Best Move I Ever Made

[Betsy Ross]

And god help you if your kids are athletes - only if you have kids in club sports here do you have the faintest idea what I'm talking about. I could go on and on.

Very true @CraigM. I think some of these people have lost total reality of how expensive life is in the USA. I don't think many of them have really lived or maybe even visited for long periods of time. Argentina is still extremely cheap overall for cost of living. Rents are dirt cheap (heading up but still very low). Obviously they are higher in Buenos Aires vs. other smaller towns.

But you nailed it on HIGH COST of living in the USA. We sent our kids to public schools because we moved to an area with the best school. But my friends are paying $30,000 to $50,000 per year per child to send to private schools. I opted to pay more for my house and pay property taxes vs. that bigger tuition amounts but many people pay both!

My health insurance premium for my family of 5 is about $35,000. Not the best program but not the worst either. Just a decent PPO plan. Since I own my own company I have to pay 100% of that. That's not even counting the co-pays as @CraigM nailed. Spot on target! Add in at least $10k on co-pays each year. And mine doesn't include dental insurance so we also pay out of pocket on that. (You don't want to know the cost of 3 kids having braces all at the same time!).

My property taxes luckily aren't too bad as they can only raise the value 2% a year. Fortunately I purchased when prices were lower but values tripled since I bought it 14 years ago but the property tax has only gone up 2% a year. But even at that rate you're talking about $20,000 per year in property taxes even after fully owning my house and it being paid off. My insurance bill they said will go up 250% as my company is leaving California.

And just taking Craig's example. All 3 of my kids are in extracurricular activities. My daughter is a Varsity tennis player since she was a freshman. Tennis lessons are $100 USD per hour. And she takes several per week. Same as my other 2 kids. Add on all the other stuff like piano lessons, drawing classes, etc, etc. Life in the USA is expensive! You have to be making a fortune and even then, it goes pretty quickly!

Many people on the forum that haven't lived in the USA before would be surprised. And many that have before and haven't been back would be surprised at the inflated cost of everything.

It sounds like Mike and Craig have similar situations with multiple kids and kids in sports. My sister's kids in California are also in sports and it was insane what she tells me she spends on sports and extracurricular activities. It boggles my mind. It is great that you can provide that to your kids but not sure how the typical family gets by.

My sister in Santa Barbara pays $35,000 per year just in property taxes alone. I think her insurance bill and her HOA makes it around the same as that. It's no wonder more and more people are not having kids. Anyway. I don't just think it's expensive in the US but all around the world relative to salaries, cost of kids is too much.

 

[lemonade]

I'm not rich. As Bow Tied Mara shows up there, it's quite possible to live here on $1300/month.

How many are leaving? And where are they going? I don't see evidence of Argentinos moving to Paraguay or Vietnam...

I don't think Argentines are moving to countries where they make less! Examples of Paraguay and Vietnam are not good. All the Argentines I know have passports to Spain or Italy and then they can also work in other countries of EU. I met many that moved to Spain. A few I know are moving to Germany. You can make much more there than in BA but maybe that will change soon at this rate. Salaries seem like they keep going up.

Don't get me even started about University prices! The colleges my daughter are seriously considering are about $95,000 to $100,000 USD per year when you factor in tuition, room and board and books. That's insane. She is trying to get into the London School of Economics which is a top tier school. Even with out of country tuition for room and board and all expenses it will be about $55,000 USD per year but it's only 3 years vs. 4 years.

Many Americans ARE struggling to pay bills.

This is shocking!

 

[Blockchain]

It's quite annoying to see people throwing the word "privilege" around.

Working hard, good planning, saving and investing (not being too greedy) so that he can enjoy a comfortable retirement is not called 'privilege.'

Congrats Dave!

Great post! Too many people don't even save anything. I read posts on X or even here where young people that are in their 20's 30's or 40s are living in Argentina and basically unemployed or living off their crypto savings. That is just dumb to me to not be money. Most of them are going to end up like @LyellLanatone blaming others for their woes when they are older.

 

[CraigM]

It's quite annoying to see people throwing the word "privilege" around.

