Expatriate Spotlight on Buenos Aires in Argentina

Argentina is in Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Chile and Uruguay.  Buenos Aires is the capital city of Argentina, translated meaning “Land of Silver”.

It is a land of extremes, and boasts the highest literacy rate in South America, the highest point in the Southern Hemisphere – Mount Aconcagua (6,962m) and the lowest point – Laguna del Carbon (-105 m).
You land in Argentina at Airopuerto Internacional Ministro Pistarini, about a 45 minute drive from downtown Buenos Aires.

From the Tigre region with its casino, amusement park and river boat trips, to the famous Boca neighborhood with decorated stucco walls in rainbow colours, tango dancers spinning on cobblestone streets and the roaming musicians competing for attention, Buenos Aires is filled with exciting entertainment.

Buenos Aires has an overall cost of living index, which equates it with low cost of living locations. The overall cost of living index is comprised of the prices for defined quantities of the same goods and services across all 13 Basket Groups. Buenos Aires is currently ranked 227 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 300 international locations.


Hardship compared to Lyon, France:
Lyon, France is ranked as a minimal hardship location with a hardship premium of 10%. Buenos Aires is ranked as a some hardship location with a hardship index of 20%.  The relative difference in hardship premium (i.e. Host Location Premium minus Home Location Premium) is 10%.
Buenos Aires cost of living* compared to Lyon, France:

•    Alcohol & Tobacco is more expensive
•    Clothing is cheaper
•    Communication is more expensive
•    Education is cheaper
•    Furniture & Appliances is cheaper
•    Groceries is cheaper
•    Healthcare is cheaper
•    Household is cheaper
•    Miscellaneous is cheaper
•    Personal Care is cheaper
•    Recreation & Culture is cheaper
•    Restaurants Meals Out and Hotels is cheaper
•    Transport is cheaper

*As at 1 April 2011


The overall weighted cost of living difference between Lyon, France and Buenos Aires is -21.85%

Salary Purchasing Power Parity (SPPP)

The SPPP report calculates how much you need to earn in another location to compensate for a higher cost of living, hardship, and the exchange rate, in order to have the same relative spending power and as a result have a similar standard of living as you have in your current location.

The following exchange rates have been used:
5.5940 Argentine Peso (ARS ) to 1 Euro (EUR )
0.1788 Euro (EUR) to 1 Argentine Peso (ARS )

A person would require a salary of 88,151.83 Euro (EUR) which is 493,121.34 Argentine Peso’s (ARS) in Buenos Aires to have the same standard of living as currently enjoyed in Lyon, France on a salary of 100,000.00 Euro (EUR). This salary compensates for the overall cost of living difference of -21,8482%, the hardship difference of 10%, and the exchange rate.


SPPP Formula :
Home / Current Location salary 100,000.00 EUR
+ Cost of living difference -21.8482% = -21,848.17 EUR
+ Hardship difference of 10% = 10,000 EUR

TOTAL of 88,151.83 EUR
x Exchange Rate of 5.5940
= 493,121.34 ARS

For the full cost of living rankings for April 2011 go here

Buenos Aires, Argentina Cost of Living January 2010

LOCATION: Argentina is in Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Chile and Uruguay.

CAPITAL CITY: Buenos Aires

LARGEST CITY: Buenos Aires

CURRENCY: Argentine Peso (ARS)

ECONOMY: Argentina's economy comprises rich natural resources, it has a highly literate population, with an export-oriented agricultural sector, and a diversified industrial base. Buenos Aires is the financial, industrial, commercial, and cultural hub of Argentina. The Buenos Aires port is one of the busiest in the world and it is one of the wealthiest cities in the world.
Buenos Aires has an overall cost of living index which equates it with low cost of living locations. The overall cost of living index is comprised of the prices for defined quantities of the same goods and services across all 13 Basket Groups. Buenos Aires is currently ranked 270 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 276 international locations. The cost of living overview for each of the 13 Basket Groups is as follows:

Alcohol & Tobacco costs for alcoholic beverages such as alcohol at bar, beer, locally produced spirit, whiskey, and wine as well as tobacco products such as cigarettes is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 270 out of 276.

Clothing costs for clothing and footwear products such as business suits, casual clothing, childrens clothing and footwear, coats and hats, evening wear, shoe repairs, and underwear is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 260 out of 276.

Communication costs for various communication costs such as home telephone rental and call charges, internet connection and service provider fees, mobile / cellular phone contract and calls is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 262 out of 276.

Education costs such as creche / pre-school fees, high school / college fees, primary school fees, and tertiary study fees is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 274 out of 276.

Furniture & Appliance costs for furniture, household equipment and household appliances such as dvd player, fridge freezer, iron, kettle, toaster, microwave, light bulbs, television, vacuum cleaner, and washing machine is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 258 out of 276.

Grocery costs for food, non-alcoholic beverages and cleaning material items such as baby consumables, baked goods, baking, canned foods, cheese, cleaning products, dairy, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, fruit juices, meat, oil & vinegars, pet food, pre-prepared meals, sauces, seafood, snacks, soft drinks, spices & herbs is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 276 out of 276.

Healthcare costs for general healthcare, medical and medical insurance such as general practitioner consultation rates, hospital private ward daily rate, non-prescription medicine, and private medical insurance / medical aid contributions is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 270 out of 276.

Household costs for housing, water, electricity, household gas, household fuels, local rates and residential taxes such as house / flat mortgage, house / flat rental, household electricity consumption, household gas / fuel consumption, household water consumption, and local property rates / taxes / levies is equally expensive on average compared to other cities with a rank of 157 out of 276.

Miscellaneous costs related to stationary, linen and general goods and services such as domestic help, dry cleaning, linen, office supplies, newspapers and magazines, and postage stamps is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 265 out of 276.

Personal Care costs for personal care products and services such as cosmetics, hair care, moisturizer / sun block, nappies, pain relief tablets, toilet paper, toothpaste, and soap / shampoo / conditioner is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 254 out of 276.

Recreation and Culture costs such as books, camera film, cinema ticket, DVD and CDs, sports goods, and theatre tickets is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 232 out of 276.

Restaurants, Meals Out and Hotel costs such as business dinner, dinner at a restaurant (non fast food), hotel rates, take away drinks and snacks (fast food) is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 275 out of 276.

Transport costs for public transport, vehicle costs, vehicle fuel, vehicle insurance and vehicle maintenance such as hire purchase / lease of vehicle, petrol / diesel, public transport service maintenance, tires, vehicle Insurance, and vehicle purchase is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 231 out of 276.

Your exact customized cost of living index for Buenos Aires is based on which of the above basket groups as well as the comparison location you select in the Calculators.

In terms of the hardship people are likely to experience, assessed in global terms, Buenos Aires is ranked as a high degree of hardship location with a hardship index of 30%.

Your exact customized hardship index premium for Buenos Aires is based on the comparison location that you select in the Calculators.
Source: http://www.xpatulator.com/outside.cfm?lid=7