The Ultimate Guide to Expat Living in Buenos Aires, Argentina

There’s a reason why Buenos Aires is called the ‘Paris of South America’.

Set foot in the city, and you will immediately feel enamoured by its whispering tales of old Europe wrapped in Latin fervour.

From tango-filled streets to world-class art, the 15 million people living in Argentina’s capital enjoy one of the most unique mixtures of culture and architecture worldwide.

The city’s blend of old-world charm and modern energy is enough to attract expats from across the globe, all looking for a world-class city with an affordable cost of living. 

With tree-lined avenues like Avenida Nueva de Julio, the broadest in the world, and more than 700 bookstores, the city is lively and sophisticated.

Residents of Buenos Aires speak a dialect of Spanish with Italian roots, meaning Argentine Spanish sounds more like Neapolitan Italian than any other language.  

It’s also a soccer-mad region with over 20 football stadiums that host famous clubs like River Plate, Boca Juniors, Vélez Sársfield and Huracán. 

What we are trying to say is that it is hard not to fall in love with a city with tango for a heartbeat, where charming cafes invite the wanderer into their embrace.

Expat living in Buenos Aires means a life full of poetry and bustling barrios, a place where each day holds the promise of discovery. Ready to see what that could look like for you?

Is Expat Living in Buenos Aires Right for You?

Buenos Aires is a city that calls to high-net-worth individuals seeking a cosmopolitan lifestyle infused with local, Latin charm. But is it right for you?

It offers an appealing mix of European architecture, cultural experiences and a burgeoning gastronomic scene. With relatively low cost of living compared to other major cities, it is certainly an attractive prospect for those looking to maximise their lifestyle investment.

However, expat living in Buenos Aires comes with certain challenges like bureaucratic processes and fluctuations in the local economy. A few more things to consider as you weigh your options include the following pros and cons.

Pros

• Arts and Culture: Buenos Aires is perhaps one of the most intriguing South American cities for those who love museums, theatres and galleries.
• Affordable Cost of Living: Compared to other major cities in the Americas, Buenos Aires offers a lower cost of living.
• Easy Path to Citizenship: Citizenship in Argentina is actually very easily obtainable as it has one of the quickest naturalisation processes in the world. Plus, the Argentinian passport holders have visa-free access to the EU and to most of the Middle East.

Cons

• Economic Instability: Most of Argentina faces ongoing economic challenges, including inflation and currency fluctuations that can impact business ventures and daily life.
• Language Barrier: Non-Spanish speakers may find it difficult to communicate with locals, as English is still not widely spoken outside of the main tourist destinations across Buenos Aires and beyond.

Argentina – Country Overview

Argentina is a large country, the second largest in South America after Brazil, and reaches an impressive 78.5 million square kilometres. 

The city of Buenos Aires is the country’s capital and the largest city by population, with the most recent estimates putting the city’s population at around 2.8 million.

While that might sound like somewhat of a concrete jungle, it is actually far from it.

The city gets its name from the Spanish term for ‘good air’, and if you spend any time in the city’s green spaces, you will know just how true this is.

While Buenos Aires does face some issues with pollution and overcrowded areas, there are tons of clean spaces with pristine natural surroundings (especially if you get outside of Buenos Aires and beyond to explore some of Argentina’s other famous regions). 

You don’t have to venture outside of the capital city to enjoy beautiful sights, though.

The Obelisco de Buenos Aires (the Obelisk of Buenos Aires) is one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions. It stands an impressive 67.5 metres tall on Avenida 9 de Julio and Avenida Corrientes. 

Spanish is the official language of Argentina and is the most commonly spoken language in the capital city. However, you’ll probably hear plenty of Italian, French, English and other European languages spoken by locals. 

Argentina is perhaps best known for its grilled meats, which are certainly a must-try for anyone moving to or visiting the capital. 

Living in Buenos Aires – Best Neighbourhoods

Buenos Aires is a vast city with around 50 official neighbourhoods, not all of which will appeal to expats. Like any big city, Buenos Aires has areas that are best avoided.