Working hard, good planning, saving and investing (not being too greedy) so that he can enjoy a comfortable retirement is not called 'privilege.'

Congrats Dave!

Congrats Dave indeed. Sounds like you've cut out a wonderful life for yourself in a very short time.

 

[James Bond]

Congrats Dave indeed. Sounds like you've cut out a wonderful life for yourself in a very short time.

Agree. Buenos Aires is an amazing city! It is a great city to live if your income or savings is in dollars and you don't have to worry about finding a job or making money. If you're still trying to work and build income not so much. Glad to hear you are doing so well Dave. Is your wife and kid moving down?

 

[James Bond]

Occupancy has been great, I have it rented out until about July and that's with increased rate of about 15% for this year.

That is great. But did your expenses also jump up 15%? How are electricity and gas and home owner's expenses since you purchased it?

 

[import export]

It sounds like Mike and Craig have similar situations with multiple kids and kids in sports. My sister's kids in California are also in sports and it was insane what she tells me she spends on sports and extracurricular activities. It boggles my mind. It is great that you can provide that to your kids but not sure how the typical family gets by.

My sister in Santa Barbara pays $35,000 per year just in property taxes alone. I think her insurance bill and her HOA makes it around the same as that. It's no wonder more and more people are not having kids. Anyway. I don't just think it's expensive in the US but all around the world relative to salaries, cost of kids is too much.

Kids are not cheap these days. Both of my brothers have 4 kids each. The amount they pay just on tuition and activities for the kids is more than I want to think about. Growing up I did sports but they were not astronomical fees like today. You have to go into parenthood these days planning to make significant amounts of money if you are living in major cities. Even here in South America it is not cheap. The problem in countries like Brazil and Argentina and others is public schools are a definite no and you can easily spend $500 to $1,500 dollars per month on education. Not to mention everything else.

Congrats Dave indeed. Sounds like you've cut out a wonderful life for yourself in a very short time.

A big salute to you Dave. Is there anything you don't like about BA?

 

[FuturoBA]

That is great. But did your expenses also jump up 15%? How are electricity and gas and home owner's expenses since you purchased it?

From 2024 it started at about $35 and now has stabilized at around $100. Electricity seems to be pretty stable but also depends on how tenant is using it. One month was crazy but the next dropped and has been pretty consistent since. My building doesn't have gas from what I was told - I'm guessing is that normal for newer buildings?

How has it been over in Spain especially with the power outage?

 

[meghann]

Couldn't agree more! Buenos Aires is a hidden gem. The cost of living is surprisingly low, especially housing in a great neighborhood like Recoleta. The public transportation is incredibly cheap and efficient, getting you anywhere in minutes. Plus, the free cultural scene is amazing – live music everywhere! Shows at the Planetarium, food festivals, there's always something to do.

I moved here in February. I really don't understand the negativity of some people in this forum. Buenos Aires is a beautiful city, with lots to offer, and it is CHEAP. I don't care what anyone else says, most people's biggest budget item is housing, and I am paying less to rent an apartment in Recoleta than it cost me in New Mexico to own my house outright with utilities, taxes and insurance.

Food at the grocery store is, for the most part, inexpensive. Yes, a few things like olive oil are ridiculously overpriced. But other things, like meat and produce are less than the US. I spend around $100 a week for groceries, eating at home 5 days a week and going out to dinner twice a week. Dining out is fairly expensive. I'd say comparable to the US.

Transportation is another big expense for most people. In the US I owned my car, and STILL paid $200-300 month for gas, insurance, etc. Here I am averaging around $15 month on buses and subte, and getting in some needed exercise by walking.

I love to listen to live music. Later today I'll be heading to the Strummer Bar for the Punk Rock Lunch. 4 or 5 bands over 4 hours. FREE. No cover, no minimum. I'll get my agua con gas and a pretty good burger for around $12. Tomorrow night I'll be heading to the Conventillo Cultural Abasto for a couple hours of Chicago Blues bands...again, no cover charge, no minimum.
In May, I'm going to see Chrissy Hynde and The Pretenders. $50. At a concert in Los Angeles, you can't park your car for $50.
I also love horse racing. I've been to the Hippodromo Palermo a couple times where you can get an all day table in the clubhouse for, basically, a $15 food/drink minimum.

