Argentina vs. Uruguay vs. Chile vs. Brazil to live for smaller town vibe?

[Cali Baby]

I heard that smaller towns are better quality of life. I know many people like the big city of Buenos Aires but many people have told me it will be much cheaper in smaller towns. That got me thinking how are the other smaller towns? I went to Colonia in Uruguay and loved it! What about other smaller towns in Uruguay or Brazil or Chile? How do they stack up? Anyone lived in various?

 

[Flamingo]

f you’re looking for a vibrant lifestyle at a lower cost, Argentina (at least until 2023) offered something pretty unique:

• A European-style atmosphere in a South American setting, but with significantly reduced prices
• A rich cultural scene with plenty of social events and activities
• A lively social life, especially great for singles
• World-class steak and wine at a fraction of the price you’d pay elsewhere

That said, since the peso strengthened, some of those advantages have faded.

If you’re considering a smaller town with a relaxed vibe, La Serena in Chile could be a great alternative to explore.

 

[oil rush]

I have lived on and off in Brazil but mostly in big cities (São Paulo and Rio). I don't like the small cities but cost of living is always higher in rural small towns in all of these countries.

Argentina is expensive now. Honestly my friends pay some of the same prices my friends in Spain pay. My friends in Portugal pay less than many expat friends here in Argentina. It is difficult to make money in Argentina too. Small town living in each of these countries will probably be similar but unless you speak Portuguese I would eliminate Brazil. I speak fluent Portuguese as well as Spanish.

 

[LongIslander]

Having visited Chile multiple times and spent time with Chilean friends, I’ve found the cultural differences between Chile and Argentina to be quite significant. Despite being neighbors, the two countries often don’t see eye to eye culturally or socially. While some might compare them to the U.S. and Canada, a more accurate comparison might be the U.S. and the U.K.—familiar in some ways, but distinctly different in tone, values, and social norms. (For a closer cultural match, Argentina and Uruguay are probably the better analogy.)

If culture isn’t a top priority for you, Chile could be a solid choice. In many ways—especially commercially and in terms of infrastructure—it feels more similar to the U.S.

That said, choosing between the two really depends on your own circumstances, preferences, and goals. If you’re looking for meaningful advice, the best starting point is to share a bit more about your background and what you’re hoping to find.

 

[Finance Prof]

I have lived on and off in Brazil but mostly in big cities (São Paulo and Rio). I don't like the small cities but cost of living is always higher in rural small towns in all of these countries.

Argentina is expensive now. Honestly my friends pay some of the same prices my friends in Spain pay. My friends in Portugal pay less than many expat friends here in Argentina. It is difficult to make money in Argentina too. Small town living in each of these countries will probably be similar but unless you speak Portuguese I would eliminate Brazil. I speak fluent Portuguese as well as Spanish.

There are a lot of websites that have not updated their numbers. For example, Number cost of living comparison of Buenos Aires and Madrid shows life in Argentina cheaper by 21.8% vs. Madrid but I know that isn't accurate anymore. My friends from Madrid that came to BA say prices here are way out of whack. Rents are cheaper but that's it. I would say today Argentina is more expensive than Spain. This doesn't include rent.

Cost of Living Comparison Between Madrid, Spain And Buenos Aires, Argentina

www.numbeo.com

 

[Avocado]

There are a lot of websites that have not updated their numbers. For example, Number cost of living comparison of Buenos Aires and Madrid shows life in Argentina cheaper by 21.8% vs. Madrid but I know that isn't accurate anymore. My friends from Madrid that came to BA say prices here are way out of whack. Rents are cheaper but that's it. I would say today Argentina is more expensive than Spain. This doesn't include rent.

Cost of Living Comparison Between Madrid, Spain And Buenos Aires, Argentina

www.numbeo.com

And do not forget that our salaries are much lower here! My family all from Spain. I go there often. Salaries in Argentina are fraction of what they are in Spain. All the people struggle here.

 

[scotttswan]

Cost of living has drastically gone up in Argentina over the past 2 years but still not too bad compared to other expensive countries like the United States. Rentals here are a great deal. If you don't dine out at restauarants it is not bad at all.

 

[Wally]

This may be of interest.

https://theculturetrip.com/south-america/argentina/articles/the-most-underrated-cities-and-towns-to-visit-in-argentina

 

[sophos]

Based on my personal experience you will get targeted if you're a foreigner in a small town. I live in a very small town and I think once a foreigner moves there more incidents of crime. I had plenty of personal stories and here is a story on the old forum.

Robbed In Epuyen, Theives Caught Then Released, Even Though

We came to Epuyen to find a quite, peaceful place to live, and we have been living the dream here for 6 months. We were recently robbed of our tranquility, peace by 5 men, and others who did the surveillance. then after they were caught we were robbed again of our peace of mind by a Judge who...

baexpats.org

 

[scotttswan]

Based on my personal experience you will get targeted if you're a foreigner in a small town. I live in a very small town and I think once a foreigner moves there more incidents of crime. I had plenty of personal stories and here is a story on the old forum.

Robbed In Epuyen, Theives Caught Then Released, Even Though

We came to Epuyen to find a quite, peaceful place to live, and we have been living the dream here for 6 months. We were recently robbed of our tranquility, peace by 5 men, and others who did the surveillance. then after they were caught we were robbed again of our peace of mind by a Judge who...

baexpats.org

I'm surprised to hear this. I would have thought small towns would be safer. This is a good YT channel. Fernando travels around Argentina in small towns. Most people want to get out of BA to escape crime and big city living. An excellent YT channel.

Fernando Ressia

Quiero mostrar mi país al mundo. CONTACTO ressiafernando@gmail.com https://www.tiktok.com/@fernandoressia Instagram: http://instagram.com/feressia Twitter: https://twitter.com/feressia Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Fernando-Res... Feressia.com

www.youtube.com

 

[LongIslander]

Based on my personal experience you will get targeted if you're a foreigner in a small town. I live in a very small town and I think once a foreigner moves there more incidents of crime. I had plenty of personal stories and here is a story on the old forum.

Robbed In Epuyen, Theives Caught Then Released, Even Though

We came to Epuyen to find a quite, peaceful place to live, and we have been living the dream here for 6 months. We were recently robbed of our tranquility, peace by 5 men, and others who did the surveillance. then after they were caught we were robbed again of our peace of mind by a Judge who...

baexpats.org

I remember that incident. But I remember hearing that they got robbed as the guy was telling people he had cash to purchase a property. That probably had more to do with them getting robbed vs. being a foreigner.