However, the following neighbourhoods are popular with both locals and the large expat community. 

Palermo

Upscale Palermo is one of the biggest neighbourhoods in Buenos Aires and is broken down into three parts: Palermo Hollywood, Palermo Soho and Palermo Chico. 

The place where everyone wants to be in Buenos Aires, Palermo is a lively, cosmopolitan area with great restaurants, places to explore, gardens, shopping experiences and more. 

It’s also one of the safest districts in Buenos Aires. However, due to its popularity, real estate tends to be a bit more expensive.

Still, you could reasonably expect to pay as little as US$100,000 for a one-bedroom apartment, with prices graduating upward to US$200,000 and beyond for larger accommodation. 

Rents for the same standard of apartments range from US$500 to US$1000 per month. 

Palermo Hollywood, the northern part of the neighbourhood, is more residential, but it has great cafes, fantastic restaurants and even some nightclubs. However, it’s not as lively as Palermo Soho.

Trendy Palermo Soho has two main plazas, Plaza Serrano and Plaza Armenia – both surrounded by outdoor cafe terraces. 

This is where expats and locals meet to enjoy craft beer bars, bohemian boutiques and weekend markets. 

One of the trendier neighbourhoods in Buenos Aires, Palermo Soho features an array of eclectic restaurants and chic cocktail bars. You will find a wide variety of cuisine, from traditional Argentinian to Japanese sushi or Italian and French. 

Another enjoyable aspect of life in Palermo is its parks. There’s the Carlos Thays Botanical Garden, the Ecoparque, which was previously a zoo. It’s a luscious tropical green paradise home to over 6,000 tree and plant species. 

There’s also the Japanese Garden and the Rose Garden. 

San Telmo

San Telmo is known as one of the more bohemian neighbourhoods and one of the oldest in Buenos Aires. Famous for its pre-colonial architecture, cobblestone streets and antique shops, San Telmo is cool, to say the least. 

Along with its many vintage shops, the neighborhood is also famous for its Sunday market where you can find everything from unique gifts, clothing and handmade goods to delicious churros and freshly squeezed orange juice. 

The main plaza of San Telmo is Plaza Dorrego, which has outdoor cafes and live music at tango dance halls. 

The nearby covered market of Mercado San Telmo is a food lover’s paradise with many different types of restaurants. 

With a typical Italian facade, this huge indoor market is filled with stalls with everything from artisanal goods to fresh produce to spices and more. 

Despite how trendy it is, real estate prices in San Telmo are lower than in Palermo, with loft apartments beginning in the region of US$60,000 and modest townhouses selling for US$100,000. 

Recoleta

Recoleta is one of the more elegant neighbourhoods in Buenos Aires. It’s favoured by the wealthy for its leafy streets, high-end design shops, lavish homes and plush hotels. 

Located by the Río de la Plata, in the northern part of the city, Recoleta is one of the capital’s safest and most affluent districts. 

Built in 1822 and listed as one of the most important cemeteries in the world, the beautiful Recoleta Cemetery is the resting place of many notable Argentinians, including presidents, writers, Nobel prize winners and, perhaps most famously, Eva Peron. 

Crammed with beautiful artworks and sculptures, it’s well worth a visit. 

Next to the cemetery is the Centro Cultural, a space for museums, galleries, elegant shopping malls, theatres and tango music venues. 

The starting price for a one-bedroom apartment in Recoleta is around US$140,000, but it may include access to a swimming pool and gym. Typically, larger two-bedroom apartments come in at US$240,000 plus. 

Microcentro

The next area recommended for expats is Microcentro, which comprises two neighbourhoods, Moncerat and San Nicolas. 

In this area, you’ll find the Plaza de Mayo, the country’s most iconic public square. 

Nearby is La Casa Rosada, or Pink House. This is better known as the official headquarters of the president of Argentina. 

Here, you’ll also find the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Cathedral, the main catholic church.

A short distance away is the aforementioned Obelisco. 