I have already made many friends, and got invited to a birthday party by a guy I met here. His grandfather was a famous tango singer in the 40's, and the party was at his grandfather's San Telmo apartment. The biggest home I've seen in Argentina - 4000 sq feet, 4 bedroom 5 bath and 2 maids quarters!

So, yeah...moving to BsAs was a great decision for me, and I'm making it permanent.

Couldn't agree more! Buenos Aires is a hidden gem. The cost of living is surprisingly low, especially housing in a great neighborhood like Recoleta. The public transportation is incredibly cheap and efficient, getting you anywhere in minutes. Plus, the free cultural scene is amazing, live music everywhere! Shows at the Planetarium, food festivals, there's always something to do.

 

[StatusNomadicus]

He must not be paying any property taxes. I hear locals totally evade them. I heard it was supposed to be about 1% per year on any properties you own.

i paid $120 USD for a 168-m2 house in Mendoza Capital for 2025, and next year it will be about $100USD total. for a 133k house this is far from 1% because that would be like 11x more than i'm paying (rough math). property taxes for this house in South Dakota would be 3000 USD per year, and i'm paying 120 bucks...

privilege

f*ck you, commie. go somewhere else and leave this Expat forum alone. no one wants you here! you're not a victim and no one gives a sh*t what retarded Peronists think. bye!

With kids not so much.

and where is this magical place where private schools for kids, and overall costs are better than Argentina? like @CraigM noted, the crybabies have no clue how the USA or rest of the world is. zero perspective.

If I abandoned my wife and kid back home

abandoned? wtf, he's just describing the cost in Argentina...no sh*t, i spend things in the USA, too...what does that have to do when i describe the cost of eggs in Argentina? what a weird statement.

BsAs

come visit in Mendoza before buying in CABA! and i would check-out Cordoba, too, just because it's in-between city sizes.

most of the people crying are commies who brigade this forum, or Expat Lefties who spend tons of money on unnecessary stuff and then claim Argentina is uniquely now very expensive in Dollars (ignoring the costs of the USA/EU/UK and refusing to change their habits now that subsidies are going away).

i left the USA for these reasons: https://www.schiffsovereign.com/tre...to-western-civilizations-self-sabotage-152725

...and so far after Trump's 100 days, all we have are more tariffs and more wars and more debt spending...meanwhile Argentina is taking the chainsaw to the State, still, despite the hordes of orcs against Milei/team LLA
biggest wins this week, and i think #7 here is the most important:

that being said, ordering on Amazon.com is still horrible. even with free int'l shipping over $99 USD, buying in May2025 is still not ideal. for a 900-count of dog poop bags that costs $18 USD, the import fees/tariffs are $40 USD. clothes, electronics, most things are still horribly taxed. Milei needs to drop tariffs to zero. also, 95% of goods on Amazon still won't ship to Argentina, like multivitamins/supplements, etc.

and the country is still not a serious country with a lot of things. i signed my escritura for my house in November....it's May and my notary has no idea how long until i actually have the deed. all the gov't has to do is put a stamp on it; my taxes are already paid.

Carrefour.com.ar and Coto Digital are still horrible monopolies with terrible interfaces and difficult shopping experiences. MercadoLibre isn't much different, and the site and app and "Free Shipping" process (that rarely is free in the end) need a huge revamping. you can tell the owners and managers don't use the sites themselves, and the same glitches happen for months, no one cares, no competition threatens the Carrefour/Cencosud monopolies still

but so far, 2025 in Argentina we have crying communists and some big political events (CABA, please vote for liberty and not Kirchner Peronism totalitarian protectionism stupidity again) - in the USA we have a looming war with Iran, more genocide in Palestine, mass bombings in Yemen, tariffs being called smart, more spending and debt, more bankruptcies and job closures, and overall just the beginning of a huge recession that Uniparty Trump will undoubedly pull an Obama 2.0 with bank bailouts and central-planning, just like Trump did during the COVID plandemic. happy to be in Argie-land!

