BuySellBA
Administrator
Simulator: How many salaries do you need to buy a 1-bedroom apartment in 5 key neighborhoods? -La Nacion Propiedades
Source:
Simulador: ¿cuántos sueldos necesitás para comprar un 2 ambientes en 5 barrios clave?
Un simulador muestra que comprar un dos ambientes exige entre 20 y casi 80 años de salario mínimo
www.lanacion.com.ar
November 18, 2025
By Brenda Escudero
The values per square meter, expressed in dollars, allow for a clear map of urban accessibility to be drawn. Freepik photo available on freepik
The debate surrounding access to housing repeatedly returns to the same starting point: the gap between income and real estate prices . In a context where the price per square meter remains tied to the dollar and wages are growing far behind the cost of living, the possibility of a worker buying an apartment through traditional means is becoming increasingly remote.
The minimum living wage, a key benchmark for measuring purchasing power , calculating social benefits, and setting legal thresholds, was established at $322,200 per month starting in August 2025, according to Resolution 5/2025. The regulations specify that this amount applies to salaried workers who work a full legal workday; hourly workers receive $1,610 per hour . While it doesn't define the entire labor market, it does help to illustrate the gap between the lowest formal income and real estate market values in Buenos Aires.
In this scenario, where real estate market benchmarks remain dollarized and access to credit remains limited, an inevitable question arises: How many minimum wages are needed to buy a one-bedroom apartment in Buenos Aires?
To answer this question, a simulator was developed using a one-bedroom apartment of 50 m² as an example in five representative neighborhoods: Puerto Madero, Núñez, Palermo, Villa del Parque, and La Boca. The prices per square meter, expressed in dollars, allow for the creation of a map of prices and affordability.
Number of minimum wages needed according to each neighborhood
A two-room apartment of 50 square meters in Puerto Madero , the most expensive neighborhood in the country, costs over US$300,000 , given that the price per square meter is around US$6,151 . Thus, someone earning the minimum wage would need to save almost 1,000 full salaries to afford a standard unit. Translated into years, this difference is equivalent to almost eight decades of work , without spending a single penny.In Núñez , where the price per square meter is around US$3,360 , a similar apartment costs approximately US$168,000 . This means that a worker earning the minimum wage would need around 520 salaries , equivalent to more than four decades of income .
Something very similar happens in Palermo , one of the most sought-after neighborhoods: with a price per square meter of around US$3,398 , the final price is close to US$169,900 . In terms of salaries, this translates to approximately 527 minimum wages , almost 44 years of uninterrupted work.
The gap begins to narrow in Villa del Parque , a middle-class neighborhood with more affordable prices: there, the price per square meter is around US$2,256 , so the same 50-square-meter unit costs around US$112,800 . To afford it, you would need 350 minimum wages , or almost 29 years of full income.
The minimum living wage was set at $322,200 per month starting in August 2025.LUIS ROBAYO - AFP
Finally, La Boca is the most affordable neighborhood in the analysis, with a price per square meter of US$1,551 . The estimated price for a one-bedroom apartment is around US$77,550 , which requires approximately 240 minimum wages . Even so, even in the most accessible neighborhood, the distance is equivalent to 20 years of work.
While values may vary depending on orientation, age, building condition or proximity to commercial centers, the simulator reveals a structural trend: even for those who manage to stay within the formal labor market, access to housing through savings in pesos is almost impossible.
Prices in dollars remain relatively stable, but incomes show a sustained loss of real purchasing power. The result is a gap that widens year after year: to buy a one-bedroom apartment in Buenos Aires, a worker needs between 20 and 80 years' salary , depending on the neighborhood.
www.buysellba.com
