Buenos Aires , Argentina: Cost of Living, Healthcare and What to Know About Living in Buenos Aires

Summary: If you are able to overlook Argentina's never-ending political and economic crises, life in the beautiful capital city of Buenos Aires is pretty good. This city of nearly 3 million is rich with literary, artistic and theatre culture. Real estate tip: rent don't buy.

What are the pros and cons of living in Buenos Aires?

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Expats, digital nomads and retirees living in Buenos Aires responded:

"Argentines are lovely people but they are mercilessly exploited by the people they elect to govern them. If you can stay away from politics, life for an expat - especially when married to a local - is very good. There is a very rich literary, artistic and theatre culture which most other cities elsewhere would envy - bar London and New York, of course. I am retired and married to a local so most of the bureaucratic problems wash over me but if you have to earn a living here, the tax and employment legislation can be a nightmare. My advice to an individual, coming on their own would be to do their homework very thoroughly indeed. Someone coming to work for a local corporation should be very sure of exactly what they are coming into and should ask for practical help in getting started with accommodation etc etc. Someone coming to work for the multinational company that already employs them elsewhere should insist that the company sets things up for them from the get-go. So much time and frustation in finding out the local way of doing things is the ONLY way of doing things can be avoided by planning and preparation - and if you can get somebody already on the ground to do that for you so much the better," commented an expat living in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

What are the pros and cons of living in Buenos Aires?

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Expats, digital nomads and retirees living in Buenos Aires responded:

"I was adopted by my wife's social circle which was how I met her. We are still in the same social circle," commented an expat living in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

What advice to expats in Buenos Aires have about housing?

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"Short term expats should rent although the new rental laws will make this harder and more expensive. Long term should consider purchase though getting money into and out of the country is a problem," commented an expat living in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

What are medical services in Buenos Aires like?

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When we asked expats and global nomads about the quality of medical care in Buenos Aires, they replied:

"Q19 I have no way of making a comparison In the UK the NHS costs nothing at the point of delivery," commented an expat living in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

What do I need to know about living in Buenos Aires?

When we asked people what advice they would give someone preparing to move to Buenos Aires, they said:

"Make sure you have a stable income in the currency of your home country. If you are from the US or Europe, your money will go far. You can eat out everyday affordably. The city has a lot of offer in terms of culture and it is a wonderful "walking town". Great architecture. There is always something to do. The neighborhood of Palermo Soho is fantastic with a mix of people, tons of restaurants, parks, and shopping. This city has a very European feel at a budget price," commented an expat living in Buenos Aires.

"Buenos Aires is a BIG city. But to me, it has a small town feel. I live in the chic Palermo which is much more calm than the center of the city. I think there is somethig for everyone in BA, but if you do not like a big city, lots of noise or pollution, you might want to head for somewhere with a slower pace like Mendoza or Bariloche (both beautiful!)," said another expat in Buenos Aires.

"Don't be shy, embrace the experience. You only have one chance at life, eat good food and drink great wine," remarked another in Buenos Aires.

How do I meet people in Buenos Aires?

When we asked people living in Buenos Aires about club and activities where newcomers can meet others, they responded:

"Expat newcomers group. There is a small English speaking Christian community. Join a gym. You have to make and effort on your own to meet "locals". They will warm up to you if you make the first introduction," commented an expat living in Buenos Aires.

"Vamos Spanish Academy - www.vamospanish.com for Spanish classes, activities and workshops around the city, including city tours, biking tours, wine tasting, cooking classes, and adventure travel around Argentina and South America," said another expat in Buenos Aires.

"Wine tasting Events - Great way at meeting expat!! Project Green Leaf www.projectgreenleaf.net Spanglish - Spanish & English speaking events in intimate settings www.spanglish.com," remarked another in Buenos Aires.

Will I be able to find a job in Buenos Aires?

When we asked people about industries and career opportunities in Buenos Aires, they reponded:

"It seems like the food industry. This is hard for me to answer because most people are in search of a decent job here...it is hard to find. Many work as teachers but struggle. This is not the place to come looking for work but rather you must have something lined up prior to your arrival," commented an expat living in Buenos Aires.

"As an expat, many people teach English or work for American sales companies. The best part of this city is the ability to be an entrepreneur! You can start up your dream company for much less than you ever could in the US, and there is a huge niche of expats to market to," said another expat in Buenos Aires.

What is life like in Buenos Aires?

When we asked people living in Buenos Aires what life is like and how people spend their time, they said:

"Food!!! There are thousands of restaurants! The other major issue is how to survive financially. The peso devaluation makes it impossible to live on, so expats want to work on line and get paid in dollars or euros. The work at all crazy times of the day here and eat dinner very late ...like 9 or 10pm. It is a very European lifestyle with a coffee break around 5pm. They love their football (soccer) here. Lots of holidays too," commented an expat living in Buenos Aires.

"The priorities of the locals are work and family, but the social night life is a large part of everyone's lives! The expats are focused on learning Spanish and adjusting to the culture by slowing down the pace with a mate in the park and a trip to a night club until 6am," said another expat in Buenos Aires.

"Living the good life. The country has a great deal of problems with its goverments and economy, but still manages to create a strong family structure. People work hard and play hard," remarked another in Buenos Aires.

What do expats in Buenos Aires appreciate most about the local culture?

"Learning from other lifestyles and letting locals teach you where to go and what to see," commented an expat living in Buenos Aires.

Is there a lot of diversity? Are people in Buenos Aires accepting of differences?

"The city is diverse but not as diverse as most. Many Venezuelans are now here. There is a large discrepancy between the rich and the poor. In general, they are not extremely friendly to outsiders in Buenos Aires. There used to be lots of Americans living here, but not as many anymore. You really need to know your Spanish here," commented an expat living in Buenos Aires.

"People come from all over to visit BA - mostly from the US, Europe and Brazil. The locals are a melting pot of Italian, Spanish, German and Jewish. There seems to be quite a big lack of Asian and African inheritance. As an expat, I am always meeting people from around the world, and eating food from different parts of the world every week," said another expat in Buenos Aires.

"People in Argetina come from all walks of life. Very diverse in regards to religion, and open to understanding," remarked another in Buenos Aires.

What are the schools in Buenos Aires like?

"Lincoln is a very nuturing school where your child will be cared for emotionally and socially. Plus, they will receive 90 minutes of daily Spanish instruction. Many expat teachers have been at Lincoln a very long time which can be seen as both a blessing and a curse," said one expat whose children attend The Lincoln School in La Lucila.

"Insist on american teachers at elementary level. Check with parents who are there for a few years to select teachers, even americans. Can be an uneven result if you have locals or some longer term teachers," added another expat with kids at Lincoln School in La Lucila.

"It is a highly recommended school for either expatriates and also for locals that want a quality education with international standards for their children. There is a lot of attention to detail and communication with parents. My family is very satisfied with the school. - Phone 5411-4549-1300 - www.baica.com," commented one expat when asked about BAICA in Buenos Aires.