Moving to Argentina

[carride]

How can you say “why are people advising ….”? Everyone got their own opinion and entitled to it. No one is forcing anyone to do anything. Just sharing an opinion. But contrary to what you say; it’s not a great urban city at the moment. It was and hopefully it will be one again. It’s an unsafe and unorganised city where you can’t wear jewellery. Whereas Nordelta with its extreme security and very well organised system and facilities can offer great convenience to an expat family with 3 young kids. Also; there are way a lot more people in Nordelta who can speak English than in CABA. Almost everyone.

Well when the original poster describes more about the type of life they are departing or the type of place they want to move into, then it will be easier to suggest neighborhoods. Regardless of where in the world, there is a huge difference when someone is used to city life or suburban life.

 

[Lanick]

Well when the original poster describes more about the type of life they are departing or the type of place they want to move into, then it will be easier to suggest neighborhoods. Regardless of where in the world, there is a huge difference when someone is used to city life or suburban life.

Yeah and the poster didn’t say suburban or city. They’re even not certain on BsAs so I did recommend Nordelta. Speaking out of experience as a long time single guy, married w/o kids and then as a father of 2, I prefer Nordelta even though I’d never live there before i had my kids. But coming home in the evening and meeting your neighbour for a tennis game and then dipping in your pool and knowing your family is safe is priceless. But this is just my opinion. There’s no why, how etc.

 

[mikic007]

Yeah and the poster didn’t say suburban or city. They’re even not certain on BsAs so I did recommend Nordelta. Speaking out of experience as a long time single guy, married w/o kids and then as a father of 2, I prefer Nordelta even though I’d never live there before i had my kids. But coming home in the evening and meeting your neighbour for a tennis game and then dipping in your pool and knowing your family is safe is priceless. But this is just my opinion. There’s no why, how etc.

I'm no fan of nordelta, but must agree. For someone like OP only safest is ok, the rest is asking for trouble. I lived in Palermo without kids happily, now I don't even visit with kids...

 

[Caribbean Cool]

I'm going to go against the consensus of opinion here, and simply say that my advice is-

Don't do it. Just don't. Argentina is in a very bad way right now, and if there is another collapse like El Corralito, there will be a whole lot of truly desperate people, and a wave of crime and lawlessness like you probably can't imagine. Especially with 3 small children, I solemnly counsel you not to come here now. I will probably be sternly chastised for saying this, but such is my sincere opinion. Stay where you can speak the language fluently.

That's just a little extreme.

 

[Quilombo]

I'm going to go against the consensus of opinion here, and simply say that my advice is-

Don't do it. Just don't. Argentina is in a very bad way right now, and if there is another collapse like El Corralito, there will be a whole lot of truly desperate people, and a wave of crime and lawlessness like you probably can't imagine. Especially with 3 small children, I solemnly counsel you not to come here now. I will probably be sternly chastised for saying this, but such is my sincere opinion. Stay where you can speak the language fluently.

Red channeling Kamala:

Jokes aside, I don't disagree with him per se, hell, I just posted about looking for an out in the future when things assumingly continue going to shit and my lease is up.

OP, one of two things needs to happen for me to recommend coming here that have never occurred in human history:

- Argentina needs to experience sustained, double digit deflation (~1% deflation occurred here in 1993 and from 1996 to 1999)
- Neoliberal shock doctrine economic policy needs to both work AND equalize income distribution instead of concentrating it (this has never happened, anywhere)

I don't even recommend visiting Argentina right now because costs are so detached from reality in dollars, but only you and your wife can decide what's right for your family.

My advice? Do not come, but if you do, have a back up plan/tens of thousands of dollars should you lose your job because a family of four needs several thousand dollars a month to live on as renters, and tickets back north are upwards of $800/pop

 

[LuckyLuke]

I would honestly agree with RedPossum on this one. I came to Neuquen a couple years ago with my wife, who is Argentine, and two kids (4,2) and I already spoke conversational Spanish (as did my 4 year old) and my wife had 2 siblings living in Neuquen to help us. Despite all that, we found the first year very stressful and uncomfortable. I would not recommend such a move, especially with 3 small children and no Spanish skills. It's not worth the strain on everybody involved and it can ruin a marriage, especially when the pressure of the move is on the bread winner.

 

[Lanick]

I would honestly agree with RedPossum on this one. I came to Neuquen a couple years ago with my wife, who is Argentine, and two kids (4,2) and I already spoke conversational Spanish (as did my 4 year old) and my wife had 2 siblings living in Neuquen to help us. Despite all that, we found the first year very stressful and uncomfortable. I would not recommend such a move, especially with 3 small children and no Spanish skills. It's not worth the strain on everybody involved and it can ruin a marriage, especially when the pressure of the move is on the bread winner.

I totally agree with you guys. It honestly could ruin a marriage as I have personally experienced that. My wife is born and bred Argentine. She’s got her past here. Friends and family here. She’s ok with no rules traffic. She doesn’t mind neighbours being too loud till late. She loves sandwiches de miga. I’m having hard time living here full time. But, if someone transferred here by his/her company and provided with sufficient financial and and emotional help to get started living here then it may be a good experience. It’s not a bad place but it’s a very hard place and even harder to make a fresh start.

 

[steveinbsas]

Yeah and the poster didn’t say suburban or city. They’re even not certain on BsAs...

In her second post, Candiz indicated that the desired location is Buenos Aires, as that's where the office is located, but has not yet replied to this post:

"It would be helpfull to know (exactly) where the office is located. Then other members will be able to share information regarding the cost of renting the desired four bedroom house, if any, are available in that area."

 

[Ronnie Hotdogs]

We're doing a very good job of putting her off the move.

To be honest I've been expatriated to a few different countries including Argentina and it's one thing doing it when you're single, it's another thing entirely once you have kids.
I had a bit of a reverse of this when we all moved to Denmark from Argentina a couple of years ago and that didn't work out either for various reasons, mainly because I'd taken a 50% cut in pay in real terms and the weather is shit.

But there's lots of good things about Argentina, which is why all of us expats are here surely?

If you're making good money then I think you can still have a good time here, but I'd be very wary of doing it if you think it will be fun or for the "cultural experience", do it if you're going to be financially much better off out of it, and the rest is a bonus.

 

[antipodean]

I guess my question is what would be a livable wage? Realistically what would we have to take home each month after taxes to live a comfortable life - We assume we'll be paying 1000-1500 USD a month on rent (4 bedroom house). Then there's transport, groceries and basic essentials each month with some entertainment too.

For comparison a pretty average senior manager / director level salary at a mid size Argentine company generally runs anywhere between USD5000-USD10000ish per month. The basic total living expenses for a professional couple living in a nice building in a nice neighborhood and doing a fair share of eating out and running a car etc, no kids is between USD5000-6000 a month, excluding things like vacations, savings, special hobbies or investments.

As for your livable wage for a family, when it comes to expenditure the sky is the limit unless/ until you can set your own limits but I would also say around USD6000 is a realistic starting point for a comfortable but not extravagant upper middle class lifestyle.

That said there are plenty of families getting by “comfortably” enough on USD 2000-3000 a month throughout Argentina by living like a middle working class Argentine, using public transport and education, living in more humble neighborhoods, not eating out every day and juggling the squeeze like middle working class people almost everywhere else in the world. But that’s probably not a lifestyle worth the effort of moving here for unless where you live currently is particularly basic or bad or it represents a step up from where you’re currently at.