diosaarenosa
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- Joined
- Jul 29, 2008
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in response to a lot of talk in many threads about the rise in prices in argentina, i wanted to give my 2 pence worth on my initial reaction to life in BA after a week, for what it´s worth....
firstly, yes, i HAVE noticed a steep increase in prices from when i was here visiting in 2005 and most notably a change since the aftermath of the 2001 crash, when i was living here for half a year, six months on from when the peso devalued.
this time around, i notice that there has been an overall increase in all commodities, essential and otherwise, which does obviously elevate cost of living, especially when it comes to food shopping.
there are i think however a number of ways of getting round this.
firstly, shopping around and being resourseful pays dividends. the first day i bought a 1.5 litre bottle of water from a kiosko on cabildo and it cost me 5 pesos (extortionate i thought). near where i live in a kiosko on mendoza i bought a 2 litre bottle for 3.75 pesos. that same evening i went to cotto and bought two 1.5 litre bottles which came with free tea bags for around the 5 pesos mark. strawberries in carrefour according to my cousin were 12 pesos 1/2 kilo. from the chinaman round the corner they were 5 the 1/2 kilo. cheese and ham that can be sliced off the block in the local chinese supermarkets will always be cheaper and often tastier.
eating out: i´ve been eating out for lunch as i´ve needed to work on my laptop with a wi-fi connection. i´ve found the portions are often abundant and too big for me to eat in one go. it is not unusual to ask for a doggie bag in this country and then the food can serve for another meal. i´ve done this twice already in one place and they´ve been extremely accommdating.
yestersday i went to a parilla for lunch with a friend. we ordered a 1/2 bife de chorizo (imo one of, if not the best cuts for texture and flavour) and a salad. the beef cost 18 pesos and we ordered a large mixed salad for 10. plus water the bill came to 38 with bread thrown in. the steak was huge as was the salad, in spite of sharing we were both full and satiated and ended up paying only 20 pesos each for a delicious meal.
clothes: my biggest weakness. i have steered clear of the labels i always used to shop at, mainly because the prices are so expensive, that are now exceeding what i would be happy to pay for mid range clothing in the UK and i know that the quality here is not up to the standard i would be getting for the same money over there. that said, i´ve discovered some new exciting designers, for the prices i was paying a few years back for maria cher, lupe, kukla, who are now firmly established and have got too big for their boots. lucuma is a lovely boutique with stores in las canitas, barrancas and various other locations around the city. most of the pieces are under 100 pesos and the designs are to die for. cuter than cute!
outlets: yesterday i checked out yagmour´s outlet upstairs in their cabildo branch. trousers (pants) for 39 and 49 pesos, t-shirts and singlets for 10 pesos. i also bought from the current range and thought the prices to be very reasonable, a gorgeous t-shirt for 38 pesos, shorts for 35.
caritas/roperitos - charity or second hand clothing: i went to the roperito run by the large church on cabildo going palermo way. there are some cool pieces and accessories and i bought a really cool 80s jean dress for 8 pesos and a vintage ring for 5.
my friend told me about the policy that some nightclubs work - amerika for instance charges 40 pesos for entrance but has a ´barra libre´ so unlimited alcohol consumption all night.
i am having so much fun! living economically and having fun at the same time IS possible........
however, i know it won´t hold out forever and sooner or later i know i will be blowing some serious wadge on some fantasy heels at mishka, ayres or paruolo, i just know it.
firstly, yes, i HAVE noticed a steep increase in prices from when i was here visiting in 2005 and most notably a change since the aftermath of the 2001 crash, when i was living here for half a year, six months on from when the peso devalued.
this time around, i notice that there has been an overall increase in all commodities, essential and otherwise, which does obviously elevate cost of living, especially when it comes to food shopping.
there are i think however a number of ways of getting round this.
firstly, shopping around and being resourseful pays dividends. the first day i bought a 1.5 litre bottle of water from a kiosko on cabildo and it cost me 5 pesos (extortionate i thought). near where i live in a kiosko on mendoza i bought a 2 litre bottle for 3.75 pesos. that same evening i went to cotto and bought two 1.5 litre bottles which came with free tea bags for around the 5 pesos mark. strawberries in carrefour according to my cousin were 12 pesos 1/2 kilo. from the chinaman round the corner they were 5 the 1/2 kilo. cheese and ham that can be sliced off the block in the local chinese supermarkets will always be cheaper and often tastier.
eating out: i´ve been eating out for lunch as i´ve needed to work on my laptop with a wi-fi connection. i´ve found the portions are often abundant and too big for me to eat in one go. it is not unusual to ask for a doggie bag in this country and then the food can serve for another meal. i´ve done this twice already in one place and they´ve been extremely accommdating.
yestersday i went to a parilla for lunch with a friend. we ordered a 1/2 bife de chorizo (imo one of, if not the best cuts for texture and flavour) and a salad. the beef cost 18 pesos and we ordered a large mixed salad for 10. plus water the bill came to 38 with bread thrown in. the steak was huge as was the salad, in spite of sharing we were both full and satiated and ended up paying only 20 pesos each for a delicious meal.
clothes: my biggest weakness. i have steered clear of the labels i always used to shop at, mainly because the prices are so expensive, that are now exceeding what i would be happy to pay for mid range clothing in the UK and i know that the quality here is not up to the standard i would be getting for the same money over there. that said, i´ve discovered some new exciting designers, for the prices i was paying a few years back for maria cher, lupe, kukla, who are now firmly established and have got too big for their boots. lucuma is a lovely boutique with stores in las canitas, barrancas and various other locations around the city. most of the pieces are under 100 pesos and the designs are to die for. cuter than cute!
outlets: yesterday i checked out yagmour´s outlet upstairs in their cabildo branch. trousers (pants) for 39 and 49 pesos, t-shirts and singlets for 10 pesos. i also bought from the current range and thought the prices to be very reasonable, a gorgeous t-shirt for 38 pesos, shorts for 35.
caritas/roperitos - charity or second hand clothing: i went to the roperito run by the large church on cabildo going palermo way. there are some cool pieces and accessories and i bought a really cool 80s jean dress for 8 pesos and a vintage ring for 5.
my friend told me about the policy that some nightclubs work - amerika for instance charges 40 pesos for entrance but has a ´barra libre´ so unlimited alcohol consumption all night.
i am having so much fun! living economically and having fun at the same time IS possible........
however, i know it won´t hold out forever and sooner or later i know i will be blowing some serious wadge on some fantasy heels at mishka, ayres or paruolo, i just know it.