London School of Economics

not surprising that you're raising successful, talented, athletic geniuses. great job as always

Many people on the forum that haven't lived in the USA before would be surprised. And many that have before and haven't been back would be surprised at the inflated cost of everything.

this is going to be my new signature here, so i can point to it when the lefties and commies are claiming Argentina is expensive in Dollars. the end! nailed it.

 

[old fart]

From 2024 it started at about $35 and now has stabilized at around $100. Electricity seems to be pretty stable but also depends on how tenant is using it. One month was crazy but the next dropped and has been pretty consistent since. My building doesn't have gas from what I was told - I'm guessing is that normal for newer buildings?

How has it been over in Spain especially with the power outage?

Most new buildings in BA don't install gas anymore. They are trying to get away from that. I have been looking at new buildings and pozo and none of them have gas in them. All electric which I like except the fees keep going up.

$35 to $100 in hoa? How big is your apartment @FuturoBA ?

 

[old fart]

i paid $120 USD for a 168-m2 house in Mendoza Capital for 2025, and next year it will be about $100USD total. for a 133k house this is far from 1% because that would be like 11x more than i'm paying (rough math). property taxes for this house in South Dakota would be 3000 USD per year, and i'm paying 120 bucks...

But are you paying bigness personalas? You are legally required to pay an annual asset tax on anything you own in Argentina. You might want to talk to an accountant. I was told you get no bill in the mail but when you go to sell the property they will check to see if you have been paying it. You get some exemption but no way your annual asset tax is that low. Maybe you are thinking about ABL or some equivalent.

 

[Bingo]

i paid $120 USD for a 168-m2 house in Mendoza Capital for 2025, and next year it will be about $100USD total. for a 133k house this is far from 1% because that would be like 11x more than i'm paying (rough math). property taxes for this house in South Dakota would be 3000 USD per year, and i'm paying 120 bucks...

Does Mendoza not have annual property taxes? I am looking at places here in BA and they mention the ABL should sound like a few hundred bucks a year but talked to an accountant and she said that foreigners are not except from paying property taxes each year.

and where is this magical place where private schools for kids, and overall costs are better than Argentina? like @CraigM noted, the crybabies have no clue how the USA or rest of the world is. zero perspective.

Private school education is expensive everywhere. I am not sure on tuition rates here but I bet they are less than the $3k a month my sister is paying for her kids. Each!

come visit in Mendoza before buying in CABA! and i would check-out Cordoba, too, just because it's in-between city sizes.

I heard it is much cheaper there. I will have to check it out. But is it boring? I like bigger cities.

that being said, ordering on Amazon.com is still horrible. even with free int'l shipping over $99 USD, buying in May2025 is still not ideal. for a 900-count of dog poop bags that costs $18 USD, the import fees/tariffs are $40 USD. clothes, electronics, most things are still horribly taxed. Milei needs to drop tariffs to zero. also, 95% of goods on Amazon still won't ship to Argentina, like multivitamins/supplements, etc.

My friend ordered some stuff and it got caught at aduanas. Gave up on it and disputed the charge. They must drop all of these crazy taxes!
I always load up on multivitamins at Costco and bring down with me. They are crazy expensive here.

not surprising that you're raising successful, talented, athletic geniuses. great job as always

Excellent excellent university. If you can get in there you can get in anywhere.

But are you paying bigness personalas? You are legally required to pay an annual asset tax on anything you own in Argentina. You might want to talk to an accountant. I was told you get no bill in the mail but when you go to sell the property they will check to see if you have been paying it. You get some exemption but no way your annual asset tax is that low. Maybe you are thinking about ABL or some equivalent.

I just mentioned this. I was told you have to pay annually.

 

[Piranha]

It's quite annoying to see people throwing the word "privilege" around.

Working hard, good planning, saving and investing (not being too greedy) so that he can enjoy a comfortable retirement is not called 'privilege.'

Congrats Dave!

Very good post

Does Mendoza not have annual property taxes? I am looking at places here in BA and they mention the ABL should sound like a few hundred bucks a year but talked to an accountant and she said that foreigners are not except from paying property taxes each year.


