and dessert; it's a nice way to save money while still having a social life.

 

[philamote]

This is the saddest list I have ever seen I mean, it's all good advice, but I do think that any 22-year-old should be able to splurge a little (otherwise what's the point of living in a big city?) For example, dining out... hell, I hate most restaurants in this town, and even I have to go out a couple of times a week. You just have to find places that are actually worth it (don't worry, there aren't many), and save it for nights that you REALLY want to dress up and be served, rather than sit in your tiny apt. eating polenta. And instead of poisoning yourself on a steady diet of panchos and empanadas, just cook, invite people over for dinner. Learn to make Indian food, your friends will love you for it

Hand-washing laundry... now that's hardcore. A big bag of clothes, washed, dried, and folded at the place next door is 20 pesos (and a free bag with every 10 bought.) I cannot imagine a better use of 20 pesos than one that will save me from scrubbing down every pair of jeans I own, hosing them off, hanging them up, and then waiting a day for them to dry. A Starbucks latte may be a waste of 20 pesos, but laundry service? Totally worth it

The list was made with tongue partly in cheek: of course you SHOULD be able to splurge once in a while if you're watching your expenses in the other departments...or go to the lavanderia, esp if you don't have the time on your hands to do all the scrubbing. Even so, as you've pointed out yourself, you can still have a social life without splurging.

If you're trying to really, really save for the long-term, though...that's where the frugal measures would have to kick in.

And I myself usually go with Peruvian to steer myself away from the chori and panchos. Each to his or her own spiciness.

 

[marksoc]

In the Microcentro, a lunch in a worker cafeteria with dessert and drink included cost 19 ARS. Yep, you read well. A lunch in a normal restaurant with a daily menu will cost 28-40 ARS. This is if you don´t use your Tupper, or eat sandwiches, or buy salads in the Chinese supermarket.

A 1/4 of chicken with baked batatas from the super (put in the microwave 1 minute, voila), is less than 20 ARS, I think more like 15-17 ARS. Even without cooking yourself you can eat varied, healthy food cheaply. The problem is if you go to "Cuizcina Fashionte" and pay 100 ARS for some meat and potatoes with a sauce with a fancy name.

Transportation: C´mon, this one is almost free, public transport in Buenos Aires must be the cheapest in almost all the world. Taxis you take only at night and from certain neighborhoods, but only then. Anyway they are not expensive.

Nightlife: more and more bars and clubs have free entrance nowadays. If you pay 50 ARS to enter into a club you are a fool. Drinking: inside the pub, you need to drink less. Drink a couple of beers before, like everybody else. That is what we call "previa". Wine? Buy it in the super. You can go out at least 3 times a week in this way, probably more. I do.

Want to live in the bubble neighborhoods? Share and apartment, at least one must be a local and have a "garantia". So, an ARS 2800-3500 nice place in PALERMO, divided by 3 people: 900-1250 ARS. Yep, of course this is not an "Expat" price, it is what local people do. To do this, you cannot rent for those people owning houses that rent to foreigners, but rent it directly with the other two guys/girls, like you would do in Europe or back home. Only one needs to have a "garantia". To this you need to add taxes and services. If you rent in other neighborhoods you will pay less.

Again, the trick is NOT to rent like an expat, NOT to give your money away in restaurants that many times are not worth the money, and of course not spend everything in (bad) beers in bars in Las Cañitas. Laundry? Send it to a laundry place, it will be only 2-3 times a month and it will save you a lot of effort for little money; unless you enjoy doing it and you rented a PH or house.

 

[Xeneizes]

Want to live in the bubble neighborhoods? Share and apartment, at least one must be a local and have a "garantia". So, an ARS 2800-3500 nice place in PALERMO, divided by 3 people: 900-1250 ARS. Yep, of course this is not an "Expat" price, it is what local people do. To do this, you cannot rent for those people owning houses that rent to foreigners, but rent it directly with the other two guys/girls, like you would do in Europe or back home. Only one needs to have a "garantia". To this you need to add taxes and services. If you rent in other neighborhoods you will pay less.

How would you suggest trying to find a local to get an apartment like that with a garantia? In this situation, is it possible for everyone to have their own room?

I've talked to my employer and they said taxes will be 17%, and my net in hand pay would be about AR$4150/month. They do adjust about 20% for inflation, and promotions can happen as early as few months in.

 

[PhilipDT]

How would you suggest trying to find a local to get an apartment like that with a garantia? In this situation, is it possible for everyone to have their own room?

I've talked to my employer and they said taxes will be 17%, and my net in hand pay would be about AR$4150/month. They do adjust about 20% for inflation, and promotions can happen as early as few months in.

Yes, I was considering a 3 bedroom in alto palermo a little over a year ago for 3600 w/ garantia. Ended up not working out but for the price (at least back then) it was certainly possible.

As for finding a local, can't help you there. I met the girl I was going to live with while staying in a student residence for a couple weeks in 2009.

 

[PhilipDT]

I've talked to my employer and they said taxes will be 17%, and my net in hand pay would be about AR$4150/month. They do adjust about 20% for inflation, and promotions can happen as early as few months in.

Why not ask your employer? If they are offering jobs to foreigners, I can't imagine that they would expect you to just show up with out any assistance.

 

[citygirl]

I think what many locals fail to realize is how difficult it is for an expat to arrive here & miraculously stumble into a situation where she or he can find an apt (even to share) with a guarantia. A newly arrived expat usually doesn't know anyone, is in the process of trying to acclimate to a new city and it takes time to build up a network of friends or even conocidos. I don't know - maybe there are resources to find an apt with locals. If there are, maybe someone could post where the OP should look.

 

[PhilipDT]

I don't know - maybe there are resources to find an apt with locals. If there are, maybe someone could post where the OP should look.

http://www.compartodepto.com/

for example http://www.compartodepto.com/en-alq...e-la-cap/H100216142048880/2010021614204885533

 

[Xeneizes]

Why not ask your employer? If they are offering jobs to foreigners, I can't imagine that they would expect you to just show up with out any assistance.

They said they will provide temporary housing of about a week or so, and "unofficial" assistance with helping to find an apartment and negotiating, but not a garantia.

 

[marksoc]

Couchsurfing.org, Sub-group inside the group Buenos Aires dedicated to find apartment. It is good because you can look at the profile of each person and his/her references. Also, here in this site! Many locals post and read here. Also, you can ask your employer to put an ad in the company boards in Buenos Aires. It will be difficult to do it at the beginning before coming, but not impossible. I don´k know how well compartodepto.com works, maybe it does well.