Argentine wages have fallen 20% since 2018, worst drop in the region

[IrishLad]

Argentine wages have fallen 20% since 2018, worst drop in the region​

Salaries not keeping up with true inflation. Sad.

Argentine wages have fallen 20% since 2018, worst drop in the region - Buenos Aires Herald

Experts agree that the decline is directly linked to the country’s macroeconomic problems

buenosairesherald.com

 

[Betsy Ross]

This is the biggest complaint of most of my friends here. Inflation is moving faster than their salaries.

 

[Uncle Wong]

FWIW @BuySellBA posted a good post on X about this. It sounds like unless salaries go up ahead of inflation it's probably game over for Milei.

 

[sophos]

I asked AI "What is the current average wage in Argentina?" and got this reply:

"As of early 2026, the average gross monthly salary in Argentina is approximately ARS 850,000 (roughly $790–$800 USD), though median income is lower, often reported around ARS 450,000–500,000, with significant variation due to high inflation, informal employment, and sector.

Average Salary Range: While averages fluctuate, many formal employees earn between ARS 700,000 and 1.5 million per month.

Sector Differences: Public sector averages can hover around ARS 460,000, while private sector, especially in roles like mining or technology, can be higher.

Informal Economy: Informal workers often earn significantly less, with many jobs averaging roughly ARS 300,000–400,000.
Minimum Wage: The legal minimum wage as of March 2026 is ARS 1,762 per hour.

Key Considerations:
Inflation: High inflation rates cause salaries to be adjusted frequently.

Exchange Rates: The value in USD varies significantly depending on whether the official or the "blue" (informal) exchange rate is used.

Regional Differences: Salaries in Buenos Aires and southern regions tend to be higher than in northern provinces."

Perhaps now we can have a meaningful discussion about the "quality of life" that these levels of income can provide.

As far as I'm concerned, the most important factors are the number of individuals living on any given amount and their hierarchy of values.

 

[Spend Thrift]

I asked AI "What is the current average wage in Argentina?" and got this reply:

"As of early 2026, the average gross monthly salary in Argentina is approximately ARS 850,000 (roughly $790–$800 USD), though median income is lower, often reported around ARS 450,000–500,000, with significant variation due to high inflation, informal employment, and sector.

Average Salary Range: While averages fluctuate, many formal employees earn between ARS 700,000 and 1.5 million per month.

Sector Differences: Public sector averages can hover around ARS 460,000, while private sector, especially in roles like mining or technology, can be higher.

Informal Economy: Informal workers often earn significantly less, with many jobs averaging roughly ARS 300,000–400,000.
Minimum Wage: The legal minimum wage as of March 2026 is ARS 1,762 per hour.

Key Considerations:
Inflation: High inflation rates cause salaries to be adjusted frequently.

Exchange Rates: The value in USD varies significantly depending on whether the official or the "blue" (informal) exchange rate is used.

Regional Differences: Salaries in Buenos Aires and southern regions tend to be higher than in northern provinces."

Perhaps now we can have a meaningful discussion about the "quality of life" that these levels of income can provide.

As far as I'm concerned, the most important factors are the number of individuals living on any given amount and their hierarchy of values.

I don't think that informal wages are that low. All the surveys show that informal wages grew the most in the last year. I don't know however if the numbers are inflated or not. But just going from what I was paying a maid I don't think many are making that low now.

Average salaries probably sound right. I am surprised many are making so little. I met a teacher and I was shocked with how little she was making. She said she had to ha e 2 other jobs to make it.

 

[Avocado]

Many Argentines who make under a million pesos a month.

Many work a 2 or even 3 jobs. . The quality of life has gone down, significantly, for them, in the last two years.

Its a fact that close to half of all Argentines make 500,000 pesos a month or even less.

And it's also a fact that everything costs more now than it did even six months ago, much less 2 years ago.

The costs have skyrocketed on everything.

 

[CraigM]

Many work a 2 or even 3 jobs.