Private school education is expensive everywhere. I am not sure on tuition rates here but I bet they are less than the $3k a month my sister is paying for her kids. Each!


I heard it is much cheaper there. I will have to check it out. But is it boring? I like bigger cities.

My friend ordered some stuff and it got caught at aduanas. Gave up on it and disputed the charge. They must drop all of these crazy taxes!
I always load up on multivitamins at Costco and bring down with me. They are crazy expensive here.


Excellent excellent university. If you can get in there you can get in anywhere.

I just mentioned this. I was told you have to pay annually.

You referring to the stamp tax? This was another tax you have to pay when you buy. But Milei got rid of part of it for locals but my lawyer said I don't qualify with no DNI.

CABA eliminó el Impuesto de Sellos para adquirir la primera vivienda: cuánto podrán ahorrar los compradores

Los compradores en Buenos Aires ya cuentan con un alivio fiscal por la exención de este gravamen, que aplica a propiedades de hasta $205.332.000. Expertos analizan las barreras legales para extender esta medida al resto del territorio

www.infobae.com

I asked ChatGPT if there are property taxes in Argentina and it confirmed yes there are. @StatusNomadicus are you working with an accountant? Did they say you have no property taxes?

In Argentina, annual property taxes—known as “Impuesto Inmobiliario”—are levied at the provincial level, resulting in varying rates across different regions. Generally, these rates range from approximately 0.5% to 1.5% of a property’s fiscal value, which is often assessed below its market value.

Key Considerations:​

• Provincial Variations: Each province sets its own tax rates and assessment methods. For instance, Buenos Aires Province may have different rates and calculation methods compared to Córdoba or Mendoza.
• Assessment Basis: The tax is typically based on the property’s fiscal value, which may not reflect its current market value.
• Additional Levies: Some municipalities may impose supplementary taxes or fees, such as for public services or infrastructure improvements.

For precise information regarding property tax rates in a specific province or municipality, it’s advisable to consult the local tax authority or a regional real estate professional.

 

[Betsy Ross]

Very good post

You referring to the stamp tax? This was another tax you have to pay when you buy. But Milei got rid of part of it for locals but my lawyer said I don't qualify with no DNI.

CABA eliminó el Impuesto de Sellos para adquirir la primera vivienda: cuánto podrán ahorrar los compradores

Los compradores en Buenos Aires ya cuentan con un alivio fiscal por la exención de este gravamen, que aplica a propiedades de hasta $205.332.000. Expertos analizan las barreras legales para extender esta medida al resto del territorio

www.infobae.com

I asked ChatGPT if there are property taxes in Argentina and it confirmed yes there are. @StatusNomadicus are you working with an accountant? Did they say you have no property taxes?

In Argentina, annual property taxes—known as “Impuesto Inmobiliario”—are levied at the provincial level, resulting in varying rates across different regions. Generally, these rates range from approximately 0.5% to 1.5% of a property’s fiscal value, which is often assessed below its market value.

Key Considerations:​

• Provincial Variations: Each province sets its own tax rates and assessment methods. For instance, Buenos Aires Province may have different rates and calculation methods compared to Córdoba or Mendoza.
• Assessment Basis: The tax is typically based on the property’s fiscal value, which may not reflect its current market value.
• Additional Levies: Some municipalities may impose supplementary taxes or fees, such as for public services or infrastructure improvements.

For precise information regarding property tax rates in a specific province or municipality, it’s advisable to consult the local tax authority or a regional real estate professional.

Argentina does have wealth and asset taxes based on what you own in Argentina or outside too. Each province has different rates but some areas have certain exemption amounts if it's your primary home. It's a good idea to talk to an accountant that deals with non resident foreigners. I have no clue what it is for Mendoza but I can tell you here in Recoleta I pay a not so insignificant annual asset tax on my place.

 

[FuturoBA]

Most new buildings in BA don't install gas anymore. They are trying to get away from that. I have been looking at new buildings and pozo and none of them have gas in them. All electric which I like except the fees keep going up.

$35 to $100 in hoa? How big is your apartment @FuturoBA ?