The Obelisco, close to 70 meters tall, sits in the centre of Avenida Nueve de Julio, which is the largest avenue in South America at sixteen lanes wide. 

Close by is Avenida Corrientes, one of the busiest thoroughfares in Buenos Aires. 

Again, it is possible to buy a modern, luxury apartment here and have change leftover from US$100,000, while rental options come in well under US$1,000 a month. 

Belgrano

One of the city’s lesser-known areas, Belgrano, manages to be lower-key than more heralded districts despite being quite historic and cultural.

It is a safe, upscale residential neighbourhood where wealthier locals gravitate to its beautiful architecture and impressive houses.

In Plaza Manuel Belgrano, the main square named after a military leader in the Argentine war for independence, you’ll find a weekend market. 

This neighbourhood also has Barrio Chino, Buenos Aires’ Chinatown, with an array of fantastic Asian restaurants. 

It is a very sought-after location for property investors, and real estate prices in Belgrano range from several million for luxury homes to US$125,000 for a small but well-appointed apartment. 

Other notable areas of Buenos Aires include Puerto Madero, an up-and-coming revamped dockland district and Almagro, a bustling residential and commercial zone.

The Cost of Living in Buenos Aires

Now we know there are plenty of attractive neighbourhoods for expats planning to move to Buenos Aires, what does it really cost to live here? 

Before we get into the prices of products and services, it should be noted that Argentina is experiencing large fluctuations in its inflation rate.  

At the moment, one US Dollar buys ARS$885.75 Argentine pesos. 

That said, the policies of newly elected leader, President Javier Milei, appear to be curbing inflation, which is reported to be in single digits for the first time in six months. 

For example, if you head to a local grocery store for some quick items that includes a litre of milk (US$0.95), a loaf of bread (US$1.33), 12 eggs (US$1.73), 1kg of chicken filet (US$4.24) and a mid-range bottle of wine (US$3.50) you will pay a lot less in Buenos Aires than you would in both London and New York. 

Overall, estimates report that the cost of living in Argentina is 56% cheaper than in the United States.

Obviously, what you spend depends on your budget and your preferences. For example, the famous Michelin-starred Don Julio restaurant can cost more than US$100 per person, but delicious empanadas from a street stand cost less than US$0.50 each. 

Somewhere in the middle, a three-course meal for two in a mid-range restaurant will cost in the region of US$35.  

We’ve talked about the cost of owning real estate, but you can find a small apartment to rent in Buenos Aires for about US$400 a month. 

Getting around the city on public transportation requires a Subte card, which costs about US$1. Once you have that, you can take the bus or metro for about 50 cents. 

The option of taking a taxi is also very affordable, with a 20-minute journey from Palermo to San Telmo, for example, costing US$4. 

Considering its affordability, it is easy to see why Buenos Aires is such a popular destination for expats. 

Health Care and Schooling

Argentina has a free system of healthcare for everyone, including expats, with universally accessible public medical facilities. 

However, because the health system there is administered at a municipal level, the standard of care can vary by city. Buenos Aires, however, with 12 general and 21 specialised hospitals, has a high standard of care. 

Generally speaking, Argentina has some of the best health services in Latin America, with modern facilities and highly trained staff. 

In terms of cost, in the public sector, medical appointments, hospital visits and dental care are free, while prescriptions are often subsidised.

It’s relatively common for people to have private health insurance in Argentina, with expats able to avail of private cover for as little as US$50 a month – significantly cheaper than in the US, Europe and the United Kingdom. 

Expats looking to move to Buenos Aires with school-age dependents will find a high standard of education in public tuition-free institutions and fee-paying private schools. 

With 12 notable international schools in Buenos Aires, there are plenty of options for those seeking the best schooling that money can buy. 

Residence in Argentina 

Those intent on moving to Buenos Aires to take advantage of its temperate climate, exciting lifestyle and low cost of living have several options for becoming longer-term residents. 

The first step is temporary residence, which can be obtained in a couple of ways. 

You can show that you have enough funds to sustain yourself while living in Argentina or invest your assets in activities of interest to the country.