Is that really true? It's not unusual in the US but from most accounts here of Argentines, they barely work one job let alone 2 or 3.

 

[nikad]

Is that really true? It's not unusual in the US but from most accounts here of Argentines, they barely work one job let alone 2 or 3.

Unfortunately now Craig they have to to survive.

 

[earlyretirement]

Is that really true? It's not unusual in the US but from most accounts here of Argentines, they barely work one job let alone 2 or 3.

Yes this is true Craig. Sad. I always ask my friends and employees how things are going. What the mood is. What their families think. Here is a recent post from the other day.

My posts in green. My colleagues post in grey. I have said it many times that the test will be if salaries can keep up with inflation. If not, nothing else matters.



I posted this analysis about salaries here:

 

[Betsy Ross]

Yes this is true Craig. Sad. I always ask my friends and employees how things are going. What the mood is. What their families think. Here is a recent post from the other day.

My posts in green. My colleagues post in grey. I have said it many times that the test will be if salaries can keep up with inflation. If not, nothing else matters.

View attachment 11164

I posted this analysis about salaries here:

Unfortunately this is true for many people that have jobs with stagnant wages. Many salaries are only going up 1% a month against 4% a month inflation.

 

[CraigM]

Yes this is true Craig. Sad. I always ask my friends and employees how things are going. What the mood is. What their families think. Here is a recent post from the other day.

My posts in green. My colleagues post in grey. I have said it many times that the test will be if salaries can keep up with inflation. If not, nothing else matters.

That is awful Mike, I'm sorry to hear it. I hope good things start happening soon, because you're right nothing else matters when salaries aren't keeping up.

Republicans in the US seem to understand this intuitively, but Democrats are so lost in ideology and dogma you couldn't beat them over the head with this concept.

 

[VINO]

That is awful Mike, I'm sorry to hear it. I hope good things start happening soon, because you're right nothing else matters when salaries aren't keeping up.

Republicans in the US seem to understand this intuitively, but Democrats are so lost in ideology and dogma you couldn't beat them over the head with this concept.

I am seeing the same thing where inflation is still too high. I know it came down from very high levels but just looking at my electricity bill and condo fees each months it is painful. I can't imagine having kids. My maid complains all the time and I have to give her more and more for her fees and transportation to/from work. This is kind of a loop as it causes everyone to raise their prices.

I think the biggest issue will be if people can just afford to pay the bills. That seems to be what so much anger is about now.

Agree about the Democrats. They want to give everything but someone has to pay for it at the end of the day. @CraigM what do you think will happen in the mid-term election in the US? It seems like Republicans are losing a lot of support due to Trump and the War.

 

[CraigM]

Agree about the Democrats. They want to give everything but someone has to pay for it at the end of the day. @CraigM what do you think will happen in the mid-term election in the US? It seems like Republicans are losing a lot of support due to Trump and the War.

I'm not sure Vino, mainly because it's six months away which is a lifetime in politics. Lots will happen between now and then and what anyone's thinking right now doesn't matter much.

If you had told me all the things Trump was going to do in his first year I would have bet on a Democratic landslide at the midterms. But if you then told me that the Democrats would learn nothing from 2024 and actually double down on their army of imbeciles and losers, I would guess things end up where we are today 🙂

 

[Nasdaq]

I'm not sure Vino, mainly because it's six months away which is a lifetime in politics. Lots will happen between now and then and what anyone's thinking right now doesn't matter much.

If you had told me all the things Trump was going to do in his first year I would have bet on a Democratic landslide at the midterms. But if you then told me that the Democrats would learn nothing from 2024 and actually double down on their army of imbeciles and losers, I would guess things end up where we are today 🙂

So well said Craig. Many things weren't on my bingo card for 2026. There are so many parallels with Trump and Milei right now. It is ironic because both of their polling started turning at the same time.

I have seen people in both Argentina and US that are not happy with Trump and Milei but they are so against the idea of voting for the Democrats. They are in similar boats in Argentina. Many don't want to go back but unless Milei changes his strategy I think they might be finished.