Did many expats move out of Buenos Aires due to the higher cost of living?

[Jakoval]

The moderation just killed it. Once I sent a DM to a member and after that I was banned. So that obviously meant that the moderator was reading posts between members. There is a ton of old information but what I have noticed is that so much changes in Argentina especially under Milei that much of the old stuff is just moot anyway.

Any time I want to find out the latest of what is going on in Argentina I just come to this forum. It's all here.

Same thing happened to me. Once I sent a DM to someone, I was not banned but 'paused' for a few months I believe. I wasn't able to send any more DMs or post for a while.

 

[MikeRoss]

Same thing happened to me. Once I sent a DM to someone, I was not banned but 'paused' for a few months I believe. I wasn't able to send any more DMs or post for a while.

Same for me. I sent a DM to @earlyretirement on the old forum and then I couldn't log back in after that. I thought strange way to run a forum. Now I understand why no one uses that forum anymore. It seems like most are on this site now which is good.

 

[Uncle Wong]

This Spanish guy compares prices of Spain vs. Argentina.

 

[FuturoBA]

Just did some shopping.
10k for 2 bags of pasta(500g) and 2 things of tomato sauce(950g)
12.75k for 2kg chicken(thighs and leg)
26.6k for 1.25 kg beef
6k(not shown) 1kg bananas and about 10 plums
7k(not shown) 2x 6L of water

About 63k total or 46USD

 

[Good Stuff]

View attachment 11128
Just did some shopping.
10k for 2 bags of pasta(500g) and 2 things of tomato sauce(950g)
12.75k for 2kg chicken(thighs and leg)
26.6k for 1.25 kg beef
6k(not shown) 1kg bananas and about 10 plums
7k(not shown) 2x 6L of water

About 63k total or 46USD

For good cooking pans I recommend La plancetta or Kankay (Carbon Steel type) - good quality and prices.
For Knives - I recommend Boker, Arbolito - good quality and prices
Plenty of solid wood cutting boards to be found.
Buy lots of Dahi Brand Greek style Yogurt - A bit pricey about 3.000 each, but they then become your glass jars for the spice rack. Eat good for cheap and enjoy the joy of cooking.

 

[Wally]

View attachment 11128
Just did some shopping.
10k for 2 bags of pasta(500g) and 2 things of tomato sauce(950g)
12.75k for 2kg chicken(thighs and leg)
26.6k for 1.25 kg beef
6k(not shown) 1kg bananas and about 10 plums
7k(not shown) 2x 6L of water

About 63k total or 46USD

Thanks @FuturoBA what would this cost back where you live now?

 

[Bonita]

People often use the Big Mac Index as a quick gauge of the economy, and here it’s already costing almost the same as in Switzerland, the most expensive country in the world. Something’s clearly off, right? First-world prices with developing-country salaries.

TikTok - Make Your Day

 

[FuturoBA]

For good cooking pans I recommend La plancetta or Kankay (Carbon Steel type) - good quality and prices.
For Knives - I recommend Boker, Arbolito - good quality and prices
Plenty of solid wood cutting boards to be found.
Buy lots of Dahi Brand Greek style Yogurt - A bit pricey about 3.000 each, but they then become your glass jars for the spice rack. Eat good for cheap and enjoy the joy of cooking.

Good to know. I don't do as much cooking as I used to and once I have time to get back into it, will look into these.

The ones at my place when I had it airbnb'd out looks and feels like they were made out of plastic. My current utensils I have to keep bending back into place after eating a meal lol. Beforehand I heard good kitchen equipment was either rare or expensive and ended up bringing my cast iron pan and one of them as-seen-on tv fasta pasta cookers.

Thanks @FuturoBA what would this cost back where you live now?

In the states I didn't keep track of individual things but on average I was spending $75 at the grocery store. Didn't buy too much beef though, where even the tough cuts I think were around $10-15/lb and ribeye $20-25/lb.

 

[carrider]

Good to know. I don't do as much cooking as I used to and once I have time to get back into it, will look into these.

The ones at my place when I had it airbnb'd out looks and feels like they were made out of plastic. My current utensils I have to keep bending back into place after eating a meal lol. Beforehand I heard good kitchen equipment was either rare or expensive and ended up bringing my cast iron pan and one of them as-seen-on tv fasta pasta cookers.


In the states I didn't keep track of individual things but on average I was spending $75 at the grocery store. Didn't buy too much beef though, where even the tough cuts I think were around $10-15/lb and ribeye $20-25/lb.

It sounds like you have settled in well. How are you enjoying BA? Are you here for good?

 

[FuturoBA]

It sounds like you have settled in well. How are you enjoying BA? Are you here for good?

Loving it. Things are expensive which I knew coming in, and don' t see how locals can afford it.

Biggest negatives so far is things that I take for granted are hard to find. Fichas/tokens to use my building's laundry machine took forever to find and an umbrella after the first week. Funny thing about the umbrella is having bought one now, I see them for sale everywhere now haha.

 

[Avocado]

Loving it. Things are expensive which I knew coming in, and don' t see how locals can afford it.