Total is 37sm and it does have a pool and one of those central camera system for security where it's monitored remotely, but no doorman.

 

[McDonald]

Argentina does have wealth and asset taxes based on what you own in Argentina or outside too. Each province has different rates but some areas have certain exemption amounts if it's your primary home. It's a good idea to talk to an accountant that deals with non resident foreigners. I have no clue what it is for Mendoza but I can tell you here in Recoleta I pay a not so insignificant annual asset tax on my place.

Correct. Many locals don't pay annual asset taxes even though they are supposed to but be careful because there are steep penalties and interest if you don't pay it. There are definitely annual asset/property taxes. I have several family members that own here and they pay asset taxes on all of them. They have some exemptions on their primary property.

I'm not sure if they still have it but foreigners had to get a special permit to sell and the first thing they check is if you have been paying your annual asset tax on the property and also income taxes if you are renting it.

My friend went through this process 3 years ago. A nightmare! He wasn't renting it out but he only came once a year. He had a friend staying in it. She wasn't paying rent. AFIP checked his passport and knew he wasn't in Argentina and they had an assumption he rented it out even though he was not! He appealed but lost. So be careful on tax issues. Talk to an accountant!

 

[McDonald]

Total is 37sm and it does have a pool and one of those central camera system for security where it's monitored remotely, but no doorman.

Seems like most buildings are moving to that totem system for security. They actually work well and are very cheap.

 

[Blockchain]

From 2024 it started at about $35 and now has stabilized at around $100. Electricity seems to be pretty stable but also depends on how tenant is using it. One month was crazy but the next dropped and has been pretty consistent since. My building doesn't have gas from what I was told - I'm guessing is that normal for newer buildings?

How has it been over in Spain especially with the power outage?

Wow you are paying $100 bucks for HOA and you have no doorman at all? I guess you have the pool but seems steep to go from $35 to $100 all in 1.5 years. Seems like a lot for a small studio.

Total is 37sm and it does have a pool and one of those central camera system for security where it's monitored remotely, but no doorman.

Do you pay income taxes on the rental income? How is that handled? Do you pay it once a year? Or does your property manager pay it annually? @FuturoBA do you have to pay annual property tax? Did you ever get your title deed yet? I read one of your posts saying you didn't get it yet.

 

[FuturoBA]

Correct. Many locals don't pay annual asset taxes even though they are supposed to but be careful because there are steep penalties and interest if you don't pay it. There are definitely annual asset/property taxes. I have several family members that own here and they pay asset taxes on all of them. They have some exemptions on their primary property.

I'm not sure if they still have it but foreigners had to get a special permit to sell and the first thing they check is if you have been paying your annual asset tax on the property and also income taxes if you are renting it.

My friend went through this process 3 years ago. A nightmare! He wasn't renting it out but he only came once a year. He had a friend staying in it. She wasn't paying rent. AFIP checked his passport and knew he wasn't in Argentina and they had an assumption he rented it out even though he was not! He appealed but lost. So be careful on tax issues. Talk to an accountant!

I believe the old forum said most people weren't paying annual asset taxes as well and IIRC sounded like it was easy to avoid, but like you said sounds like there's penalties at some point for not paying.

I wonder if even though your friend wasn't collecting rent, the fact he had a friend staying there, AFIP used it against him. I recall somewhere, somebody said they check the light bills and can use that to say whether somebody was occupying the place or not. Somebody more knowledgeable may be able to confirm or dismiss this.

Wow you are paying $100 bucks for HOA and you have no doorman at all? I guess you have the pool but seems steep to go from $35 to $100 all in 1.5 years. Seems like a lot for a small studio.


Do you pay income taxes on the rental income? How is that handled? Do you pay it once a year? Or does your property manager pay it annually? @FuturoBA do you have to pay annual property tax? Did you ever get your title deed yet? I read one of your posts saying you didn't get it yet.

HOAs seem to be all over the place, the other day I was on zonaprop and saw a place about the same size as mine w a 400k listed expensas going for 150k USD for the unit.

I haven't paid any income tax in Argentina and my property manager has been deducting annual property tax which as Piranha mentioned above has been about 1%. No word on the deed yet either.