Moving To Argentina

[denniselmenace20]

Hi everyone,

I am considering moving to Buenos Aires in the near future (next month or so), and was doing some research on trying to find a group of people who might be willing to help answer a few questions, possibly help me or give me suggestions on finding a job once in the country, and what to bring and expect. I am currently a college student at Saint Louis University, am 19 years old, I do have a high school diploma, and after the plane ticket I will have approximately 1400 dollars entering the country. If you were wondering, I have decided to do this because I am 19! I have nothing tying me down, no commitments, and I have always wanted to live in BA. People always talk about doing this kind of thing, and suddenly they're 40 and living in the Midwest (I only joke because I am from here). I am a very bright guy, love new opportunities, and hope to be able to learn from everyones' experiences and knowledge! Thanks in advance!

-DENNIS EL MENACE (Spanish jokes... nunca envejecen)

 

[Iznogud]

Not to rain on your parade but methinks the begining of summer ain't the right time to seek a long term job.

Things (politically) go apeshit crazy right before the summer holidays. Government normally throws the proverbial stone and do not even hide the hand, knowing that most of those taking the (serious income) hit are already commited to depart elsewhere. No time to argue.

$1400 will hardly last a couple of months.

Anyways, good luck to you.

 

[Rich One]

In some ways its a good time to come here many expats leaving so many garage sales and used furniture and appliances fire sales.
virtually no hiring in summer, $1400 izgoud for one month, the reciprocity tax at the airport will take 10 % of your budget.

 

[Davidglen77]

A word of advice - in terms of money, have at least 6 months living expenses in your pocket if you want to settle in for a while here. The quick job opportunites that exist in the US just don't exist here. For example, in New York City, where I was born and raised, many people used to come and set up house in a few weeks, there were waiter and waitress jobs all over, you could make $400-$500 dollars a week, share an apartment in one of the boroughs, do odd jobs, etc. To be a waiter here is impossible if you don't know somebody, off the books jobs pay VERY little, and certainly not enough to pay even a month's rent. So I would say, if you really want to come here and not be in DIRE STRAITS after 1 month, save about $7000 to 10,000 dollars and come after the summer ends when there are more people around the city. I am not saying don't come, but plan a little longer if you want to have some more breathing room.

 

[Thereandbackagain]

You would go nowhere with 1400 US and the quality of life ATM is lousy, including Job opportunities. You may consider other destinations which are not so messed up.

 

[allcraz]

I am normally upbeat with these posters and say "do it." Yes, do it, but as a vacation if you want to see how you like the city because $1400 will not get you far. I came in Feb of 2007 when I was 23 after saving up a good 8,000.

 

[Dublin2BuenosAires]

I wouldn't get too hung up on the quality of life comments, at your young age I suspect your needs and metrics for quality of life are different to others. I would however seriously rethink your plans given the amount of money you have. Basically, as people are telling you here, you would do very well to make that 1400 stretch the month if you wanted to socialise, buy food and have somewhere to live. Start saving and invest some time learning the language.

 

[gsi16386]

Oh, to be young again...sighhhhh

I agree with the other posters...$1400 won't get you very far, but if you find a hostel maybe they can help you with some ideas on how to find work. I think I'd be more concerned with finishing school at the age of 19 rather then traveling to a foreign country to experience life there. Just my two cents...

Good luck bro...

 

[caitij]

I would say come visit the country and see what it has to offer but be prepared to have an open mind with your plans. I visited last year for one week and loved it...lots of great parties...great people..didnt spend alot of money...the perfect place to come for vacation or backpack travels, but to live it is waaaaay too expensive. For the amount of work you put in and for the little amount of money you will make you wont be able to enjoy yourself maybe the way one hopes they could. Even with an okay paying job your rent and food will most likely leave you with little left to actually enjoy and take in the great events and sights the country has to offer. I would maybe suggest looking at doing an exchange program that incorporates spanish school, sightseeing tours, homestay etc.. and once you do that can make an informed decision if it is somewhere you would want to live. If you do choose to come anyways maybe try and have some ideas of places you can apply to work because there is nothing here and getting a DNI to work is harder then I expected.

Good luck with everything!

 

[ElQueso]

About the only place you will find work, at this time of the year, on quick notice, and without a visa that permits you to work legally, will be back-breaking, long hour types of work (10-14 hours 6 days a week, and maybe a half day on Sunday). Those should be somewhat available, as many of the "imported" workers who fill those slots will be going back to their respective countries for a month or two at the end of the year. Of course, things get really slow here as well because large numbers of people leave the city for vacations, most heavily January and February, so even those jobs may be a little more difficult to find than usual due to the slowing down of business itself, but still there. Examples would be hauling vegetables, washing dishes, doing laundry, cleaning houses, etc. Pay maybe something like 1200 - 3500 pesos a month depending on how long you've worked there ($250 - $750 USD at roughly the official rate of exchange) and who you work for.

Housing is going to be problematic as well. You can find relatively cheap housing, but it's all relative. In this case, the cheaper the housing, the worse it will be and the worse neighborhoods it will be located in.

My brothers-in-law and other family members who do not live with me (they are from Paraguay and work in the jobs I mention above) live in "hotels" where they pay as much as $1500 pesos a month for a small, crappy room, furnished with a wooden bed frame and a very thin mattress, maybe a small rickety table, with no bathroom or cooking facilities. All of those are down the hall.

On top of that, the economy is not doing well here and the political situation is on the edge of possible chaos.

If I were you, I would stay where you are for another year or so, save up closer to $10K (if you can't work in the US [if that's where you're from] and live in a manner that you can save that much money in a year or so, you may not be able to make it down here) and wait a bit to see what happens economically here.

I often find myself wishing that I had done what you are thinking when I was younger. I ended up doing it when I was older, and I am much better able to deal with the issues I find here as a result. That is NO REASON for you not to come, I just mention it. However, an extra year doesn't take anything away from your youth (at least from the perspective of a 50 year old) and lets you come much better prepared.