Biggest negatives so far is things that I take for granted are hard to find. Fichas/tokens to use my building's laundry machine took forever to find and an umbrella after the first week. Funny thing about the umbrella is having bought one now, I see them for sale everywhere now haha.

Do you use Mercado Libre? They have many umbrellas there. I went and couldn't find in many stores the other day but they have on ML.

I also saw in a specialty store below Jumbo in Palermo but it was too expensive. I went to ML instead and delivered next day.

 

[ElQueso]

Loving it. Things are expensive which I knew coming in, and don' t see how locals can afford it.

Biggest negatives so far is things that I take for granted are hard to find. Fichas/tokens to use my building's laundry machine took forever to find and an umbrella after the first week. Funny thing about the umbrella is having bought one now, I see them for sale everywhere now haha.

You probably just use Amazon at home. When I'm at home in US I don't even bother buying stuff in the store or if I do it's at Target where you can find anything. That is what BA lacks. I would think a Target could make a fortune.

I don't know how locals do it either. It is just brutal. Are things better or worse price wise than you thought @FuturoBA ?

 

[FuturoBA]

Do you use Mercado Libre? They have many umbrellas there. I went and couldn't find in many stores the other day but they have on ML.

I also saw in a specialty store below Jumbo in Palermo but it was too expensive. I went to ML instead and delivered next day.

No ML, I can probably ask one my friends but right now kinda forces me to explore the neighborhood. I ended up finding one by asking a nearby magazine stand if they happen to sale them. Now I see them at kiosks and pharmacies, more so on rainy days.

You probably just use Amazon at home. When I'm at home in US I don't even bother buying stuff in the store or if I do it's at Target where you can find anything. That is what BA lacks. I would think a Target could make a fortune.

I don't know how locals do it either. It is just brutal. Are things better or worse price wise than you thought @FuturoBA ?

Back in the states I don't remember the last time I even went to a Target or Walmart. Amazon was just so convenient, and not just finding things but also saving time driving and waiting in line. One time I was already at the super market and instead of walking all the way across the store(talking a few aisles) to pick up some paper towels - I just ordered it off Amazon next day

Pricing I was prepared for it - although things that are more expensive are a lot more so(electronics, brand named items, etc), and things that are cheaper don't seem much cheaper(grocery, food etc.)

One of my local friends told me there used to be a Walmart here. Anyone know why it failed or what happened??

 

[MikeAnton]

No ML, I can probably ask one my friends but right now kinda forces me to explore the neighborhood. I ended up finding one by asking a nearby magazine stand if they happen to sale them. Now I see them at kiosks and pharmacies, more so on rainy days.

Back in the states I don't remember the last time I even went to a Target or Walmart. Amazon was just so convenient, and not just finding things but also saving time driving and waiting in line. One time I was already at the super market and instead of walking all the way across the store(talking a few aisles) to pick up some paper towels - I just ordered it off Amazon next day

Pricing I was prepared for it - although things that are more expensive are a lot more so(electronics, brand named items, etc), and things that are cheaper don't seem much cheaper(grocery, food etc.)

One of my local friends told me there used to be a Walmart here. Anyone know why it failed or what happened??

Amazon is great to not waste time and gas going out and it is so quick. I can't remember the last time I was at big box store. Ba has that Easy at the mall next to Jumbo but the products mostly seemed like junk or low quality and expensive.

Walmart in BA? That would be a sight to see! I wonder how it did.

 

[Wally]

No ML, I can probably ask one my friends but right now kinda forces me to explore the neighborhood. I ended up finding one by asking a nearby magazine stand if they happen to sale them. Now I see them at kiosks and pharmacies, more so on rainy days.

Back in the states I don't remember the last time I even went to a Target or Walmart. Amazon was just so convenient, and not just finding things but also saving time driving and waiting in line. One time I was already at the super market and instead of walking all the way across the store(talking a few aisles) to pick up some paper towels - I just ordered it off Amazon next day

Pricing I was prepared for it - although things that are more expensive are a lot more so(electronics, brand named items, etc), and things that are cheaper don't seem much cheaper(grocery, food etc.)

One of my local friends told me there used to be a Walmart here. Anyone know why it failed or what happened??

Yes Walmart was here a long time! Something like 20 years but they threw in the towel in 2020. They exited selling to a local company. It's now ChangoMAS. They had a lot of locations before when they were here but not convenient for those of us in the city.

Same reason why a lot of companies leave Argentina. Broken macroeconomics. Price controls, thin margins, currency controls, supply chain issues, terrible labor laws, terrible taxes, lots of competition.

It really is a nightmare here having employees.

 

[BarryBloomWwf]

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For good cooking pans I recommend La plancetta or Kankay (Carbon Steel type) - good quality and prices.
For Knives - I recommend Boker, Arbolito - good quality and prices
Plenty of solid wood cutting boards to be found.
Buy lots of Dahi Brand Greek style Yogurt - A bit pricey about 3.000 each, but they then become your glass jars for the spice rack. Eat good for cheap and enjoy the joy of cooking.

Every greek yoghurt I've bought in supermarkets has this disgusting sickening sweet taste to it. Like someone took regular greek yoghurt from back home and mixed a ton of splenda into it