What happens if Argentina gets too expensive? What are alternative cities/countries to move to when it's overpriced in Argentina?

[earlyretirement]

Wow has groceries really gotten that expensive? Still here in the states I can cover my entire food budget for < $400 a month. Of course that's on the low end when I'm not eating out as often, but for just for just grocery it's rarely more than that. I guess it depends on what you're buying as some things will be cheaper and as always others more expensive. How's the cost of meats, fruits, and vegetables now a days?

I actually think that the quality and vast types of food and selection in the USA is much better and on many items even less than Buenos Aires. Sure there are exceptions to the rule but lots of the food in the supermarkets in BA are trash compared to the USA where you can get anything. Like others mentioned, some things are just out of whack like dairy and yogurts and good cheeses.

Some things are still a bargain like steak/beef compared to the USA which is very expensive. But other things which really surprise me in BA is the cost of things like shaving cream, razors, and other bathroom toiletries stuff. My wife went to get her brand of shampoo and sunscreen she uses here in the US a few weeks ago in Buenos Aires while we were there and she was shocked.

You can definitely get by in BA for less than you will spend in the USA on many things @FuturoBA. It sounds like you have USD based savings/income so you will be fine. You can live a modest life in BA for not too much money if you have a place paid off. If you don't have any bad habits like smoking, drinking, etc. that really helps.

I would say that we definitely live on the lavish lifestyle. My fridge at home is always stocked with any kind of fruits and vegetables you can imagine. We dine out at restaurants several times a week. That kind of thing isn't cheap in the USA OR Argentina these days. Things like coffee or a tea honestly you will spend the same in BA vs. USA for the most part at nice places. Things just add up.

I think that is so true especially with the networking and internship thing. Even if you send your kids to the best schools in BA, they're probably missing out on networking opportunities back home. Another expensive item to add to the budget - to make up ground- by travelling back and for between the two.

Yes that is so critical to network and good solid internships. One of the schools my daughter applied to was Northeastern in Boston. I loved the concept of their program. 5 years instead of 4 years but 1 year you go and work for solid companies in a few internship programs. During the orientation it was impressive they said something like 89% of the graduates end up getting a job offer from one of the companies they do the internship at.

I see kids that live around my neighborhood come back from school in the summer and they get dead-end slacker jobs like waitressing at the Country Club or valeting cars. And no surprise those are the kids that can't get jobs after graduating college. It would be super depressing for the parents paying for university (and for the kids graduating) to graduate after spending a fortune and not have a job lined up. But that is the sad reality for a lot of kids these days.

 

[PhilipDT]

Wow has groceries really gotten that expensive? Still here in the states I can cover my entire food budget for < $400 a month. Of course that's on the low end when I'm not eating out as often, but for just for just grocery it's rarely more than that. I guess it depends on what you're buying as some things will be cheaper and as always others more expensive. How's the cost of meats, fruits, and vegetables now a days?

At the end of our time in BA, my wife and I, by ourselves, were averaging between 200k and 250k ARS/week (130-160 USD when the dollar was around 1500 in November/December) in groceries, and we were getting most of our stuff from the store brands to save a few pesos.

While we're waiting for our house to be finished here in Rio, we're staying with friends of ours and covering groceries to lighten the load. With four adults, a teenager and two toddlers, we're averaging around 1250 BRL/week, so at today's exchange rate, around 330k ARS or 236 USD, and we absolutely are not searching for the cheapest things on the shelves either.

Based on that, I've got my doubts about Mara's budgeting.

How much were you spending going out to eat at restaurants @Darksider415? How do restaurant prices compare in Brazil where you are to BA? Do you speak Portuguese? I love Brazil but don't speak any Portuguese. Rio seems like a lovely place with the beaches. I enjoy vacations there.

Groceries sound cheaper in Brazil vs. BA. There are variables too for people that love coffee. At least in Brazil you probably have wonderful coffee that is not expensive. The costs here are nuts.

@FuturoBA I think you will find grocery shopping easier in the US vs. Buenos Aires. You can go to one and done where here it's frustrating as I have to go one place for one thing, another and another.