Newcomer Can You Live Like Royalty in Buenos Aires on $3K a Month?

[Akihiro]

What's the cost of living like in Buenos Aires these days? I currently spend around $2,500–$3,000 a month in Southeast Asia and live like a king: never cook, get daily massages, and stay in luxury beachfront hotels for $30 a night.

I’m wondering if that kind of lifestyle is still possible in Buenos Aires. I was there a couple of years ago, and back then it was ridiculously cheap. But from what I’ve been hearing lately, it doesn’t seem as affordable anymore. Is it still worth it, or have prices gone way up?

 

[Drops of love]

Life here has definitely gotten more expensive. A massage now costs around $30 USD, which gives you an idea of how prices have changed.

Renting an Airbnb can range from $700 to $1,500 USD, depending on what you’re looking for. I cook at home every day, and even then, my monthly expenses never drop below $600 USD, and that’s not including rent.

To live a lifestyle comparable to somewhere like Thailand, for example, you’d probably need $2,500–$3,000 USD a month on top of housing. Argentina is no longer one of the "cheap" countries.

That said, it’s worth every penny. Incredible people, amazing food, always something new to do, and plenty of chances to meet easygoing, friendly people. Life here is relatively stress-free and quite safe. It may not be as affordable as it once was, but it still offers tremendous value in many other ways.

 

[legend]

You definitely wouldn’t get that in BA. The prices here are pretty close to what you’d pay in the U.S. for a lot of things, especially when it comes to quality goods and services. Sure, you can find some deals if you know where to look, but overall, it’s definitely not the bargain haven it used to be. The cost of living has been rising steadily, and with the exchange rates and inflation, it can sometimes feel like you’re back in the States in terms of pricing. If you’re expecting the same cheap lifestyle as a couple of years ago, you might be in for a surprise!

 

[earlyretirement]

Here is an article in this week's Buenos Aires Herald talking about cost of living. They have gone way up since the end of 2023 but they are still much lower than the USA for most things.

Here's how much it costs to live in Buenos Aires in February 2025 - Buenos Aires Herald

Argentina has gotten more expensive in dollars, meaning the deals you read about a year ago are a thing of the past. Here's what to expect on your trip

buenosairesherald.com

 

[daveholman]

It still looks like overall the cost of living is substantially less than cities in the US (housing being a big part of that). It may have gone up, but none of those prices shock me.
But then, my decision to move to Buenos Aires was only a little bit about money. If it was all about money, I'd go to Brazil or Colombia or even Chile. But based on short visits to all those places, BsAs is the one I thought, every time I went "I could live here".

 

[Johnny]

It still looks like overall the cost of living is substantially less than cities in the US (housing being a big part of that). It may have gone up, but none of those prices shock me.
But then, my decision to move to Buenos Aires was only a little bit about money. If it was all about money, I'd go to Brazil or Colombia or even Chile. But based on short visits to all those places, BsAs is the one I thought, every time I went "I could live here".

It seems like rentals and housing are the best deal in Argentina. I haven't traveled around too much of Latin America but out of the cities I have been to, nothing compares to Buenos Aires. It felt like I was in Europe. Very safe too. I would get bored in Colombia as there isn't much to do at all. Buenos Aires has a lot of cultural events and sports and concerts. Every day there would be something exciting to do.

 

[ben]

I wouldn't say you could live like royalty but you can get by living in BA on $3k a month.

 

[Johnny]

I wouldn't say you could live like royalty but you can get by living in BA on $3k a month.

I don't know Buenos Aires well. I have only been down a few times now over the past 2 years. It is still shocking to me how cheap it was my first trip in 2023 and how expensive it was a few months ago.

I'm on the side that says $3,000 dollars a month isn't any major amount. I met up with many locals and they were all complaining how expensive it got.

Just asking some locals how much they pay for private healthcare seemed like most were paying $300 to $500 USD per month for a decent plan. Add in rent for a nice place and utilities bills and that eats up a good amount. I didn't take public transport at all and just used Ubers and that can add up.

The most expensive thing was going out to eat. Most of my meals were as expensive as I would pay in the US. Any mediocre breakfast place, coffee, juices were not cheap.

I didn't think the grocery stores were cheap either and very poor selection compared to back home. Could you live on $3k a month? Sure but it definitely isn't living like a king.

 

[Piranha]

Key phase is "live like a king". Different people will interpret that differently. Dining out a few times a week will kill your budget in BA. Still you have to think if locals are getting by for less it can be done but Buenos Aires overall is a huge area. Outside of the wealthy pockets of CABA things go downhill very quickly.

 

[ElQueso]

I don't know Buenos Aires well. I have only been down a few times now over the past 2 years. It is still shocking to me how cheap it was my first trip in 2023 and how expensive it was a few months ago.

I'm on the side that says $3,000 dollars a month isn't any major amount. I met up with many locals and they were all complaining how expensive it got.

Just asking some locals how much they pay for private healthcare seemed like most were paying $300 to $500 USD per month for a decent plan. Add in rent for a nice place and utilities bills and that eats up a good amount. I didn't take public transport at all and just used Ubers and that can add up.

The most expensive thing was going out to eat. Most of my meals were as expensive as I would pay in the US. Any mediocre breakfast place, coffee, juices were not cheap.

I didn't think the grocery stores were cheap either and very poor selection compared to back home. Could you live on $3k a month? Sure but it definitely isn't living like a king.

Wait another year or two and you could find it cheap again. That's BA for you.