For both retired and non-retired expats, the first option involves showing that you have overseas income that is five times the regular Argentinian salary, which is approximately US$725 per month. 

So, all you need to do is show that you are receiving a stable income from your retirement into your bank account on a monthly basis. 

For the investor route, you must make a productive investment from which Argentina would really benefit. 

The amount that you need to invest is approximately only US$4,000. However, the type of investment you make must be carefully planned to ensure you are approved.

You really need advice on what kind of services you can develop. 

When it comes to the documents that you need to prepare, in both cases, either the investor or proof of source of funds options, you will need to provide similar documents. 

The Argentine authorities will want to see:

• A clean police report
• Proof of income from a legitimate source
• Bank statements that prove you have enough money to sustain yourself independently. 

For the investor option, you’ll need a business plan that shows how Argentina will benefit from your business and that it’s important to the country. 

Once you prepare your documents and submit your application, you will receive a temporary residency visa for one year. After that year, you will need to renew your visa. 

After two years of temporary residence, you have the possibility to apply for citizenship. 

In terms of the physical presence required by Argentina to maintain your residence and qualify for citizenship, it is not really regulated by law. 

There is no set number of days that you need to spend in Argentina. 

However, it is recommended that you spend at least 183 days a year there. The reason is that the authorities want to see that you’ve integrated into Argentinian life, that you have a house there, that you’re living there, and it is your home.

Plus, by spending 183 days a year in Argentina, you become a tax resident and further your claim to citizenship.

As it stands, these are the requirements to become a resident of Argentina, but with a new president, the situation is somewhat fluid, and the requirements could change. 

That’s why it makes sense to be prepared, and our Nomad Capitalist team can help you submit your application for Argentinian residency. 

Why Choose Argentinian Citizenship?

According to our Nomad Passport Index, citizenship of Argentina is one of the better options for expats seeking a powerful backup Tier A passport that gives access to 163 destinations.

Argentinian passport holders have visa-free access to the EU and to most of the Middle East. Citizenship in Argentina is actually very easily obtainable as it has one of the quickest naturalisation processes in the world.

So, after two years, with the required 180 days of physical presence per year, you can apply for citizenship. 

However, although the qualifying process is quick and easy, approval can take some time. The entire process could take up to 18 months before your passport is actually issued. 

Once you have it, you won’t immediately have to renounce your current citizenship, as Argentina allows dual nationalities (though you’ll need to check your current nationality to see if your home country government allows dual citizenship or not).

One disadvantage of the Argentinian passport is that you need a visa to travel to the US, Canada, Australia, China or Japan.

Argentina has dual citizenship agreements with Italy and Spain, so if you’re looking to gain visa-free access to the US, Canada, EU or Australia, for example, then you might want to look at acquiring residency in Spain, which is easily obtainable through Spain’s golden visa program.  

Another factor to consider is that residents of Argentina are taxed on their worldwide income in Argentina.

Expat Living in Buenos Aires: FAQs

Living in Latin America

One of the main advantages of living in Latin America, in this case Argentina, is that the requirements to get in are relatively low.

Securing Argentinian residency can be as simple as making a small investment or showing you have money in the bank. 

The requirements are far less stringent than they would be for Asian or European residency where heftier sums need to be made available for residence-by-investment programs. 

Latin America also works for people who want to be close to North America and Canada. So, whether you intend to live there full-time or visit once or twice a year, Argentina is a useful backup residence. 

While some Latin American countries are becoming more stringent on the requirements to renew residence permits, the low barrier to entry still offers a fast and affordable pathway to citizenship.  

In the case of Argentina, if you’re willing to invest a relatively small amount, you can enjoy the freedom and adventure that this vast country offers. 

Whatever you decide, it will take planning and that’s where Nomad Capitalist comes in. We help high-net-worth individuals create a bespoke strategy using our uniquely successful methods. 

You’ll keep more of your own money, create new wealth faster and be protected from whatever happens in just three steps. Discover how we do things here.